🏈 LIGHTS ON. PANTHERS SHOW UP! 🏈
Our undefeated junior high Panthers headed to Blackduck for some Tuesday night football under the lights, and they’re coming home with another WIN!
The Drakes gave us a battle, but our Panthers fought through adversity, stuck together, and pulled out a hard-earned 20–14 victory! 💪
From the full player introductions to the bright lights and all the game-night bells and whistles, our students got an experience to remember. And they made the most of their moment!
Big thanks to Blackduck for making it a special night for junior high football. Proud of our Panthers for their grit, teamwork, and determination!
Still undefeated. Still working. What a night to be a Panther! 🐾🔥
#PantherPride #GoPanthers #JuniorHighFootball
Attention CLB High School
🍂 Fall Special = Yearbook Savings!🍂
Don’t miss your chance to lock in your 2026–2027 Touchstones Yearbook at the special price of $65 + tax!
📸 A whole year of memories, friends, events, activities, quotes, surveys, sports, and everything that makes CLB unforgettable—all in one book.
⏰ Order by October 16 to get the $65 price!
💻 Order online at Jostens.com or pay in cash or check to Ms. Engel
Buy it now. Thank yourself later. 🐾📖
#CLBPanthers #TouchstonesYearbook #Yearbook2027 #CassLakeBena #PantherPride #YearbookMemories
🍂 Fall Special = Yearbook Savings!🍂
Don’t miss your chance to lock in your 2026–2027 Touchstones Yearbook at the special price of $65 + tax!
📸 A whole year of memories, friends, events, activities, quotes, surveys, sports, and everything that makes CLB unforgettable—all in one book.
⏰ Order by October 16 to get the $65 price!
💻 Order online at Jostens.com or pay in cash or check to Ms. Engel
Buy it now. Thank yourself later. 🐾📖
#CLBPanthers #TouchstonesYearbook #Yearbook2027 #CassLakeBena #PantherPride #YearbookMemories
PANTHERS RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS: Part 2
On the girls varsity side, Tiara Wilson battled through her first 5K dealing with a hurt ankle. She finished in 27:06/ running 8:43 a mile for her very first 5k is no joke.
Tiara is human sunshine.
She brings energy, encouragement, and humor wherever she goes. She has a way of lifting the mood of the entire program simply by being herself. It’s fun watching her step into a new sport and compete.
Tiana Wind is also a very tough athlete, she finished 97th while battling an extremely tight soleus.
The soleus muscle is a shock absorber. It absorbs up to eight times your body weight when you run. She could have dropped out.
But that’s not Tiana.
For her, the victory was refusing to quit, pushing through the discomfort, and seeing it through all the way to the finish line.
Our younger Panthers got after it, too.
Jordince Wind battled runners from Bemidji and Roseau finishing 9th in 15:44.8 (7:52 pace). She came through the finish breathing hard and feeling that familiar pain every runner learns to appreciate.
Ask any runner, there’s magic in the misery. All that hard work earned her a medal in a DEEP field.
Jacie Robertson-Lyon crossed in 18:18.4 at 9:09 per mile, running almost exactly the same time as her previous meet, except this time she did it on an even TOUGHER course.
Jacie is a joy to watch because she is always smiling and eager to improve.
For the JH boys, Gavin Fineday ran 15:41.8 (7:50) for 39th, making another huge leap from last year. His PR last season was 17:09, meaning he has cut 90 WHOLE seconds off his best time.
His confidence has grown. At practice, Gavin now wants to run with the faster athletes. He is challenging himself to find out just how good he can become.
Keegan Cooper was right behind him in 15:46.6 for 41st out of 65 runners. He started cross country a month late, but he showed up, competed, and made the most of every opportunity.
Every meet teaches you something.
The Bagley Invitational showed the Panthers can compete with some of the strongest programs around.
The Panthers don’t back down.
They bite back.
Momentum IS a beautiful thing, and it’s fun watching the Panthers carry it forward.
The fields get deeper. The names on the starting line get tougher.
