The Ohiyoh's Blogspot: Madison

Showing posts with label Madison. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Fireman’s 5K

We have a new position in our district; they are the athletic trainer, but also a “health and wellness” coordinator. Her name is Audrey Zuercher. She proposed at the beginning of the year that staff meet at the park on Mondays to use the trail and exercise together in whatever capacity that meant for them. She also sent out a couch to 5K training plan and let people know about the Fireman’s 5K that happens at the beginning of November. I decided I would participate in the Monday club and use the training plan to prepare for the 5K. The last time I did a 5K I didn’t really train for it, but I completed it by walking and running intervals. This time, I wanted to be ready.

So, I went on the first Monday in September. It was just Audrey and I. Audrey is a runner; I am not. She was gracious and ran the first day of the training program with me. I fit in two more training sessions on my own each week. Then, every Monday, she and I (no one else came) would run. And I felt tired of training, but also ready for the 5K.

Madison and Ellie both wanted to run it, too. So once volleyball ended, they both ran off and on to prepare for it. Jeremy signed up, too, in support of the Firemen and to get the free hoodie. He didn’t train, but he already did a 50 mile bike ride none of us had done.

Saturday morning was cooler than it had been, but the sun was shining and the wind wasn’t blowing. It was actually great running weather.

There were about 300-400 people running from the high school down on the bike trail and then back up. We all said we would run at our own pace. Madison and Ellie started out together and at some point, separated. I just plodded along, only stopping for about a 10 second breather at one point. Pretty proud of myself. Madison never stopped running. Ellie took some walk breaks when needed. Jeremy ended with a run. I would say we all did a good job for where we were at.

I would say we all did a good job for where we were at.

And because I can’t stop laughing at the ridiculousness of this picture, I am putting it in. I look like I am either out for a little skipping down the street or I am a turtle. Not sure which, but enjoy a chuckle at my expense…

It was a lot of work to train, but it definitely paid off. We will see if I am as motivated next year…

Madison’s Sophomore Volleyball Season

Every year is different. Being on JV is not the same as being on the freshmen team. But I believe it could be.

I write this, and I don’t know how to write this. It was a hard season. Probably a harder season for us as parents than it was for Madison. Mostly, because she is a better person than us. I want this to be a true testament to the season for my future self to remember. But I also want it to reflect positively on Madison. So, maybe there will be two different perspectives. I’ll start with the hard and end with the good.

This summer, there were opportunities for the volleyball girls – open gyms, lifting sessions, summer league, and additional agility sessions. She loved agility training, enjoyed open gyms, and saw growth in what she could do at lifting. Summer league was another story. She went to this and all things any time she was available and poured her heart into it. The new JV coach, however, saw summer not as a chance to let the girls flourish, make mistakes, grow, develop, and bond, but as a time to win, find her favorites, and make her team. It is not what it is supposed to be – it is not required; it is not the season. So, Madison, along with 4 others, found that they sat out at summer league games. Then, they continued to sit – even at 2 different scrimmages – scrimmages that were each 3 hours long against various other schools – never once getting a chance to get in the game … at a scrimmage. Our minds were blown. Never have we been a part of programs where scrimmages were seen as a do or die situation. The season continued in the same manner. If the coach put in benchwarmers, it was in the last few points of the game and only one at a time, so they alternated random nights of play. It was the saddest thing I have ever been a part of.

It maybe would have made a tiny bit of sense if the players on the court were all-stars who didn’t make many mistakes, who looked like a well-oiled machine, and who looked like they were having fun. But none of those things were true. The girls playing were pretty much at the same skill level as those sitting the bench. Those playing made a TON of mistakes with no fear that they would ever come out – while those that hardly got in played thinking if they shanked the ball once meant they wouldn’t get in again. Those playing did not communicate or move cohesively as a team and they didn’t look like they were having fun most of the time. Not trying to tear them down, I am just saying there were some that could have been given a chance. Did they win? Yes. So, if that is the goal, great. But I think the goal of a JV team is to grow players for a varsity level team. That means you have no idea who is going to improve and who is at their peak. That you give kids playing time – not equal, but earned and deserved opportunities – to develop. That is what coaching is about, right? Taking each player and helping them grow – and rewarding them in the best possible way… as a part of a team on and off the court.

While Jeremy and I sat on the bleachers stewing and mumbling in disbelief as the gap in the score widen and no one got in, Madison and her crew stood up and cheered, high-fived the two subs that went in, and pressed on. There were only two games during the season where Madison showed disappointment/frustration with how things were going. And those were the two most difficult times.

On a positive note, Madison worked hard. She showed resilience in an obviously difficult situation. It was hard to see if she was making progress/getting better with the lack of court time. However, she would come back and tell us about her serves steadily improving – going farther and more consistently over the net. I could see her movement on the court was good, adjusting to block coverage and hitting coverage. When she was on the court, she picked up some nice digs, had some good passes to the setter, and played well overall.

While this season was not as we expected, we were so proud of our daughter. She never quit, never had a bad attitude, always encouraged, and worked hard. We hope she walked away from the season believing the best of herself and still enjoying volleyball. We love you to the moon and back!

Wayne County Fair + Birthday

These things always go hand and hand for Jeremy. In fact, he often just wants to celebrate by going to the fair. We surprised him by decorating his office hallway. Another year around the sun for this guy – 49!

At the fair, we enjoyed all kinds of tasty treats from donuts to ice cream to gyros to kettle corn to fancy drinks. No lack of food, just lack of money to buy it all! (I think Ellie is missing some from pictures because she spent one of the days with her friends at the fair instead of us.)

Sam and Lilli did not show goats this year, which is always fun to watch, but Sam showed a turkey and placed (but I don’t remember what..) We did see Lilli get a scholarship award. We did see the girls 4-H projects on display. We did find the 4-H bench. We took a walk down memory lane at the tractors Jeremy’s grandpa Bricker would enjoy.

Velosano

Jeremy has participated in this bike ride, Velosano, Bike for the Cure, for a good number of years. This year, he rode the 50 again in honor of a list of people too long to fit on his race bib – those who fought and lost their battle with cancer, and those continuing to fight. Last year, he was pelted with rain and wind. This year, his trek was much more pleasant.

The girls and I decided to drive up and meet him at the finish line. And we did… getting to the finish line with our sign about 1 minute before he rode in! Whew, that was a close one!

He met his mark with time and seemed no worse for the wear afterwards. We sat with him as enjoyed the food they provide for riders. We also looked around at all the sponsors stuff. There was a vehicle wrapped with all the participants names, so we found his name. He added his name and others to the wall.

I am glad we were there when he came in.

Bricker Wedding

There was a wedding in a courthouse after years of dating. There was a celebration on a farm with friends and family. Congratulations to Luke and Kristen!

It was a gorgeous night at the end of August to gather together after much hard work cleaning up and setting up by Jeremy’s aunt and uncle. We reconnected (and hosted) some of the family that were able to come for the celebration!

We took some nice family pictures.