messi wrote:
man o' man wrote:Brea Olinda and their coach Jeremy Mattern maybe the reason California got no at-large berths this year. The NXN committee may have decided to give the at-large births to regions that will send complete and competitive teams. Not a chopped-up version less their best runner/scorer to come in 2nd to LAST!
And isn't it coincidental that a year after Tamagno "bails out" on his team to run Footlocker, coach Mattern "bails out" on his team to go coach with his brother! The bark doesn't fall far from the tree. Not a whole lot of loyalty in that program!
First, let's be snarky. In this instance, it's "may be," not "maybe." Also, pick a berth/birth and stick with it.
Okay, now the serious part. I probably should not respond, but when it comes to loyalty and Brea Olinda, I'm passionate about the program. Leaving was one of the most challenging decisions of my life; I miss the athletes and the coaches I worked with more than a message board can convey. My one year stint in southern California turned into sixteen years, and the reason is Brea Olinda XC.
The fact that Brea Olinda ran without Tamagno at NXN last year may have hurt California teams with the at-large process this year. However, I really don't know. Like you, I can only speculate. I do know that we would have loved to have had Austin race with the team last year at NXN, but after we qualified, he told me he was choosing to do FL, and I chose to support him. What was I supposed to do, banish Austin from Brea Olinda? Trash him online? Deny the other guys on the team who contributed to our qualifying from racing NXN? Ironically, my loyalty to Brea Olinda is questioned, when I worked with a difficult situation to support all of my athletes to the best of my abilities. I admit, the situation was not ideal, but I have no control over athlete racing choices post CIF competition.
As for the decision to move 400 miles away from Brea nine months after Tamagno chose not to run with the team at NXN, your deductive reasoning clearly outed me. No coincidence--it was payback (not sure on whom, but payback nonetheless). I'm one petty son-of-gun! The decision had nothing to do with wanting to live in the Bay Area so that my children can grow up around grandparents and their uncle. Sheesh!
Again, good luck to athletes at both meets this weekend. Austin, if you're reading this, I can't wait to cheer you on in Portland. See you there.