Good.
That’s exactly where we want to be.
On the girls varsity side, Tiara Wilson battled through her first 5K dealing with a hurt ankle. She finished in 27:06/ running 8:43 a mile for her very first 5k is no joke.
Tiara is human sunshine.
She brings energy, encouragement, and humor wherever she goes. She has a way of lifting the mood of the entire program simply by being herself. It’s fun watching her step into a new sport and compete.
Tiana Wind is also a very tough athlete, she finished 97th while battling an extremely tight soleus.
The soleus muscle is a shock absorber. It absorbs up to eight times your body weight when you run. She could have dropped out.
But that’s not Tiana.
For her, the victory was refusing to quit, pushing through the discomfort, and seeing it through all the way to the finish line.
Our younger Panthers got after it, too.
Jordince Wind battled runners from Bemidji and Roseau finishing 9th in 15:44.8 (7:52 pace). She came through the finish breathing hard and feeling that familiar pain every runner learns to appreciate.
Ask any runner, there’s magic in the misery. All that hard work earned her a medal in a DEEP field.
Jacie Robertson-Lyon crossed in 18:18.4 at 9:09 per mile, running almost exactly the same time as her previous meet, except this time she did it on an even TOUGHER course.
Jacie is a joy to watch because she is always smiling and eager to improve.
For the JH boys, Gavin Fineday ran 15:41.8 (7:50) for 39th, making another huge leap from last year. His PR last season was 17:09, meaning he has cut 90 WHOLE seconds off his best time.
His confidence has grown. At practice, Gavin now wants to run with the faster athletes. He is challenging himself to find out just how good he can become.
Keegan Cooper was right behind him in 15:46.6 for 41st out of 65 runners. He started cross country a month late, but he showed up, competed, and made the most of every opportunity.
Every meet teaches you something.
The Bagley Invitational showed the Panthers can compete with some of the strongest programs around.
The Panthers don’t back down.
They bite back.
Momentum IS a beautiful thing, and it’s fun watching the Panthers carry it forward.
The fields get deeper. The names on the starting line get tougher.
Good.
That’s exactly where we want to be.
🌱 Future Educators in Action!
Last week, our Introduction to Teaching college course traveled to the Itasca campus for a day of professional development with Peacemakers, giving our future educators an opportunity to learn, connect, and grow alongside other students preparing to enter the field of education.
Introduction to Teaching is a new college-level course at Cass Lake-Bena, offered in partnership with Minnesota North College, and our students have already been diving into some powerful conversations about what it means to become an educator.
Throughout the course, students have been exploring identity, culture, resilience, the whole child, and the many factors that shape a student’s experience in school. Most importantly, we’ve been asking a fundamental question:
How do we create classrooms where every student feels seen, heard, valued, and supported?
If you ask any student in this course, one of the best parts of the class is the discussions. Students are thinking critically about the kind of educators they want to become and how they can build relationships, create a sense of belonging, recognize students’ strengths, and respond to students with empathy and understanding.
Part of this course also requires students to complete a field experience. Two days a week, they are working alongside a mentor teacher in an elementary or middle school classroom, getting hands-on experience and seeing what it’s really like to be in a classroom.
And perhaps the most encouraging part? At their core, this group of students genuinely wants to help people in whatever career path they choose after high school. ❤️
We are excited to see where these future educators go and, someday, to welcome them back into our schools and communities as teachers, counselors, coaches, and educational leaders. 🍎📚
🏈✨ JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL UNDER THE LIGHTS! ✨🏈
Tonight, our Junior High Panther Football team travels to Blackduck for a special night game!
🐾 Cass Lake-Bena Panthers
🆚 Blackduck Drakes
📅 Tuesday, October 6
⏰ Kickoff: 7:00 PM
📍 Blackduck High School Football Field
This will be more than just another football game! The Panthers will get the full Friday-night experience under the lights, complete with all the bells and whistles!
Make the trip, wear your maroon and black, and help create a great atmosphere for our Junior High student-athletes. It is going to be a fun night of Panther Football!
