King High Cross Country 12th Edition of Awards and Season Yearbook Written By Coach Peters, Coach Clendenen and Dan Peirce Compiled by Coach Peters Photos by Coach Peters and Tim Wood 2010 Coaching Staff: Brad Peters, Leisha Clendenen, Jim Griesinger, Dan Peirce 85 Student-Athletes at the end of the season
2010 King High Cross Country The Race is On!
Ascending the Pyramid of Success The Focus of our Season
When Coach Wooden of UCLA fame died last June, the airwaves were filled with acclaim for the beloved coach. Commentators, coaches and former athletes all had the same refrain ... “there was something special about that man...” What struck me was that despite Wooden’s “win-loss record” and string of NCAA titles, which alone would put him at the front of any list of the all time greats, it wasn’t the championships that the eulogies chose to focus on.
Instead, it was the values, integrity and character that Wooden brought to sports and demanded of both himself and his players. Though some of his players admitted chafing under the weight of that responsibility, they all agreed it was what made playing for Wooden a special thing.
After he retired from coaching, John Wooden would continue to influence others for good until his death, just shy of 100 years old. Much of his wisdom was contained in his “Pyramid of Success”, a simple yet profound template based on 15 years of trial, error and observation.
With Coach Clendenen’s family background in collegiate basketball (her father was the long-time head coach at UCR), she was the natural choice to help lead our athletes this season in understanding the “building blocks” of successful teams and individuals.
Sprinkled throughout this yearbook will be excerpts from the articles she published on the web on a weekly basis for the athletes to read and consider.
We are putting them here again in this form so that they will serve as a good reminder to each of you in the future as hopefully you continue to pursue excellence in all you do.
friendship industriousness intentness condition team spirit iniative confidence enthusiasm alertness poise cooperation self control COMPETITIVE GREATNESS loyalty skill
2010 VARSITY LETTER EARNERS 4th YEAR Daniel Balcazar, Kasey Tippets, Carrie Soholt, Lane Werley 3rd YEAR Devin Becerra, Hanna Peterson, Nick Rini
2nd YEAR Taylar Amiot, Brandon Berz, Ben Huscher, Emma Jaramillo, Marc Jimenez, Chris Miller, Raelyn Werley
1st YEAR Priscilla Carrasco, Adam Schupp, Nathan Meier, Lisa Garside, Courtney Mort, Katelyn Fatten, Aaron Youngren, Joey Tompkins, Rafi Perez, Lauren Soholt, Harrison McMillen, Perry Elerts, Ethan McAbee
At the heart of the pyramid we find the 11th secret of success. It is not an accident that “skill” is right in the middle. Look at all that surrounds it. With “alertness” and “initiative” holding it up, sandwiched in between “condition” and “team spirit”, and the foundation for the second tier of the pyramid, “skill” is truly the heart of it all. Symbolically, it is truly our heart and soul that pushes us to improve our skill.
SKILL
For Wooden, he believed skill meant being able to execute all parts of your job. Wooden said that although he valued experience, he would rather have someone with a lot of skill and little experience than a lot of experience and a little skill. So, how can we use our skills and experience to make us more successful people? In your lives I think it goes back to your ability to create specific goals and your ability to visualize. True visualization is not an easy task. There are a few things that I have learned that I think make people truly “skillful”. The first is to be a great listener. That means, when you have a lot to say listen to someone else first. Listening is a skill. The second is to remain quick in your decisions. The next skill is the process of visualization. To do it well is no easy feat. Often we think visualization is only necessary in the sports’ world as we visualize ourselves throwing our arms to the sky in a moment of victory or scoring the winning goal in the championship game. But to truly visualize means knowing what your mind and body must do to get the desired result. Preparation is key. Knowing your desired outcome through all aspects of the race, the presentation, the homework assignment, the job interview is paramount. Do you remain specific, clear and focused on what you want to achieve? Does every decision you make reflect the journey you want to take to become a more successful person? The last SKILL is that of “letting go”. Wooden felt that 95% of his job was done in practice. When they got to the game he “let go” as a coach, putting all trust and faith in his team. When you get to a race, how much faith do you carry with you? How ready, prepared, and complete do you feel physically AND mentally?
