Thanks, Coach Fed, from a 'Fedhead'

In 1973 Greg Fedyski ("Fed") was my eighth-grade basketball coach at MacArthur Junior High School. At that time, if you wanted to play basketball for Fed, you had to run cross country as well. I hated running then, especially distance running. However, I struggled through the year no worse for the wear.

After my graduation in 1974, I headed to Wheeling High School and found myself on the frosh-soph track team in 1975. I still did not like distance running, so my race was the 440-yard dash. That year Fed was assisting the Hersey track team and one cool spring afternoon, the Hersey-Wheeling meet was held at Wheeling High School. Fed and I exchanged pleasantries earlier in the afternoon, and then came my race. Things started out well and I was leading early on, but as I came around the final turn I began to go wobbly. My tank was just about empty and it showed. When I looked straight ahead at the crowd, there was Fed. He was screaming something at the Hersey runner who was gaining fast on me. He was yelling, "Come on, he's got nothing left, you've got him." Well, something about my old coach rooting against me lit a fire in me. I found my second wind and managed to win the race.

Afterward, Fed congratulated me and as you can tell I never forgot that moment. It was the most satisfying moment of my less-than-stellar track career. In fact, I don't think I won another race that year.

Thanks, Fed, for being the motivator for so many. Many became champions but for thousands of others it was just one race or one game on one day.

You made a difference, buddy!

Scott Shirley

Arlington Heights