Thank you to Western Bank, our Game Day sponsor, for supporting Cass Lake-Bena student-athletes!
GO PANTHERS! 🐾
Tonight, our Junior High Panther Football team travels to Blackduck for a special night game!
🐾 Cass Lake-Bena Panthers
🆚 Blackduck Drakes
📅 Tuesday, October 6
⏰ Kickoff: 7:00 PM
📍 Blackduck High School Football Field
This will be more than just another football game! The Panthers will get the full Friday-night experience under the lights, complete with all the bells and whistles!
Make the trip, wear your maroon and black, and help create a great atmosphere for our Junior High student-athletes. It is going to be a fun night of Panther Football!
Thank you to Western Bank, our Game Day sponsor, for supporting Cass Lake-Bena student-athletes!
GO PANTHERS! 🐾
Due to low numbers at Circle of Life there will be no 8th grade game.
🏐 WESTERN BANK PANTHER GAME DAY! 🏐
Our 8th Grade Panther Volleyball team is back on the court today as they welcome Circle of Life to Cass Lake-Bena!
🆚 Circle of Life
⏰ 4:30 PM
📍 Cass Lake-Bena Middle School Main Gym
📺 Middle School Livestream:
https://fan.hudl.com/clbmspanthers
🏈 JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE UPDATE 🏈
Tomorrow’s Junior High Football game at Blackduck has been moved from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
📅 Tuesday, October 6
📍 Blackduck
⏰ NEW START TIME: 7:00 PM
Please help us spread the word about the time change!
Thank you to Western Bank, our Game Day sponsor, for supporting Cass Lake-Bena activities!
GO PANTHERS! 🐾
PANTHERS RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS: Part 1/2
If you can’t hang with the big dogs, better stay on the porch.
The Bagley meet is a big meet. Big competition.
The big dogs were there.
The question is: Are you a dog who bites back, or a dog who backs down?
The Panthers aren’t dogs. They’re cats, but they are BIG cats.
With strong programs from larger schools, including AAA Bemidji and AA Thief River Falls, the Panthers had a chance to see exactly where they stacked up against some serious competition.
Turning a corner with half a mile to go, the Bagley course winds around and heads to the finish line. As coaches and spectators, it’s one of the best places to stand because you get to watch the Panthers come around that corner and GO.
All-Conference and 5k school record holder Markis Washington was the first to turn it, and he looked smooth.
Then came the gear shift. He looked like he was out for blood.
He led the Panthers across the line in 18:30.9, finishing 14th and earning a medal in a STACKED field. He fought for every step down the final stretch,going stride for stride against AA Thief River Falls runner Lincoln Davis.
The intensity continued to build throughout the race, and his finish was the kind that gives you goosebumps. In a race with AAA teams, earning a medal is a huge accomplishment.
Behind him, the Panthers kept coming.
School Record holder in both the 1 mile and 2500 meters, Fabian Wittner came through looking super strong. He unleashed his famous Panther kick.
Fabian hammered the final stretch, turning heads while fighting off Roseau runner Abrahm Huener. He crossed in 19:28 (6:16 pace) and knocked 16 seconds off his previous best.
And then there was Brayden Dahl, RIGHT behind.
3200 meter school record holder Brayden has been spending his time putting on the football pads, but he showed up to Bagley and proved the fitness is definitely still there. He finished in 19:52 (6:24 pace) putting on a very impressive performance despite no recent practice.
Into the finish, he battled hard keeping AA Thief River Falls runner Tobias Sobota at bay.
Watching Markis, Fabian, and Brayden battle through that stretch was a lot of fun. As coaches, it’s hard not to smile when you see a tight pack of Panthers round that final corner.
Zane Halse also had a strong showing after some time away, finishing in 21:52, a 7:02-per-mile pace. He showed that he is right back in the fight.
Kenny Litzau continues to put himself in a strong position as the season moves forward. He finished in 23:27 for a strong pace of 7:32/mile, more than THREE whole minutes ahead of where he was at this point last year.