One doesn’t need to spend much time circuit to recognize that the sport in What would pass for a state title in many pack in the Southern Section’s Final,
around the California cross country the Golden State is first-rate all the way. other states wouldn’t get your team midmuch less the State Championship.
Both Lane Werley and Hanna Peterson to a third-place finish in 2009, and that qualified, finished in 12th in the
have been there before. Lane raced Hanna, who was part of the ‘09 team race and set the school record at 18:09.
So to make it to Fresno the weekend accomplishment. For King in 2010, we make the trip.
photos by Tim Wood
of Thanksgiving is always a huge were privileged to have two our best
2010 Big 8 League Champions Boys JV Girls Varsity 10th Straight! Boys Varsity - First since ‘05
League MVP’s Hanna Peterson Lane Werley All League Runners 1st Team Lane Werley, Devin Becerra, Nick Rini Hanna Peterson, Carrie Soholt 2nd Team Adam Schupp, Daniel Balcazar Kasey Tippets, Lisa Garside, Raelyn Werley 3rd Team Chris Miller, Marc Jimenez Priscilla Carrasco, Katelyn Fatten
LEAGUE CHAMPS
The end of the season is always a difficult time of year for many athletes. On some levels you are relieved that the daily grind is done, the long miles in the heat are over and the sore and tired legs are feeling refreshed and energized. I would assume for many, however, you are replaying the season in your head recognizing how quickly it all went by and wishing you had more time to improve or run a race over again to prove your hard work was worth it.
COMPETITIVE GREATNESS
No matter what, you have accomplished something. For each of you it is different. You know what you have done right and you know what you have done well. Enjoy that feeling and know that you deserve it. What you have all been a part of is a team. You have had to achieve and sacrifice for the sake of a team. It is a unique honor to be part of something special.... You want to be better for your team and you should absolutely refuse to let your team down. When we do things for a higher purpose, when we recognize we are willing and wanting to be more successful for the sake of others then we are working towards success. When we are truly EAGER to do things for a higher purpose, you are a success. Be great. Make each day your masterpiece. Have faith, have patience. It is not easy, it will not come to you. You must eagerly work to attain it. Your work will pay off. You might not know this now, but you will. Wooden says that “true competitors know it’s EXHILIRATING to be involved in something that is very challenging. They don’t fear it. They seek it. Is it fun to do that which is ordinary, easy, simple, something anyone can do? Not at all.” I challenge you tonight to go home and concentrate. Do not just show up tomorrow without direction and a plan. Focus on what you want and not on what you don’t want for your upcoming race. OWN IT.
Our Varsity Girls have now won Ten Straight League Championships! 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 This Year the Boys Varsity Won their Fourth League Title in School History! 1999, 2004, 2005, 2010
3.0-3.49
Mireya Ascencio 3.3 Daniel Balcazar 3.33 Devin Becerra 3.33 Trevor Berney 3.3 Monique Carrasco 3.0 Joseph Casco 3.17 Daniel Choi 3.33 Mitchell Cleland 3.0 Jacob Enriquez 3.0 Ryan Esterberg 3.33 Katelyn Fatten 3.0 Marc Jimenez 3.2 Woodie Landeros 3.0 Aimee Martinez 3.33 Ethan McAbee 3.0 Tyler Parrish 3.0 Emily Procko 3.17 Timothy Pugaew 3.17 McKaela Sanders 3.0 Savannah Saucedo 3.0 Adam Schupp 3.4 Sabrina Suarez 3.17 Carli Texeira 3.17 Aaron Youngren 3.4
3.5-3.99
Taylar Amiot 3.6 Brandon Berz 3.83 Perry Elerts 3.5 Lisa Garside 3.71 Courtney Girard 3.67 Jordan Goldie 3.83 Iveth Guitierrez 3.67 Vincent Hernandez 3.57 Cobi Hopkins 3.83 Justin Johnson 3.71 Aubrey Kent 3.6 Nathan Meier 3.67 Chris Miller 3.8 Rafi Perez 3.6 Nick Rini 3.71 Britney Saucedo 3.83 Joshua Smith 3.83 Lauren Soholt 3.83 Joseph Tompkins 3.67 Nathan Torres 3.6 Tristan Valenciano 3.57 Jessica Ward 3.83 Raelyn Werley 3.67
Lori DaJose is a valedictory candidate and holds an amazing 4.83 GPA! 4.0 +
Taylor Beaulieu 4.1 Aubrey Bowman 4.0 Claire Bradford 4.33 Lori DaJose 4.83 Samantha Enriquez 4.0 Ryan Gibeault 4.17 Kimberli Graham 4.17 Emma Jaramillo 4.5 Dustin Means 4.0 Courtney Mort 4.0 Ryan Rasmussen 4.0 Jacob Rosales 4.17 Robert Sanchez 4.5 Carrie Soholt 4.4 Kasey Tippets 4.0 Lane Werley 4.6 Madeline Wrathall 4.17
CIF-SS FINALISTS!
