Irmo boys look to honor former coach at state with strong performance

When the Irmo boys’ team steps to the starting line for the Cross Country State Finals at the Sandhills Research Center on Saturday, they’ll do so with a heavy heart, but also inspiration to run for something bigger than themselves.

In September, long-time coach Mike Moore died a week after suffering a stroke.

“We will be thinking about him every single step of the race,” senior Sahar Desai said. “The only thing coach Moore wanted was for us was to reach new personal records each race. The ultimate goal is to be happy with ourselves and what the team accomplished. That would be the best way to honor him.”

Moore was an Eau Claire graduate that coached cross country and track at Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Irmo for 40 seasons. He led the Yellow Jackets to boys’ cross country state titles in 1992 and 1998 and the girls’ track and field team won state championships in 1997 and 1999.

Irmo competed in two races before Moore became ill. That left Jeremy Lewis, a 21-year old Maryland native still in college, in charge for the final part of the season.

“Coach Lewis made the transition pretty easy,” senior Hayes Selbee said. “We didn’t change our routine a whole lot. We added a few things, but no drastic changes so that really helped. It was hard at first, but once we realized coach Moore wanted us to do well, it became more of a motivator. We knew we had to run for him.”

Selbee has been on the team since the seventh grade, so he knew Moore as well as anyone.

“At first I thought he would get better, but once he started declining, I didn’t exactly know how to take it,” Selbee said. “I knew he had made peace with his life and he was happy with the life that he lived. That helped me to know he wasn’t worried about death.”

The team was close before Moore’s death, but there has been a transformation since.

Because the age range goes from seventh-graders to seniors, the team didn’t spend much time together away from training. The seniors made an effort to include everyone in all activities.

“I think the team became more like a family after that happened,” Lewis said. “It’s more of a team atmosphere.”

Senior Sam Padula wants to finish one final race with is former coach on his mind.

“We had some really great conversations after practice,” Padula said. “We talked about running, character, leadership and just doing the best you can in everything you do. I’m just proud I was able to hear some of his wisdom and life advice.”

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 8:53 PM with the headline "Irmo boys look to honor former coach at state with strong performance."