By Christopher Oakes
Staff Writer
You have probably heard his name over the announcements. He has broken school records and won many meets. Sophomore Mick Stanovsek has been dominating other schools throughout the indoor track season placing fourth in the states in Winston Salem.
Throughout the indoor track season which lasted from December to early February, Stanovsek has been competing against 1A, 2A and 3A schools. Stanovsek broke the school record in the two mile and 1000 meter run. He also came close to toppling the mile record, thanks to one on one training from former track coach Ronnie Hudgins. Hudgins sees a lot of potential in Mick and trains him without any monetary compensation. 
“Mick shows a lot of passion for the sport,” Hudgins said. “It is a pleasure to coach someone that really wants it.”
Stanovsek uses his time running indoor track as additional training for the regular track season. Stanovsek’s workouts consists of alternating long distance and interval work, mixing up speed and strength. He is at the track two times a week.
“My training was really good because it was so much harder than the actual meets, that it made the races seem easy,” Stanovsek said.
Since FFHS does not actually have an indoor track team, Stanovsek makes up the entire “team” and only wears the First Flight jersey because he must be affiliated with a school in order to compete. Thus, Stanovsek paid for all of his travel expenses including gas and hotels without financial assistance from the school.
“I was really disappointed that the First Flight athletic program wouldn’t help me out with any of the costs throughout the season,” Stanovsek said. “I paid all the registration fees myself.”
FFHS Athletic Director Ray Scott said the school was unable to support an individual athlete’s efforts when it does not offer the sport to other students.
“Indoor track is not a sport here,” Scott said. “We have a limited budget.”
Stanovsek hopes to continue to work hard with the support from his friends and family.
“Mick’s determination is based on applying himself to the best of his ability at all times,” said Susan Stanovsek, Mick’s mother. “From an early age Mick has been determined to excel in this sport in order to make his dreams a reality.”
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