2010 brought about something we haven’t seen at King since 2002 when, while competing in Division 3, both boys and girls squads made the CIF Finals. While the girls have made the Finals for each of the successive years since, the boys have been turned away each time at Prelims ... until November 13, 2010! Both teams finished in the top four of their heats to advance to the Southern Section Finals in Division One. Devin Becerra, Marc Jimenez, Daniel Balcazar, Ben Huscher, Nathan Meier, Adam Schupp, Lane Werley, Chris Miller, Nick Rini Lisa Garside, Raelyn Werley, Lauren Soholt, Taylar Amiot, Katelyn Fatten, Hanna Peterson, Kasey Tippets, Carrie Soholt, Iveth Gutierrez, Priscilla Carrasco
4
Ask anyone who has ever tried it, cross country is not an easy sport. The runs are hard, the miles are long, the mornings are early and the sport demands attention to details most other athletes in other sports can afford to skip by. Quitting is common. Sticking with it -- through the good days and the bad days -- is uncommon. Going all four years is even more so. We get that, and so we’ve honored those tough souls who find a way to not follow the crowd and with determination stay the course. Here is our tribute to this year’s group!
2007 2010
YEARS
One of the things cross country runners learn early on in their careers, is that pain and suffering are the unavoidable yet difficult paths to success. While most people can run, few can run past or through the pain, maintaining a pace despite discomfort. While some are repelled by that realization and live the rest of their life avoiding running, some come to find the joy in that journey and achieve a success that only running can offer. Such is true in life, too. Though we Americans do and invent everything we can to avoid suffering and discomfort at all cost, the masking tape we apply to life cracks in time and reveals in it’s dusty residue the original truth that some of the greatest lessons in life are learned the hard way. Easy street isn’t necessarily the quickest route to growth. Aubrey Bowman knows of which I write ... or at least I think she does. She’s in the midst of a season of suffering, bent like a tree in a hurricane. The force of injury pushes and howls. The roots of her resolve dig deeply straining to hold the soil of what she knows. Having competed at State just a year ago, she now watches her teammates from the sidelines; a fissured bone shackles her there. And yet, like a professor who revisits the lessons of kindergarten, Aubrey seems to be reclaiming anew what she learned so long ago. Like a runner who first discovers that pain need not be a barrier, she is pressing on through this wall, seeking ways to contribute, to maintain the pace of life, to keep on keepin’ on regardless of how it feels. In a sea of despair, she’s found a way to set sail. In the end, most runners come to find that the place one finishes is not nearly as important as the finishing. The journey ... through the exhiliration and the struggle ... is what matters most. Quickly, the grimace reverses to a grin. Aubrey realized early in her running -- and she is realizing again -- that pain need not steal her joy; that affliction can be eclipsed by a greater glory, and that one can contribute to the goodness of community regardless of their circumstances.
We never saw this coming. This, meaning, Lane’s status as one of the best runners in the country. While many of Lane’s achievements are the stuff of legend, the signposts leading to such status were deeply hidden in the weeds back when Lane first laced on his running shoes.
As a basketball and baseball player, Lane’s cross country intentions as a freshman were to get in shape for his main loves. He had a good 9th grade season, good enough to get a little attention as someone who might have a future in the sport. He ended up not going out for basketball, but did play frosh baseball that year, skipping a first go at track. As a sophomore he had quietly become King’s number one runner and started running times (like breaking the school record) that perhaps indicated some good things were in store should he pursue his talent. Earlier estimations of just a “decent” running career were in the process of being discredited.
It was during his junior year that Lane would rocket from “good” to, well, “incredible.” What a year he had ... it had the makings of a Hollywood tale, full of drama, surprise and achievement. He went from a kid who couldn’t make it out of League Finals in track as a soph, to a junior who couldn’t be kept out of State ... or Nike Nationals. He missiled the year, a tower of flame lighting up the sky. It was a deafening year that ended with an All-American title in the 5000 meters.
