Texas
Tech University features Cory in their April '04 newsletter!!
(April,
2004)
Texas Tech University, through which Cory is homeschooled, put
Cory on the cover of their April 2004 Newsletter. This was quite an
honor and Cory is really greatful to have such a supporting group
at Texas Tech. The staff there are second to none and are always very
thoughtful, but this newsletter feature was quite a surprise and we
wanted to say "Thank You" from the bottom of our hearts
for this kudos to our lit'l rocket. For those wishing to view the
article, you can click here: http://www.coryhouse.com/ttu.htm
Spring
Break '04 Results!!
(April
3 & 4 and April 10 & 11, 2004)
Spring Break means different things to different ages. But when you
race BMX and you're only 8 years old, it means back-to-back Florida
Nationals. In 2004 the races rolled into Highlands BMX in Avon Park
and Sarasota BMX. The weather was in the 80s each weekend and sunny.
The wind took some of the fun out of Avon Park as it blew all weekend
and with a track full of loose sand, it made seeing at times a bit
tough, but the track was in excellent shape and the racing was as
hot as ever. On Saturday in Avon Park,
Cory started off with a 4th in
moto 1, but followed it up quickly with a 2nd
in moto 2. He looked great and ready for his main but
stumbled a bit in moto 3 again picking up
4th place and missing the main event by inches. This was
devastating for Cory as he remembered how the Spring Break races of
2003 ended up. (read the 2003 stories from
Spring Break here) After traveling over 1000 miles from NJ toFL
in 2003, he went home without making a single main from any of the
2003 Spring Break races. He vowed to NEVER let that happen again.
But the way Saturday started was an "oh so unfriendly" reminder
of the prior year. Well that was all it took, a memory refresher of
just how bad it felt in 2003 to go home without making a single Main,
because on Sunday in Avon Park
he rocketed to a 5th, 3rd
and 3rd but more importantly,
to his Main and an 8th place main finish
for the first time in a Spring Break race during his BMX career. However,
he wasn't done yet. 8th was good, but was still last. He had made
the main, but finished last and this would stew inside of him, for
just one more week. Fast forward to the following Saturday,
April 10th at Sarasota BMX for the Easter Classic. the
weather was the same, (mid 80s and sunny) and Cory was determined.
Saturday at the Easter Classic was great as he solidly made his main
after finishing 3rd, 3rd,
and 3rd in his motos. Once he
got into the Main though, he exploded
by rocketing to an outstanding
2nd place!!! Not only had he
made the Main, he was almost on top. Can you feel what was yet to
come? Any self doubt was getting erased, day-by-day and race-by-race.
I've always told him, and other riders, it all starts with
believing in yourself. On Sunday at the Easter
Classic, it was vindication time for the 2003 losses. While
he made his Main Events this year two out of the three Spring Break
races, there was one left, and boy did he put on a show. 1st
in moto 1, 1st in moto 2
and 1st in moto 3. And why not,
1st in the Main of the 2004 Easter Classic!
Vindication for the 2003 races was obtained. It took
Dale Earnhardt Sr 20 years to win the Daytona 500, but vindication
was obatined in February 1998 for him. Cory got a little taste of
how good something like this must feel and it only took him one year.
To every young rider out there.....stay
focused, stay determined and keep trying. It does pay off!
Race Hard and See Ya on the Track!