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Rice is practicing what he preaches to team
Despite injury, coach has indoor track and field team ready to roll
Friday, Nov. 27, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo File photo by DARWIN WEIGEL
Great Mills head coach Ray Rice will be counting on such athletes as Peter Offenbacher.
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All coaches in every sport give speeches.
In those speeches, words that nearly always are used include hard work, practice, dedication and commitment, to name just a few.
As coaches always want their athletes to put these words into use, rarely does one have an opportunity to show the kids that they indeed practice what they preach.
However, Ray Rice, the Great Mills Hornets indoor track and field team's head coach, was able to show his kids just how committed he was to the team and program.
Rice severely sprained his ankle last Friday after falling off the back of a truck. In an attempt to avoid further serious injury, Rice landed on his feet, but in an awkward position.
"I landed pretty well," Rice admitted. "It did not bother me at first. I walked around pretty well directly after the incident, but later on my leg started aching me and swelling up. By the time I got home I was in some major pain."
Despite a visit to the hospital Saturday, despite having an air cast fitted for his ankle and despite being on crutches, Rice was back at practice on the following Monday preparing his team for the season.
"I took that Saturday off based on advice from the doctor, but I was back in full swing on Monday," Rice admitted. "I was on crutches over the weekend, but now I have an air cast, and I am just taking it easy. I can't do any jumping and things of the sort, but I am ready to roll.
"I joke with the kids that I am old enough to be some of the kids' grandfather. And I tell them that I am heavy and out of shape as well, and I am still hanging in with you even with an injury, so you can make this work."
Rice is entering his seventh season with the program and with his strong showing of commitment, combined with a talented and experienced group, this season is shaping up early to be a successful one.
Returning for Rice in the field events are senior shot-putter Derrick Petett for the boys and senior shot-putter Brittany Briscoe on the girls squad. Petett placed second overall at the SMAC meet last season and capped his season with an eighth-place finish at the state meet.
Rice is also excited about the talent level surrounding his team this year on the track. Although many of the runners are filled with raw talent — a lot are first-year athletes — the talent level is there.
"We have a lot of young athletes coming out for the first time," Rice explained. "They are really interested and we have a lot of potential in that group. Another good thing about it is that a lot of athletes from other sports are out there this season which is a really great thing."
The program will be assisted by two new coaching additions in Bianca Lynch and Kirsten Elm, which has Rice excited about where the season can possibly go.
"They are really good coaches," Rice said. "When you find people that you work with well, you enjoy working with them. Very excited about working with them."
With the season set to begin soon and each practice vital at this point of the season, Rice added on the subject of missing practices due to his ankle injury: "The only way that would happen is if they take me to a hospital and tie me down.
"This year our expectations and goals revolve around commitment, and not only from the students but the coaching staff, too."