And yet, he has remained grounded. What so many folks who know Lane will attest to, despite his stratospheric orbit (Currently ranked in the top 10 nationally and in the top 3 in California), he has not let the acclaim and high-accomplishment go to his head. He eschews attention like a bat does light. He has remained steadfastly “just one of the guys”. With college coaches courting him aggressively, he has not flashed his recruiting badges like some cheap watch peddler in a trench coat. Instead, he’s redoubled his efforts in the classroom; prepping for the academic load that’s to come with the athletic grant. As his circle of friends has now grown to include the State’s elite, he remains the consumate team player, equally motivated to see his buddies in the King jersey do just as well. In an age of athletic self-promotion, where superstars usurp ESPN just to let the world know which team will now be paying them millions for shooting baskets; where touchdown celebrations cross the line of sportsmanship and “team spirit” is destroyed 140 twittered characters at a time, Lane has blessed us all with a grace and grit, persistence and poise, greatness and goodness. Flying high, he’s still tethered to home. Of all his accomplishments, this may be his greatest legacy. Though we never saw this coming, we could not have asked for more.
~~~
There are a number of words that one could use to describe Hanna’s four years of running. The one that I’ll settle on is, “amazing.”
You really have to have the big picture to understand the appropriateness of that word. You have to see the bookends that are making her story read like a pageturning novel. Like many 9th graders, Hanna tip-toed into running, much like one tests the waters of a cold pool before
jumping in. She took her time, didn’t push, didn’t jump, didn’t submerge herself during those first months. In fact, it was at the pool during the CIF season of 2007 that we first heard of Hanna’s new resolve. Literally and figuratively she was going to dive in. With the league season over, that year’s CIF squad was doing a low-impact water workout after school and Hanna sauntered into the pool complex at King. She asked what the group was doing and after getting a brief explanation, she said resolutely, “That’s going to be me next year.” If one had doubted the proclamation, it would not have been out of line. You see, Hanna finished no where near the varsity level that season. She was fully a frosh-soph runner without marks in racing nor training that would indicate in one short year she’d be toeing the line at CIF Finals. But when Hanna makes up her mind about something, get out of the way. In one calendar, she did a full-180 in her running and like an Olympic diver she made the leap, head first. That next year, she was at the line of CIF Finals, just like she had promised. She commited herself to training in the offseason and had a good sophomore year. But then came her junior year. Oh my. Like a rocket she ascended. Week after week, she got better ... and better. Her November was the stuff of fairy tales and the dimunitive and determined runner emerged as King’s #1 and helped carry the team to it’s highest finish ever at CIF Finals and then on into State. Her track season was punctuated with a CIF Finals berth in the 3200 meters in which she proceeded to set the school record of 10:55. The girl who could run a 1600 meters her freshman year in 5:28 can now do two of them, back to back, in that exact time. The other bookend is now getting made. She’s a highly recruited runner from schools ranging from San Francisco to the University of Arizona in Tucson. She’s one of the fastest ever in 30 years to race across the Mt.Carmel course. It’s simplya marvel to watch her set state and national aspirations, take care of herself, plan for the future and work hard toward her goals. From what she was to what she is ... well, there’s only one word. Amazing! ~~~
It’s not hard to notice Nick Rini. His persona stands out from the crowd. He’s the one adorned in a mane of somewhat unkempt hair, proverbial t-shirt and cutoffs; the threads from which hang like stalactites. Nick Rini is a simple guy ... he’s got his style and it fits him. Pay no heed to fashionistas who surround him. Unpretentious to the core, he responds to the moniker “homeless boy” with a smile and a pleasant, “how ya doing?” Life seems to move in slow motion for Nick. He moves through time unhurried, content with the tune in his head -- probably a Led Zeppelin song -- and the friends he’s surrounded himself with. He’s an easy guy to like.
He’s an easy guy to fall in love with when it comes to racing. That quiet demeanor in his day-to-day is a roaring lion between the start and finish lines. Watching him outside of the race, you’d swear it can’t be the same guy ... but then you notice the hair, flowing off the back of his head like tongues of flame.
