Scholarships Available to Our Knights

Boys, there are two more scholarships that you might be able to submit applications for to help defray some costs to higher learning. Below are links to a pair of scholarships geared toward Kaneland student athletes.

The Steven Wayne Chidester Scholarship is awarded to one cross country runner from our team each year. This scholarship is funded through an event in Maple Park, each September, on the same weekend that we host the Eddington Invitational. Steve was a teammate of Coach Clarey's, and a runner on the '87 and '88 teams that placed at State. Steve's passing came suddenly in May of 2016, while working on the roads for Kane County. Chidester was struck by a distracted driver. The link above takes you, seniors, to a page where there are questions for reflection. Steve's wife, Lorraine, reviews the responses and makes a choice parallel with what she feels mirrors the many wonderful qualities of her late husband. Please complete this scholarship questionnaire by May 15.

Additionally, there is also a scholarship available from our Kaneland Knights Sports Booster Club.  At this time, they are still taking applications.  Use this link to access the application to earn a $1,000 Scholarship.  They have extended the deadline to May 8th, 2020 and you can email the application directly to Kira Harper @ kira.rushing@gmail.com.  Applicants must have a parent who is currently a Sports Booster Member (as of Jan 1st, 2020).

Hoping this post finds all of you doing well, staying active, and getting ready for summer. Please be timely on these scholarship opportunities. Don't let them go to waste. Schooling at the junior college, 4-year schools, and trade schools is expensive. Explain how your past 4 years will impact the next four years of your life.

Belated Thanks from Coach Clarey

So this past Friday my wife and I, along with a few of our coaches, went to Lombard to pick up this plaque. It's been two months since we won State, and I'm still overwhelmed with gratitude and joy in what we were able to accomplish. It's been a month since our Awards Night, and getting the chance to celebrate the achievements of ALL our boys who share in this dream season and championship. My sentiments have come full circle, and I wanted to share a few quick things with you all as this 2019 season finally comes to a full close.

With regard to the incredible support that our coaches and immediate families have received this season, we are speechless. Thank you for the care, love, and support (physical, emotional, financial, and verbal) you've provided this year, and many others. It's easy for many to be flying high after such a memorable and successful season. However, we realize that not every year is like this one, and we still receive equal help from our KXC Families. We are so grateful for all that you've helped provide your boys, their teammates, and the staff. We are incredibly blessed.

On a personal note, I would like to thank you all for the tremendous surprise that was put together over the course of the year with the shirts for Awards Night, the patience in its rescheduling, and the way that you were able to implement it on December 11th. I'm a big "no thank you" for anything that includes the spotlight shining my way. I was good with all that you did on that night, and am most appreciative of the efforts put forth to BUILD such an experience. Special shout out to Sal Occhipinti, Michelle Brazee, Ralph Drendel, Nicole Larsen, and anyone else who had a hand in the process of collecting 265 names and supplying the masses with the shirts. It was such a meaningful gesture, and knowing that those 265 names were with us at the last meets of the season made it even more so.

On Friday night, when I went to the ITCCCA Awards, I wore the shirt you all gave me because it has been completely obvious for more than a few years that all our recent success was forged on the miles, experiences, hot summer days, and cold snowy winters of all 265 runners. The many coaches, parents, administrators, and athletes have shares in such awards received. 

Your coaches are real people. They are imperfect individuals that strive for the best for each and every boy on the team. While we strive to pull excellence out of our boys, we have equally high standards for ourselves. Not everything was perfect this season. We ALL were met with different adversities. On behalf of my coaching brothers, we sincerely thank you for your patience, your understanding, your flexibility, your efforts to help your sons, and ultimately to do so many different things to make this season epic.

I believe that God puts special people in special places, to do special things. Thank you all for being a huge part of such a tremendous year. If you're still up for celebrating, we are meeting up as one big (current and former) KXC Family on January 31st at 5:30pm, at Schmidt's in Elburn. Please come join us if it fits your schedule. This would be more of a grown up function, but I'll surely see your sons for some conditioning that afternoon.

Thank you for everything. We are truly blessed, at Kaneland.

Yours in running,

Coach Clarey

Kaneland State Championship Recognition Update

There's been many who have reached out to ask questions about the recognition of our team, following the tremendous weekend we just experienced. Please read the following document for an explanation of some of the traditions, omissions, and forthcoming celebration opportunities that will highlight our program's recent achievement.

LINK TO LETTER'

As always, thank you all for your loving support of your team, coaches, and Kaneland.

Your Letter - Our Book

Your Letter – Our Book

We’ve had a tradition for about 12 years… and the coaches are proud to organize a book for the State qualifying runners to read and enjoy on their trip down to Peoria.  It contains information about the meet, a puzzle or two, and most importantly, letters from their families, friends, Kaneland alumni, community members and others who felt inclined to share. 

We solicit these letter attachments to email, offering a chance to share advice, thoughts, quotes and inspiration to ALL of the runners on the team, as well as to Rachel Richtman, our individual qualifier on the girls side.  If you know of anyone who may enjoy the chance to send something along to the team and/or to Rachel, please have them do so.

·      There will be ONE BOOK with letters to both Rachel and the boys team.

Parents:  ALL parents of runners on the State Team should make a two-fold letter.  First, please address your letter to your athlete.  Let them know how proud you are of them.  Write what is in your heart.  They will likely save this book for years to come.  Second, please add another section dedicated to the team/Rachel.  Advice, thoughts, inspiration or otherwise would be appropriate.

Guidelines:  We will be assembling this book on Thursday.  ALL LETTERS TO THE TEAM MUST BE RECEIVED VIA EMAIL ON WEDNESDAY at NOON.  If you do not make the deadline, there will be no guarantee that your letter will be included in the bound edition.  ALL EMAILED LETTERS SHOULD BE SENT TO:  kanelandxc@gmail.com

Letters should be kept to one page in length, if possible (small font). 

As always, we appreciate the support that our extended Kaneland Community provides us.  If you know of someone who would like to offer something to make this book even more special, please pass along the guidelines and details here.

Thank you for your help in making this special KXC tradition a reality.

Address for emailing letters:   kanelandxc@gmail.com

Regional Help Needed From KXC Families

This weekend we host the IHSA Regional at Kaneland. We have many positions available on the link found here. Please come join us for a great morning of racing. The field will be tough and the opportunity to advance is key. Please come help us show why the IHSA likes to have Kaneland host these events. We need ya!
LINK TO VOLUNTEER

ZOMBIE RUN DATE CHANGED!

We will run our Zombie Run at Kaneland High School on Monday, October 14th. We have changed the date due to the deteriorating forecast, coupled with team health. Please plan on all the same events and times, with volunteer roles too, being held on Monday evening of this Columbus Day weekend.

Zombie Volunteers Unite!