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We Teach Our Kids Sportsmanship ... And Then What?

10/23/2015

8 Comments

 
Davis County Cross Country Runner Zach Hougland's Good Deed Gets Punished​

(AUDIO FILE BELOW -- PLEASE LISTEN)

​(Two additional audio files added, also below.)


Thursday night at the regional cross country meet at Columbus Junction, something happened that was all at once strange and wonderful and heartwarming and terrible and awful and outrageous all at the same time.

Davis County cross country runner Zach Hougland won the individual regional crown and his fourth consecutive trip to the boys state cross country meet in Des Moines.

Then, after he was finished with his race, he noticed another runner -- a kid from Mediapolis, who was in trouble.

The kid was struggling and stumbling, and had fallen down about 100 feet from the finish line. Could have been exhaustion, dehydration -- who knows?

So Zach went over to this other young man, picked him up, and guided him to the finish line, giving him some dignity and getting him some much-needed help. It was a show of sportsmanship and a remarkable display of humanity and kindness in a world where there's not enough of any of those things.

What did Zach get for his actions? He got applause and respect and the adoration of all the witnesses around him.

Oh, and he got disqualified from the meet.

That's right -- because the rules state that one runner cannot aid another runner, the meet officials ruled that Zach would be stripped of his first-place finish and his district title -- something he has been working toward for at least four years.

It seems that most of the coaches at the meet were on record as saying they would gladly waive the rule in this case -- since Zach's actions had absolutely no impact on the competitive part of the race, and did not influence the team scores or individual state qualifiers in any way. But there was one coach who just had to be a stickler, and he made damn sure the rule was enforced.

No good deed goes unpunished.

The one silver lining for Davis County is that the other runners on the team finished well enough that, even without Zach's championship score, the squad finished third and qualified for the state meet. So Zach and his teammates will still get to compete at the highest level.

But still -- crap like this drives me crazy.
​
Listen to my radio interview with one Davis County cross country parent who witnessed the entire situation, Joanna McCoy. You will be glad you did!
1240 am KBIZ News Report on this story, with Ken Williams:
And Ottumwa Radio Sports Report, with Jason Van Arkel:
8 Comments
MARY FOUNTAIN link
10/23/2015 01:42:29 pm

Brovo young man. You should be proud of yourself. There are not enough kids out there today who would do what you did. To help another in need.. Praise be with you. And shame on the grown ups who knock kids down for doing good. You will be one to watch in the future. God bless.

Reply
Olivia Murry
10/23/2015 04:30:39 pm

my name is Olivia Murry and I am Zach Houglands Girlfriends little sister. I am 12 years old and for as long as I have known zach he has been 1 of my biggest role models. He has a huge heart and is a true hero. What he did was courageous act of kindness and should be recognized for helping another in need. 1st place was a big win... but helping another who couldn't get up is a bigger win! I will forever look up to Zach Hougland❤️

Reply
Josh Husted
10/23/2015 05:35:33 pm

I am the Davis County coach. I am proud of Zach for what he did. He would do it again if the same situation occurred. Our community has a lot of integrity...sportsmanship...and character. This is a testimony of how our kids (athletes) are!

Reply
jan Harvey
10/23/2015 07:30:26 pm

My son, Dylan Harvey and Fairfield High School freshman- and a XC runner , we are so proud of you, your team and your sport!!!!!

Reply
Tracey MKcCullough
10/23/2015 05:36:14 pm

The name of the "stickler" coach should be made public. He felt he needed to make a stand for the official rules above all else so he should have no problem with the public knowing who he is.

Reply
Jen Hinson link
10/23/2015 08:22:37 pm

It was my cousin that Zach helped out- it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever witnessed. I don't know the kid from Adam, but he did a wonderful thing- and no one that knows him seems to be that surprised that he did. The thing is, my cousin would have done the same damn thing. Not a doubt in my mind.

Reply
Mary Lou tate
10/25/2015 04:47:19 pm

Reply
howie bryant link
10/25/2015 05:22:37 pm

Whilst rules are rules, in any case I would stand and applaud, this is light-years better than what happened in a college conference race at Kenosha, Wisconsin, yesterday. ~200 yards into the race, a collision occurred, and at least 2 people got punched in the face, both competitors. And they say that cross country is a contact sport. I guess it is after I saw that video!

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