Tenacious, determined, competitive, he’s as tough as the course, even tougher. Simply put, he’s a guy you WANT wearing your uniform, as you know beyond a doubt that he’ll give everything he has, every step of the race.
Cross country is the epitome of team sport. It takes all types to make the team and all types need to do what they do to bring success. What Nick has brought to the team of King High cross country has been a quiet form of leadership. He models the ethic of the runner. He preaches by practicing. He races without fear. He accepts with humility the occasional defeat, but more often than not, his style of racing has brought his team victory. Over the course of four years, he has improved tremendously. As a freshman, his marks were usually at the high end of 19:00 ... today that’s slower than a threshold for him. This season, he’s been consistently King’s #3 man, a roll that unenviably could be lost in the shadows of the leaders and bypassed as folks strain to find the 5th scorer. Nick just may like it that way. Let me do my job, the glory can go to others... The days of his wearing the King uniform will soon come to an end. In his gracious, gentle spirit, he’ll hang it up and drape himself again with cut-offs and t-shirts emblazoned with bands of his liking. Having arrived quietly, we suspect he’ll retreat from the sport in similar fashion. We’re ok with that, as long as he knows of the tremendous impact he’s had on our program and the lives around him. King High XC is better because at least once a week for the past four years, the long-haired wonder wore the red white and blue. ~~~
I think Daniel is a mystery to most of his teammates, and sometimes is to his coaches. Quiet and reserved, always with a shy smile, he followed in the footsteps of his older sister Tatiana, a quality runner herself, and showed early on in his freshman year that he was destined to be a varsity runner. He still holds a top-5 time for freshman on the Mt. SAC course at a very impressive 17:19 and was close to earning a varsity spot that year, something few freshman boys ever dream of doing. His long stride combined with a fierce desire to compete led us to see great things in his future. By his sophomore year, he had improved enough to cement his position on the varsity team and have a spot on the CIF team that ran during the raging wildfires of 2008 on a shortened Mt. SAC course. He improved his Mt. SAC Invite time to an impressive 16:45 and looked ready to have a breakout year in 2009. As coaches we had high expectations, but instead of a breakout junior year, it turned out to be a time of trials and questions.
He returned to the summer of his junior year out of shape and not ready for the summer camp in Mammoth, something that frustrated his coaches who wondered what had happened to the talented young runner. As coaches, we have come to expect that many runners will drop out of cross country between their sophomore and junior year after seeing that they are not destined ever to see a varsity race. But Daniel had already made it to the varsity level, so we were left wondering if he had lost the passion for running.
Despite missing Mammoth, Daniel eventually showed the talent made the varsity team, but his season was again curtailed when poor grades made him ineligible at the end of the season. Despite having the skills necessary for both running and being successful at school, Daniel seemed to have lost the industriousness and discipline needed to do either at a successful level. I am certain that this was a frustrating lesson for Daniel, who despite his quiet persona has always shown that he is a very competitive person. Still, we wondered if he would even return for his senior season. Too often we have seen many runners give up when faced with adversity instead of recommitting to the hard work that it takes to be successful. To his credit, Daniel’s started by getting his grades back in order and up to a B average by the end of the semester, and he maintained those grades for the rest of the year. Certainly as coaches we always stress academics before athletics, but when he showed up this summer fit and ready to run, we were happy that he had made it through a difficult time and committed to having a great final season of cross country. As we ready for league finals and CIF to follow, Daniel has shown that he is ready for the challenge. As John Wooden has said, adversity is often an asset. Though none of us openly choose to make poor decisions or seek out hard times, most of us will experience it at some point in our lives. Often, we have to look to our family, friends, coaches and teammates to support us along the often difficult paths that life leads us down and find strength from them to grow and learn from life’s hard times, and I am certain that Daniel would say the same. As coaches, we know that high school is just the beginning of a long path through life, and we wish Daniel well as he continues on. ~~~
One of the first experiences that I remember with Samantha Enriquez was pulling her off the course at the Great American meet in Alabama because she was too injured to go any further. Tears of sadness of course followed, but not so much from the pain that Sam was experiencing, but the pain of what could be- what should be. Sam was dubbed early on as a competitor. She was going to make her mark on our team early leading her coaches to believe she would be a freshman starting varsity. What became obvious as her freshman season and each season progressed after was that running for Sam was not going to be marked with the varsity experience we had hoped. Instead, it was going to be marked with enduring pain plagued with injuries and frustrations over what she should be achieving.
