I'll see ya later, Scoots.

"Heaven just got a little better :)"

This text message popped up on my phone early Monday morning from my former high school tennis coach, Mrs. Nancy Cowgill. Her (Mama C) and her husband, Scott (Scoots) were the tag-team tennis coaches at Grand Island. I was one of many players fortunate to practice, play, and learn from these two wonderful mentors. They retired in 2008 and moved to Dallas, TX to be closer to family. In 2009, Mr. Cowgill developed Stage 4 Lymphatic Cancer and was in pretty rough shape for the last couple of years. Sadly, he passed away early Monday morning in his sleep.  He was one of the many individuals who have molded me into the person and athlete I am today, and this post is dedicated to him. It's a little long...so bare with me, but does not even BEGIN to describe the legacy that Scott Cowgill left with his former players, students, and all those who knew him. 

The Cowgills were legendary around the Grand Island community. Their three kids (CJ, Cody, and KC) were standout tennis and basketball stars, and all of them now coach teams of their own around the country. Scott and Nancy both taught PE during the day and coached the boys and girls tennis teams at Senior High. Due to my dad also being a PE teacher, I knew Mr. Cowgill long before I joined his squad as a freshman. I really hadn't had much of a tennis background, but decided to go out for tennis knowing I'd be well coached and stay in shape for volleyball season. 

The Cowgills were certainly tough and made you perform on a daily basis, both physically and mentally. We may not have been the best team in the state, but we were certainly the most conditioned. Everyday before practice, the entire team would do 5 sets of 20 push ups, 20 sit-ups, 20 squats, and 4 line to line sprints and always sometime during practice, we would also get in a mile run. Think I'm exaggerating? Ask ANY former player. 
Needless to say, Scoots and Mama C placed a high value on physical conditioning. They were two of the fittest people that I knew, and both looked 15 years younger than they actually were. They set that example that a healthy, fun lifestyle was easily achievable with just a little bit of motivation and daily dedication. 

Freshman year at Kearney Doubles...taking home the 'Ship!

After graduating six solid seniors in '05, a number of us had a great opportunity to step up and start building up a new varsity squad my in 2006. It started off a little rough, but we certainly came to learn what was expected out of us as players and as people each day at practice. Discipline and mental toughness started to take a solid hold, as we were reminded daily that tennis is a "skill" sport. Meaning in order to be successful, we didn't have to be the most athletic, fastest, or tallest...we just had to know how to hit the ball. A LOT of balls. 

Kassy and I with the Cowgills after getting 3rd at State in #2 Doubles in 2006. 

With a year under our belts, my teammates and I started to understand the man behind the madness in Mr. Cowgill. He had the quirkiest sayings that would just make you want to say "whattttt?!" and they still make us giggle today. 

Below are some of my personal favorites, along with the (English translation.)

"Hit the bricks, scrubs." (Hit the track)

"Mariah's kissin' it today, boys." (It's windy out here)

"Tennis players always check the wind." (Know your conditions before you play.)

"Squat 'em and squash 'em!" (Get loaded under overhead and rip em!)

"Pepsi-Cola that ball!" (Bounce it over the fence.)

"Quit dippin' your beaks." (Hurry up with that water break)

"Get out of the net. You look like a frickin tuna fish." (Stop hitting the net!)

"Sorry saps are always second place." (Losers...)

"It's just like putting my foot in a pillow, Helleburg." (These shoes are so comfy)

HAC Conference champs in 2007 and showing off with our "cheerleader" pose :)

Some of my best high school memories were formed on road trips, and traveling was always an adventure with the Cowgills. Scoots always had his left foot up on the dash while driving, and when we asked him about this "safety hazard", he asked us again how old we were (15, at the time) and how our driving was going. Ouch. He also LOVED SportsTalk radio, and the constant noise would always drone on (and on and on), and we couldn't WAIT to get out of the van before we went absolutely crazy. On overnight trips to tournaments, they always made sure we went out to a nice meal the night before and were rewarded with a nice ice cream treat at Cold Stone (after playing well, of course.) Wherever we went, he wasn't found without plenty of chewing gum, a flat-top haircut, a perfectly matching sweatsuit, and those flashy white Nikes. 

