Am I Really a State Champ?

You are a state Champ. Given the fact that you actually participated at the State meet gives it more credence. However, if you go around telling people you are a State Champ that is where it becomes arrogant. You have to wait to do that until you are in college where "everyone" was a great athlete in HS.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves with these semantics. You were on a State Champ team and yes you contributed with your one point, but you yourself are not a State Champ

The team collectively can be called state champs. You are not a state champ.

If I were you, I wouldn’t bring up the fact that you ran at states to anyone because they would then ask your time and laugh at your answer.

short shorts and shorties wrote:

The team collectively can be called state champs. You are not a state champ.

^This

Everyone scores? Never heard of this. We’re there only 8 people in your race?

Okay, Andy. I found you in the state results. Yes there were only 8 finishers. This is ridiculous.

You are a 11:06 3200 guy. I'm not saying your time is good or bad, but claiming to be a state champ is ridiculous.

short shorts and shorties wrote:

The team collectively can be called state champs. You are not a state champ.

Does this apply to other team sports? Does the starting quarterback on a State Championship football team not get to call himself a State Champ, or does he have to qualify it as he was on a State Championship winning football team.

Just take it at face value and accept the facts of it. No, you didn’t run an impressive time but you still helped your team out at the state meet and you guys did achieve something collectively. Enjoy HS running, especially opportunities like this. Don’t blow it up in your head to be more than it is, but also don’t talk yourself out of enjoying this moment. I appreciate that you aren’t delusional about your time and accept the reality of it, but you don’t need to feel bad or unworthy either. You went to states and scored - that’s cool. Hopefully you love running and continue to enjoy it and make the most of it.

No, I wouldn't walk around calling myself a state champ if I were you (even if you won individually that’s an obnoxious thing to do lol) but you can enjoy it and say you were part of it if it ever comes up.

Why not just be honest?

“Our team won a state championship.” or “I was on a state championship team.”

Both are true without overstating your impact on the team victory.

I’m pretty comfortable laughing at myself so I would probably say something like, “I added a point by finishing the 3200 before they set up the hurdles.”

It is what it is. You did your best and the team had a good result. Be satisfied with your role in that and where you are in your growth as a runner and person.

nahbruh wrote:

Let's not get ahead of ourselves with these semantics. You were on a State Champ team and yes you contributed with your one point, but you yourself are not a State Champ

And the troll, OP, already knows that to be a State Champ you have to win your event. Being on a State Championship Team is not the same thing. Again, the troll already knows that, hence the long drawn out post. Geez you guys are light in the brain department.

whyd you add an extra second on to what u ran homie

I was a relatively weak member of a team which won our league once. The few times I ever talked about I totally downplayed it, saying something like I was on our team when we won blah blah blah. That was received well enough but I never would have phrased is as, I'm the champ of blah blah blah, that would have put people off.

Hey fellow West Tennessee runner. I ran for a DI large school which won TN state a few years ago. Every single guy who ran at track state for the team called themselves state champs even though we only won because of a few super talented sprinters. Most people didn’t score, but they still got a state ring. I think it is fine that you call yourself a state champ. You ran at the state meet for your team and represented the colors. Most people embellish their lives quite a lot and this claim of yours would actually rank quite low in embellishing compared to most people’s claims.

You bring up the scoring issue for the non public school divisions in TN which is another issue altogether. One year, a close competitor and friend of mine jogged the 1600 because he wanted to ensure he got a team point just in case the team competition ended up being really close.

He was a contender for the 3200 individual crown and wanted to save himself for a chance at victory. He was put in a difficult predicament and some people viewed his decision to jog the 1600 unfavorably even though it was actually quite unselfish. I felt bad for him to be put in that situation. There needs to be a change in that system to ensure that kids aren’t put in tough situations like that. Knowing TSSAA, there is very little chance of much change, but it would be something that hopefully one day will be considered.

I wish you the best of luck in your future running endeavors. It’s tough to train in West Tennessee but running fast is very possible here. Just have to grit it out and get to work.

Thanks for the clarification, everyone. Just so everyone's clear, I'm not the type of person to walk up and say, "My name's Andy and I'm a state champ." I meant more for personal or like resume type stuff. I totally understand I wasn't supposed to be there and I probably wouldn't even be varsity at bigger schools. But to answer questions, yes, our division does 1 heat of 8 for every event, and no, I'm not a troll. General consensus is in track, you're a part of the state champion team, but unless you win your event, you're not a state champion. Thanks, everyone.

You contributed to your team score. Plenty of coaches take credit for their winning team when the assistants did all the work.

Andy Fan wrote:

Okay, Andy. I found you in the state results. Yes there were only 8 finishers. This is ridiculous.

Wow- 11:06 isn't fast enough to get into the State Qualifier Meet (there are 14 in NY State) in my Section.

For clarification:

11 Sections in the NYSPHSAA

1 CHSAA- Catholic Schools Association

1 PSAL- NY City Public Schools

1 AAIS - Private boarding schools

FACT: Win the race that you are running and you're a State Champion in the STATE MEET. If you don't win, you're simply a member of a STATE Champion TEAM IF YOUR TEAM WINS!!!!! Wow, this is so difficult to figure out (insert MAJOR sarcasm). Why would anyone go around telling anyone that they were a State Champion, even if they were? Some insecure turds out there.