The battles and adversities a cross country runner faces are present even when there is no injury to report. The searing heat of August , September and October never make the sport all too appealing to most. The effort it takes to train for three miles is what some would assume is more like training for a marathon. The long hours, early mornings and Saturday meets would be sure to knock anyone down who is constantly working through injury and illness. But not Sam.
Through it all, Sam remains steadfast in her efforts to improve, to run faster- heck, just to finish a season healthy is considered a success. In her senior year her personality has shown that it is the smiles she provides for others, her willingness to improve and her desire to remain a part of a team that makes her a true success story in our program. ~~~ What do you do when you follow a successful older sibling? That’s the dilemma a lot of kids have to face their whole lives, putting up with comments from teachers like, “oh, you’re so-and-so’s sister” or “your brother was a great athlete” or “why can’t you be more like your sister?” Ok, maybe the last question doesn’t get voiced very often, but I think you get my drift. Being the next in line isn’t always what it may seem.
Kasey Tippets had the task of following in Kelsi’s footsteps, and despite Kelsi’s diminutive size, she left big prints. Her cross country career was one that littered the record books. For many, following such an example would cause them to find an even darker shadow to hide in, not wanting to be compared. For others, the best option is to go competely the opposite -- where “big brother” found success, “little brother” finds rebellion or apathy. Kasey found the middle road and has smiled the whole way through. She was never driven to match her big sister’s athletic accomplishments ... being a contributing member of the pack was more to her liking than leading the pack. Kasey has cheerfully divided her time between running and soccer. Her marks have been good enough to earn her a varsity letter each of the previous three seasons. Through it all, she’s kept her sense of humor, never taking herself too seriously, always one to quickly crack a joke or play a prank. We could always count on Kasey keeping things light and loose. Whether it was at the race course or colliding with fire hydrants and tripping over cracks in the sidewalks in practice, laughter accompanied her almost every mile of the way. Kasey will graduate having gone all four years, just like her big sis’. But that’s where the comparison ends. She never tried to mimic or match her big sister, she just cheerfully went her own direction, making the path uniquely and successfully hers. Given the option many of the younger siblings in sports take, this one wasn’t bad. ~~~ No one calls him Rafael, nor do I remember anyone calling him anything other than “Rafi.” Since his freshman year he has always shown a commitment to pushing himself as hard and as far as he can possibly achieve.
If King Cross Country has one member that embodies the soul and spirit of everything we try to teach as coaches, it is easy to point out Rafi. Even before this year when we as coaches decided to use the words and wisdom of John Wooden as to inspire our team, Rafi led by example. He clearly sees himself as a teacher, always encouraging others to forgo negativity and do their best. He himself admits that he smiles even when he is sad or depressed as he feels it is his purpose on earth to inspire others, to shine a light in a world that often only sees the negative, and to live life with integrity. At a race or in practice, Rafi is always positive, always pushing himself and other team members to have confidence in themselves. Integrity is not just a word to Rafi, but a way of living out his faith and serving others. As his senior year comes to an end, it is clear that he his contribution to the team is more than just being a good runner. He has poured out his spirit for the team and shown a determination to be a leader. As he finishes the race next week, he can say that he has kept the faith and has earned the admiration of his team.
~~~
Doing any sport for four years at the high school level is an accomplishment, but doing four years of cross country is a challenge that requires that rare gift of self control and discipline. Every runner has doubts at the line as to how the race will finish. Can I make it to the end, or will I give up?
Ben Huscher had a head start: his older brother ran for King, and so he joined the team in 2007 as a wide-eyed rookie. Even with that head start, Ben will be the first to admit that he was not very fast his first year, nor very committed to running. His first year ended mid-year with an injury having never run under 21 minutes. His sophomore year he showed tremendous improvement, improving almost four minutes, but at times he lacked self control and let his emotions get the better of him. As Coach John Wooden has written, emotions are the enemy when it comes to learning the lessons of leadership. But just when you might have thought that Ben wouldn’t return his junior year, he showed up and slowly started to commit to the sport. By the time he reached this senior year it was hard not to see that Ben had learned many of those lessons and was climbing the ladder of success as a runner. He showed a poise and loyalty to the team that just two years earlier seemed unlikely, and he had spent a hard summer preparing himself to be a varsity level runner.
