Mountain View High School has renamed its cross country invitational in honor of former all-state runner Valerie McGregor, right, who died in an automobile accident in June.

Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star 2002

Related articles:

Opinion by Greg Hansen : Football in this month stirs august emotions Opinion by Tyler Hansen : Running wild this weekend

Other articles by Tyler Hansen:

Locals get chance to swim in fast lane Grevers at home in Tucson pool Opinion by Tyler Hansen: The winner is... High schools' best Pusch Ridge seniors treat their beat feet after another feat Weldon's intense focus leads to a big celebrationMiraculous comeback lifts Lancers Surprising Ironwood Ridge is 'prepared' for its opportunity to capture a state title Cienega overcomes ejections, late-game mistakes to advance Opinion by Tyler Hansen : Some fearless predictions as 2008 state titles go on the line Opinion by Tyler Hansen : Quiet Hawk makes noise with stick

Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic

Tucson football coach Vincent Smith is the eternal optimist, a guy who used the words "great" and "good" to help define his team's situation after 45-0 and 42-7 losses this year.

His tone was slightly different Tuesday, five days after the Badgers lost 62-0 to Chandler, and were on the wrong end of a new Arizona Interscholastic Association bylaw: the mercy rule.

"That wasn't a very proud moment for me," said Smith, a first-year coach. "I'll never forget that the rest of my coaching career."

The new rule, which applies to all classifications, states there must be a running clock at any point in the game when one team leads by 42 points or more. Regular timing rules apply if the margin returns to less than 42, and also during the game's final two minutes.

A mercy rule was in place in previous years for the 1A-3A conferences, but the big schools went without one. That made it possible for some local teams to win by scores of 90-7, 82-6 and 73-0 in recent years. Ridiculous.

"If you're ahead by 42 points, I think you need to get the game over with as soon as you can," said Dan Reynolds, TUSD's assistant director of interscholastics.

"Some coaches might say we're taking away time from their second- and third-stringers. But if they are up by 42, they need to move on."

It certainly hasn't helped matters that Tucson — in the early phase of rebuilding from bare bones — has played perhaps the toughest schedule in the state.

Three of the Badgers' four opponents rank first, second and sixth in the latest 5A power ratings.

"You want your kids to accept the competition, and they did," Smith said. "I just don't think they knew what to do with it once they accepted it. But from here, things will only get better for us."

McGregor's legacy lives on

Nothing needs to be added to the fourth annual Rattler Invitational to make it more intriguing.

The exclusive local coed cross country meet is brimming with talent and substance.

But Wednesday's nine-team meet at Arthur Pack Reserve has a more somber element this year.

The race, hosted by Mountain View, has been renamed in honor of Valerie McGregor, the school's all-state runner who died in a car accident with her fiancé, Samuel Zawada, on June 29.

"It's one of those events that becomes a lot more special because of the person it is named after," said Mountain Lions coach Dennis Hansen. "Valerie's legacy at Mountain View will always be as such a great person and as our first cross country state champion. This is a big deal for us."

Valerie and her identical twin, Emily, starred for the Lions from 1999 to 2003. Valerie won the 5A state title in 2002. Hansen said a scholarship has been set up in her name.

As is the custom, all six schools in the 5A Southern Region will compete in the race, and Amphitheater, Ironwood Ridge and Canyon del Oro also have been invited.

You could flip a coin between Mountain View and Salpointe Catholic for the Rattler's coed crown, but don't sleep on Eric Harasyn and Sierra Vista Buena.

Pool party for cancer cause

I'd pay money to watch some of my high school teachers and coaches flail around in a pool wearing goggles and a cap. Students at Palo Verde will get that chance Saturday during a morning fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

The Palo Verde swim team will do laps at Terra Del Sol Aquatic Club, 6718 E. Calle Marte, for donations to benefit cancer research. Titans coach Kirsten Pelot and some of the school's teachers and students also will take part in the event, which will last from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

"We all think it's a great idea, being able to raise money for kids and adults that have cancer and make an impact on their lives," said sophomore swimmer Zachary Hoffman. The swimmers have sought sponsorship from the local community to donate a certain amount of money per lap — or a flat donation.

"A lot of people are donating 5 cents a lap. My mom donated 50 cents for every lap I swim," Pelot said. "I guess she doesn't think I'll go for very long."