Senior William Staples joined the Panther squad this year, he brings something special to the team beyond racing. He encourages his teammates with words in Ojibwe bringing them strength.
He finished his 5k on a difficult course with a shiny new PB of 29:56 (9:38 pace).
When the scores were totaled, Cass Lake-Bena finished 8th out of 15 teams, AHEAD of Roseau, the conference champion team last year.
For a Panther program that continues to grow, that matters.
If you can’t hang with the big dogs, better stay on the porch.
The Bagley meet is a big meet. Big competition.
The big dogs were there.
The question is: Are you a dog who bites back, or a dog who backs down?
The Panthers aren’t dogs. They’re cats, but they are BIG cats.
With strong programs from larger schools, including AAA Bemidji and AA Thief River Falls, the Panthers had a chance to see exactly where they stacked up against some serious competition.
Turning a corner with half a mile to go, the Bagley course winds around and heads to the finish line. As coaches and spectators, it’s one of the best places to stand because you get to watch the Panthers come around that corner and GO.
All-Conference and 5k school record holder Markis Washington was the first to turn it, and he looked smooth.
Then came the gear shift. He looked like he was out for blood.
He led the Panthers across the line in 18:30.9, finishing 14th and earning a medal in a STACKED field. He fought for every step down the final stretch,going stride for stride against AA Thief River Falls runner Lincoln Davis.
The intensity continued to build throughout the race, and his finish was the kind that gives you goosebumps. In a race with AAA teams, earning a medal is a huge accomplishment.
Behind him, the Panthers kept coming.
School Record holder in both the 1 mile and 2500 meters, Fabian Wittner came through looking super strong. He unleashed his famous Panther kick.
Fabian hammered the final stretch, turning heads while fighting off Roseau runner Abrahm Huener. He crossed in 19:28 (6:16 pace) and knocked 16 seconds off his previous best.
And then there was Brayden Dahl, RIGHT behind.
3200 meter school record holder Brayden has been spending his time putting on the football pads, but he showed up to Bagley and proved the fitness is definitely still there. He finished in 19:52 (6:24 pace) putting on a very impressive performance despite no recent practice.
Into the finish, he battled hard keeping AA Thief River Falls runner Tobias Sobota at bay.
Watching Markis, Fabian, and Brayden battle through that stretch was a lot of fun. As coaches, it’s hard not to smile when you see a tight pack of Panthers round that final corner.
Zane Halse also had a strong showing after some time away, finishing in 21:52, a 7:02-per-mile pace. He showed that he is right back in the fight.
Kenny Litzau continues to put himself in a strong position as the season moves forward. He finished in 23:27 for a strong pace of 7:32/mile, more than THREE whole minutes ahead of where he was at this point last year.
Senior William Staples joined the Panther squad this year, he brings something special to the team beyond racing. He encourages his teammates with words in Ojibwe bringing them strength.
He finished his 5k on a difficult course with a shiny new PB of 29:56 (9:38 pace).
When the scores were totaled, Cass Lake-Bena finished 8th out of 15 teams, AHEAD of Roseau, the conference champion team last year.
For a Panther program that continues to grow, that matters.
🏐 WESTERN BANK PANTHER GAME DAY! 🏐
Our Panther JV Volleyball team travels to Nevis tomorrow for the Northland Conference JV Tournament!
📅 Saturday, October 3
📍 Nevis High School
⏰ First Match: 9:45 AM
🆚 Lake of the Woods
Good luck to our student-athletes as they represent Cass Lake-Bena at the conference tournament! Compete hard, support one another, and enjoy the opportunity!
Thank you to Western Bank, our Game Day sponsor, for supporting Cass Lake-Bena student-athletes!
GO PANTHERS! 🐾
Our Panther JV Volleyball team travels to Nevis tomorrow for the Northland Conference JV Tournament!