And something else emerged from that often emotional young man: a smile. In the end, all coaches ever really want from their athletes is that they finish as a better person than when they first started the race. Ben has certainly done that, and King Cross Country is better as a result. ~~~
Which would you rather have? The mountain top or the valley? For many in life, we spend our time climbing mountains, looking for that proverbial “high”, the experience that comes to only the few. Valleys are filled with shadows, and the famous 23rd Psalm describes them in the same sentence as death. Who’d want to dwell in the lowlands when the view from the top is so much grander?
Carrie Soholt knows of both habitations, but what makes her experience in four years of running interesting is that her story began on the mountain top. Like only a few before her, she literally burst on the distance running scene. She was varsity right out of the gate.
Though her frosh season was interrupted by four broken toes, (You read that right, it’s 4, as in almost all five on the same foot!) she still managed to finish her season with dignity at CIF Finals. She then headed into track and proceeded to set the school record in the 800 meters. She backed that up with a school record the next Fall in XC as a sophomore. But three days after that peak, a storm front of injuries rolled in and clouded the view from the top. The hobbling seemed to never end. It was one, then another. Time ticked by and before she knew it, her mountain had melted into a valley.
What makes Carrie a remarkable young woman though is how she handled the shadows, the darkness that seemed to envelope her running. It was there in the shadowlands that she learned to appreciate anew her gift of running. She is quick to admit that going from the leader to one of the pack has taught her humility and grace. She has discovered the ironic truth that fruit grows in valleys, not on mountaintops. The fruit ripening in her life has been a greater love, joy and peace; she’s grown patience by the bushel. To those enduring the famines of injury, the harvest of her kindness toward them is bountiful. It’s an empathy born in her own hardships. Goodness, mercy and self control tattoo her life. Through it all, she’s remained faithful.
Even more remarkable is that she refused to allow the river of frustration to change her character with the eroding force of bitterness. She has remained so steadfastly positive and joyful despite the difficulties that one can only marvel at the depth of her integrity. An act of true generosity and sportsmanship she showed last track season was captured in the Press Enterprise as well as by CIF. And while the public marveled at her “random act of kindness” those of us who know her saw nothng “random” about it, that was “Carrie being Carrie.” While Carrie still aspires to ascend back to the mountaintop, she’s now a seasoned runner and human being who has not allowed the altitude changes that come with living to rob her of her joy, her spirit, her generosity or her drive. She presses on, cheerful in the climb, persistant and undeterred.
MAMMOTH
AN UPHILL CLIMB -- A DAY IN THE WEEK THAT WAS MAMMOTH
We ran and in some ways are still are running with heavy hearts on the news of CBU’s tragic accident and the traumatic injuries to one of our beloved alums, Rebecca Trupp. While the prognosis as of this writing is hopeful, she still has a long way to go and will be working hard to recover in the coming weeks and months.
The news hit us hard Tuesday morning and we were somewhat numb as to what to do. After some time of talking and crying we decided to go ahead and do the planned run up Deadman’s Pass. Some said, “It would be a tribute to Rebecca.” Knowing some would struggle with the emotions and carry the weight of sadness and fear, we made our way up the hill in whatever fashion we could muster. Some ran, some walk, some did a little of both. Some cried. As I struggled up the mighty grade, I thought of Rebecca and how she was such a fighter, especially on hills. During her years running with us, she was just so tough on hills, she was such a fighter. As my heart rate redlined and my quads ached, I thought of her. I thought of how I never once witnessed her giving up. I kept going. So too did her former teammates and those few among us who never had the opportunity to know her and be inspired by her. Our usual celebratory spirit at the summit was naturally muted. We enjoyed the view. The brisk wind whipped at our dampened bodies. We waited for the last to arrive, took photos and headed back down.
I couldn’t help but think of the parallels this run had to what perhaps Rebecca is now going through. She’s on an uphill climb of recovery. There will be pain. Patience and endurance will be critically important. Along the way, she’ll need our cheers, our support, good words well timed. Just as we urged each other on to the top of Deadman’s Pass Tuesday morning. Those words of encouragement ... “You can do it, keep going” will be what will sustain Rebecca in the coming weeks.
