Blue Devils Name Event in Memory Of Addison Coty

On Tuesday September 18 the annual Calais High School cross country meet was again hosted at the Moosehorn Refuge but this race took on a new special significance. Addison Coty was lost in a tragic accident this summer. Addison graduated from CHS in June completing an exceptional career in academics and athletics at the school. Calais High School has named their annual Moosehorn event the Addison Coty Memorial Cross Country Meet in memory of Addison. Addison still owns the event record running the 2.8-mile course in a time of 15:22 set on 9/28/16.

As the race was ready to begin, Coach Jerry James, Athletic Director Randy Morrison, and Coach Cindy Rossi each spoke very warmly about Addison to the young athletes about to run. Here are Coach Rossi’s well-spoken words:

“Addison Coty was a top-notch athlete, teammate, and friend to many. 

I remember the first time he approached me as a freshman. 

He kindly asked me if I had any extra water... well he found out quickly not only did we carry extra water to share with others but we had plenty of food. After that he was always around. 

He told me he appreciated everyone cheering him on and said, ‘man coach you are loud... no way I can get lost... and I always know when I’m near the finish line.

 Your cheering lets all of us runners know when it’s time to pick it up.’

He loved posing for photos and his thumbs-up pose always made me smile. 

He became a close friend to the Royal Bulldogs and would jump in to walk the courses and to stretch with us.  He often asked for running tips, and suggestions. I even stretched him out when he needed it.  In high school sports we all know we play to beat the other team. 

In the sport of cross country it does not matter what the color of your uniform is. It’s a gentleman’s sport where everyone cheers everyone on. It’s a sport where it’s okay to show support and encouragement to those you are running against. The goal is to do your individual best. 

We become family in a sense and friends. 

The team brought him into our closed XC chat group where they became better friends. 

They nicknamed themselves the Royal Devil Dogs. 

Addison and I would talk and he would tell me how much he wished he had a full team of his own to run with. 

Last year Coach James made that dream come true for him. He was so proud of his teammates and the fact that they could score as a team and bring home those wins for the Calais Blue Devils. 

Addison knew how to have fun, and he knew when it was time to get his game face on. 

Addison was a competitor, encourager, and a class act. 

He had a natural running talent that made him stand out as a top runner.  

That says a lot of how he was raised by his loving family. 

Addison made a lot of you young people better runners by challenging you and racing against you. 

He had a kind heart that made it so easy for all of us to fall in love with him. 

Last year when we went to states we had to stay in a motel. My runners and I were standing in the hall when all of a sudden Addison and a couple of his teammates came NOISLY running down the hall dancing and laughing as he grabbed the full cookie dish and ran off with it.  

He will always live on in our hearts and memories. There is no doubt in my mind he would want all of us to live life to its fullest and he would want all of you to do your best each and every day. 

Addison was born to run. Today each of you go out there and do your individual best and run in his memory. 

Run hard, Run Strong, Run True just like Addison always did.”