📅 Saturday, October 3
📍 Nevis High School
⏰ First Match: 9:45 AM
🆚 Lake of the Woods
Good luck to our student-athletes as they represent Cass Lake-Bena at the conference tournament! Compete hard, support one another, and enjoy the opportunity!
Thank you to Western Bank, our Game Day sponsor, for supporting Cass Lake-Bena student-athletes!
GO PANTHERS! 🐾
Mrs. Nei’s homeroom took advantage of the beautiful fall weather with some outdoor reading! We’re lucky to have such a wonderful outdoor classroom space where students can learn, read, and enjoy the changing colors around them. 🍂📚☀️
🏈 WESTERN BANK GAME DAY! 🏈
Panther Football is back at home tomorrow, Friday, October 2, as Cass Lake-Bena takes on Park Christian!
🕔 Kickoff: 5:00 PM
📍 Cass Lake-Bena High School Football Field
🏈 Varsity Football
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.gobound.com/mn/schools/casslakebena/tickets
📺 Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/clbhspanthers
Wear your maroon and black, bring your Panther pride, and help us fill the stands! Thank you to Western Bank for supporting our student-athletes.
Go Panthers! 🐾
#PantherPride #CLBFootball
Panther Football is back at home tomorrow, Friday, October 2, as Cass Lake-Bena takes on Park Christian!
🕔 Kickoff: 5:00 PM
📍 Cass Lake-Bena High School Football Field
🏈 Varsity Football
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.gobound.com/mn/schools/casslakebena/tickets
📺 Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/clbhspanthers
Wear your maroon and black, bring your Panther pride, and help us fill the stands! Thank you to Western Bank for supporting our student-athletes.
Go Panthers! 🐾
#PantherPride #CLBFootball
The CLBES Fall Book Fair will be here the week of November 2nd to the 6th. Conferences are happening on November 2nd, so our Family Night is also November 2nd. Stay tuned because we have a lot of details still to come!
🚨 JV CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT UPDATE 🚨
The JV Volleyball Conference Tournament scheduled for Saturday, October 3, has been moved from Red Lake to Nevis.
📅 Saturday, October 3
📍 NEW LOCATION: Nevis
🏐 First Match: Cass Lake-Bena vs. Lake of the Woods
⏰ 9:45 AM
Please help us spread the word and make sure everyone travels to the correct location!
GO PANTHERS! 🐾
The JV Volleyball Conference Tournament scheduled for Saturday, October 3, has been moved from Red Lake to Nevis.
📅 Saturday, October 3
📍 NEW LOCATION: Nevis
🏐 First Match: Cass Lake-Bena vs. Lake of the Woods
⏰ 9:45 AM
Please help us spread the word and make sure everyone travels to the correct location!
GO PANTHERS! 🐾
🐾PANTHER GAME DAY! 🐾
The Panthers are back in action tomorrow, Thursday, October 1! Junior High Football travels to Deer River, while Panther Volleyball welcomes Blackduck for matches at both the middle school and high school.
🏈 JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL
🆚 Deer River
⏰ 4:30 PM
📍 Deer River High School Football Field
🏐 MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
🆚 Blackduck
📍 CLB Middle School Main Gym
• 7th Grade: 4:45 PM
• 8th Grade: 5:45 PM
🏐 HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
🆚 Blackduck
📍 CLB High School Main Gym
• Junior Varsity: 5:45 PM
• Varsity: 6:45 PM
🎟️ Tickets:
https://www.gobound.com/mn/schools/casslakebena/tickets
📺 High School Livestream:
https://fan.hudl.com/clbhspanthers
📺 Middle School Livestream:
https://fan.hudl.com/clbmspanthers
Come out, wear your maroon and black, and support our Panther student-athletes!
Thank you to Western Bank, our Game Day sponsor, for supporting Cass Lake-Bena activities!
GO PANTHERS! 🐾
🏐🏈 PANTHER YOUTH SPORTS WEEKEND! 🏈🏐
Our young Panthers have another busy Saturday ahead! On Saturday, October 3, our 3rd through 6th grade volleyball and flag football teams will compete at three different locations.
