One of the toughest moments in Jim Bullock's life occurred a couple of weeks ago at Western Maryland College.
His daughter, Joy, had just finished a disappointing third in thCarroll County girls cross country championship meet, and he couldn't go near her to offer any consolation.
All the coach of the Francis Scott Key boys and girls croscountry teams could do was stand there and watch Joy cry and scurry off to be alone.
The reason was simple.
Joy Bullock was wearing a Westminster High jersey, not Francis Scott Key shirt.
"I wanted Joy to go to Francis Scott Key," said her father. "But was outvoted, 3-1, by three women. My wife, Judi, my older daughter, Bonnie, who was a top runner at Westminster, and Joy were all for her going to Westminster. I was interested in seeing Joy go to a smaller high school."
The result has been a lot of emotional anguish for Bullock as hcoaches against his daughter, who has been the No. 1 runner for the Owls in all but one meet this season.
He has overcome this tug-of-war with his emotions this season tguide the Key girls to a second-place finish in Carroll County and second in the state Class 1A, Region II championship meet.
Those accomplishments are impressive at a school where onlone girl was on the team in 1988. For his rebuilding efforts, Bullock, 50, has been chosen The Baltimore Sun's 1992 Carroll County Girls cross country Coach of the Year.
Bullock has made the Key girls a team that is competitive witlongtime power Westminster.