Cowgills and Top 6 at State in 2007!

The Cowgills also had unwritten "rules" that became our standard. 

-Be out hitting by 3:45 everyday. 3:46, you're running a mile.

-Never hit the net, ground, fence, or any other object with your racket out of frustration. If you do, that's a mile. 

-If you don't know the call, it's in.
-There are 3 P's. Percentage, placement, and power. Importance in that order.
-NEVER wear a glove on your racquet hand. Opposite hand allowed below 32*.

-No win on the road = No stop for food. 

-Your spot on the ladder is your spot, and must be earned and held by winning challenge matches.

-Don't play a challenge match, automatic loss. No excuses.

-Whatever you do, DO IT RIGHT. 

We always knew that Mr. Cowgill was always watching from somewhere!

The Cowgills wanted to make sure we were also the toughest team mentally. By my senior year, we could proudly say this was true. However, getting to this point was not easy. On multiple occasions I remember him kicking chairs down hills, slamming van doors, and telling us to simply "find a way" to win. Or else. 

Once my sophomore year, I remember crying and being upset about losing not only my match, but the meet for the team on a 4-5 decision. I wasn't greeted by Mr. Cowgill with "sap" or empathy, but he simply said "Crying doesn't mean jack, Root. You gotta get tough." and walked off. From that point on, I never cried after a match again and "tough love" was given a new meaning. 

2008 Fremont Champs!

 About once a week (not kidding) Mr. Cowgill would ask us "You guys know who Johnny Wooden is??" and then tell us a fun fact, lesson, or quote by him while conditioning. Coach Wooden was his hero, and he certainly instilled the same values in us as did the UCLA basketball teams. Whenever I read anything by Wooden, I can't help to smile and think of Scoots.

Pops, Mama, and our little "family" after placing 4th at State in 2008
Sharon, Alicia, Kelsie, me, Weidel, and Jenna

My senior year, our team went undefeated in duals, got second at Conference, and got fourth overall in Class A at state, with five out of the six of us medalling. I also ended up winning it all in #2 Singles, beating two girls who were by far better, but won on account of my conditioning and mental toughness on a 90* afternoon in May. I was so happy to be able to send Cowgills off to their retirement on a winning note. It also served as a last "thank you" for all that they had taught me over the last four years, which finally paid off on the last day of my tennis career. Former teammates and I joke that if you can make it through four years with the Cowgills, you can do anything.

I owe every ounce of that gold medal to them. Thanks for the memories, Scoots!

After high school, I kept in frequent touch with the Cowgills and they were a great source of encouragement during my time at Nebraska. Out of anyone in the world, it's completely mind boggling that HE, of all people, would be the one to develop cancer. He made a large impact on those with whom he crossed paths in Texas, especially the Hebron High School volleyball team. It's not surprising to me at all that he continued to spread inspiration through the storm of his sickness. 


Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see them again before he passed. Throughout his entire journey, I never once heard a complaint from Scoots nor Mama C, just 100% positivity. He said to me at the beginning of his journey that treatment is "just like training for a marathon, a day to day battle." Even after his passing, Mama C continues to be a source of complete positivity that amazes and serves as an inspiration to us all. 

The Cowgills were truly two of the greatest mentors, and I thank the Lord that I was SO fortunate to have learned and shared so much time with both of them, especially Scoots. I will continue to Build more Briges on the life lessons that Mr. Cowgill taught me, and hope to continue his legacy. 


Thanks for everything, Scoots!
-Root


The Cowgills were strong believers, and I can't wait to be reunited with Mr. C again someday and reminisce about all the memories. These verses are the perfect encouragement and reminder!


"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."


1 Thessalonians 4:13-17