🏈 3RD–4TH GRADE FLAG FOOTBALL
📍 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
📋https://drive.google.com/file/d/10jmx23PrWVD3GuKPszyfENjBJRJlfP_3/view?usp=sharing
🏐 3RD–4TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL
📍 Pillager High School
📋https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dUeT6wiPQCIu61NaMon-leFI0ZKqJkSc/view?usp=sharing
🏈 5TH–6TH GRADE FLAG FOOTBALL
📍 Cass Lake-Bena High School Football Field
📋 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o9EkEZgZaRwAPyFn1HTAw9Tzx-NFoPVO/view?usp=sharing
🏐 5TH–6TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL
📍Pillager High School
📋 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1woqet0MUKZz-MIIFie-dwywqnh3bLYmv/view?usp=sharing
We are excited for another great day of learning, competing, and having fun! Please cheer positively, support every participant, respect the officials and coaches, and help make this a great experience for all our young athletes.
Thank you to our coaches, families, volunteers, and everyone who continues to make Panther Youth Sports possible!
Our young Panthers have another busy Saturday ahead! On Saturday, October 3, our 3rd through 6th grade volleyball and flag football teams will compete at three different locations.
🏈 3RD–4TH GRADE FLAG FOOTBALL
📍 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
📋https://drive.google.com/file/d/10jmx23PrWVD3GuKPszyfENjBJRJlfP_3/view?usp=sharing
🏐 3RD–4TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL
📍 Pillager High School
📋https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dUeT6wiPQCIu61NaMon-leFI0ZKqJkSc/view?usp=sharing
🏈 5TH–6TH GRADE FLAG FOOTBALL
📍 Cass Lake-Bena High School Football Field
📋 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o9EkEZgZaRwAPyFn1HTAw9Tzx-NFoPVO/view?usp=sharing
🏐 5TH–6TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL
📍Pillager High School
📋 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1woqet0MUKZz-MIIFie-dwywqnh3bLYmv/view?usp=sharing
We are excited for another great day of learning, competing, and having fun! Please cheer positively, support every participant, respect the officials and coaches, and help make this a great experience for all our young athletes.
Thank you to our coaches, families, volunteers, and everyone who continues to make Panther Youth Sports possible!
Drum and Dance!
🐾 PANTHER EVENTS TOMORROW | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
🏃 Cross Country | Deer River Invite
⏰ 4:00 PM
📍 White Oak Campground
Good luck to our boys and girls runners!
🏈 Junior High Football vs. Nevis
⏰ 4:30 PM
📍 Cass Lake-Bena High School Football Field
Come cheer on the Panthers at home!
🏐 Volleyball at Clearbrook-Gonvick
• 7th Grade: 4:45 PM | Clearbrook-Gonvick High School
• 8th Grade: 5:45 PM | Clearbrook-Gonvick High School
• JV: will not play due to low numbers
• Varsity: 6:45 PM | Clearbrook-Gonvick High School
Good luck to all our Panthers competing tomorrow!
Due to impending weather, we are going to cancel tonight's youth practices for Football! That would include all groups K-6th.
The Panther girls are finding their way.
Some moments stick with you because of what they represent.
Sometimes a medal is more than a medal. It can represent the courage to step into something unfamiliar and discover that you are capable of more than you thought.
Most people are not willing to step into the unknown.
Jordince and Jacie are not most people.
The day before the Pine River-Backus invitational, both girls were told by their coach that they had a chance to sneak into the top 10. Their wide-eyed response was almost the same:
‘Really?!’
Neither one quite believed it yet.
Then they went out and raced.
Seventh grader Jacie Robertson Lyon quietly worked her way into 10th place, and eighth grader Jordince Wind put herself near the front and finished third. Pine River is a difficult course in terms of footing and terms. However both girls leaned into the hills, got up on their toes on the inclines, and competed.
Neither one knew where they had finished until afterward.
When they found out, the smiles said everything. They were grinning ear to ear. The joy of challenging themselves was on full display.
That is part of what makes racing so much fun. You can train and prepare, but when you step to the line, you get to find out how strong you are that day.
Prior to the race, both girls were given lightning bolt earrings as a reminder of their competitive fire.
Somewhere along the course, Jacie lost one of the girls’ lightning-bolt earrings. She felt bad about it afterward, but there was something fitting about that.
Sometimes you have to lose something to gain something greater.
Jacie finished the 1.55 mile race in 13:27, a pace of 8:37 a mile. She earned herself a medal and the very next day at practice she wanted to keep going when her run ended. There's something powerful about realizing what you can do, it makes you wonder what else is there.
Cross country is completely new territory for Jordince, even though competition certainly isn’t. She is a baller, and you can see it when she races. The smile disappears, the focus takes over, and that basketball game face comes out. She is locked in.
After the race was a different story.
She was all smiles, nervous and excited asking where she was supposed to stand for awards. Since the medals were announced beginning with 10th place, she kept waiting to hear her name.
Tenth. Ninth. Eighth…
They kept going.
All the way to third place.
Then she heard her name. She found her place and stood up there with pride. Jordince finished in 11:41 for 1.55 miles, a strong pace of 7:32 a mile.
For two girls in their first season of cross country, those medals represent more than where they finished. They stepped into something unfamiliar, trusted themselves enough to try, and discovered they are stronger than they thought and they definitely belong.
The Panther girls are finding their way, and having some fun while they figure out just how good they can be.
One thing is for sure: neither one needed the lightning bolt earrings after all.
The lightning was already within them.
Some moments stick with you because of what they represent.
Sometimes a medal is more than a medal. It can represent the courage to step into something unfamiliar and discover that you are capable of more than you thought.
Most people are not willing to step into the unknown.
Jordince and Jacie are not most people.
The day before the Pine River-Backus invitational, both girls were told by their coach that they had a chance to sneak into the top 10. Their wide-eyed response was almost the same:
‘Really?!’
Neither one quite believed it yet.
Then they went out and raced.
Seventh grader Jacie Robertson Lyon quietly worked her way into 10th place, and eighth grader Jordince Wind put herself near the front and finished third. Pine River is a difficult course in terms of footing and terms. However both girls leaned into the hills, got up on their toes on the inclines, and competed.
Neither one knew where they had finished until afterward.
When they found out, the smiles said everything. They were grinning ear to ear. The joy of challenging themselves was on full display.
That is part of what makes racing so much fun. You can train and prepare, but when you step to the line, you get to find out how strong you are that day.
Prior to the race, both girls were given lightning bolt earrings as a reminder of their competitive fire.
Somewhere along the course, Jacie lost one of the girls’ lightning-bolt earrings. She felt bad about it afterward, but there was something fitting about that.
Sometimes you have to lose something to gain something greater.
Jacie finished the 1.55 mile race in 13:27, a pace of 8:37 a mile. She earned herself a medal and the very next day at practice she wanted to keep going when her run ended. There's something powerful about realizing what you can do, it makes you wonder what else is there.
Cross country is completely new territory for Jordince, even though competition certainly isn’t. She is a baller, and you can see it when she races. The smile disappears, the focus takes over, and that basketball game face comes out. She is locked in.
After the race was a different story.
She was all smiles, nervous and excited asking where she was supposed to stand for awards. Since the medals were announced beginning with 10th place, she kept waiting to hear her name.
Tenth. Ninth. Eighth…
They kept going.
All the way to third place.
Then she heard her name. She found her place and stood up there with pride. Jordince finished in 11:41 for 1.55 miles, a strong pace of 7:32 a mile.
For two girls in their first season of cross country, those medals represent more than where they finished. They stepped into something unfamiliar, trusted themselves enough to try, and discovered they are stronger than they thought and they definitely belong.
The Panther girls are finding their way, and having some fun while they figure out just how good they can be.
One thing is for sure: neither one needed the lightning bolt earrings after all.
The lightning was already within them.
Mikwendaagoziwag