Some wonder why we annually choose to tackle such a tough run. You could say it’s because it’s hard. But really its because of what awaits us at the top. The view is simply spectacular, and given the toll such vistas require, they are all the sweeter. I can only imagine that such views await Rebecca when the healing process is complete. I hope so. Until then, she will trudge onward, one step at a time, progress made. You and I must cheer her on. We must not fail.
We’re near the top of the Pyramid. If it were easy to achieve “Poise” and “Confidence” the pyramid might not even exist- we would seemingly achieve success without much effort.
POISE
To find if you have poise, you need to discover your vision. What are you trying to achieve? What do you focus on when in times of pressure? If you constantly talk about “the negative” it will find you. It will haunt you. Showing poise means you are more worried about what you can DO for your team rather than what they can do for you. This holds true in all aspects of life. Relationships can not survive if you put yourself first. You must ask yourself what you can do for the other person rather than what they do for you. You aren’t worried about always being right. Poise shows that you can stand up for what is right while you know that your convictions, values, beliefs and qualities are what is best for team and yourself. You are working toward the ultimate goal of being the best that you can be. Poise is not something you pursue; it is something that you embody each and every day. You or others may see you as a leader, but you aren’t a leader if you don’t have poise: you don’t trust yourself. You don’t worry about controlling others- your actions and words are inspiring. At the same time, you learn confidence. You learn that through your natural actions and beliefs, you do not need approval from others. By not needing approval or worrying about other people’s expectations, you remove yourself away from fear controlling your life. When you remove yourself from fear, you achieve confidence, the next secret to success.
The Season ... Race by Race
OFF TO A “MOO-VING” AT THE GREAT COW RUN Put together a course that features nary a hill, 50% of it on concrete, cool temperatures and strong competition, you’re pretty much promise fast times. At the fourth annual Great Cow Run, the King runners got the season off to a “mooving” start with strong competitive efforts that reaped many individual and collective PR’s. It was a fun start to the 2010 season!
The 9th grade boys got it rolling in fine fashion with a second-place finish and some really strong performances. Timothy DiGeralamo paced well to finish in the top five, just behind him was Eric Boltinghouse. Michael Santoyo and Ryan Rasmussen both scored in the 3-4 spots and Jacob Enriquez closed the door on those chasing with a strong 18:41 mark and 5th-man score. The Frosh-Soph girls apparently were inspired by their teammates and did exceptionally well under the lead of Raelyn Werley who finished second overall with a lifetime best of 18:26. Katelyn Fatten, running in her rookie season as a soph was truly impressive with a top 5 finish at 18:59. Priscilla Carrasco broke out her first-season with a party, going 20:09 and showing some fine talent. Another frosh, Sabrina Suarez was 2 seconds behind her and Lauren Soholt finished the scoring with a PR of 20:25. The girls matched the finishing place of the 9th grade boys, taking second overall. Joe Casco grabbed our attention in track when the then-9th grader ran 5:00 for the mile last spring without the aid of a season of cross to prepare. That talent jumped to the front of his first XC race with a 16:40 mark, the 7th fastest time on the day for King. Perry Elerts ran his lifetime best of 16:42 after running in the low 18:00’s last year for Calvary Chapel Moreno Valley. Cobi Hopkins, Woodie Landeros and Vincent Hernandez locked up the scoring to earn a second-place plaque for their efforts. Ryan Gibeault was just off the scoring group but still ran under 18:00 for the first time at 17:58.
With no varsity girls team racing today, the JV girls were led by Taylar Amiot who has been enjoying a breakout summer of running. Monique Carrasco, Courtney Girard and Courtney Mort who all got their seasons rolling in PR-kind-of-ways. Neat stuff. The varsity boys were missing three of their regulars, but didn’t let that keep them from racing with aggressiveness and competitiveness. Having seen their brethren throw down great times all morning, they followed-suit with solid marks themselves and earned a 5th place finish and set a new school record team-time over the blazing three miles. Devin Becerra, Nick Rini, Nathan Torres, Daniel Balcazar and Adam Schupp did the scoring. The JV boys were 4th overall when the scores were counted, and were admirably led by Nathan Meier who had a super race to run 16:23, leaving him overcome by joy at the finish line. By far, it was his best race in three years of running. Tyler Parrish was right there behind him running superbly as well, with Rafi Perez and Jordan Goldie going sub-17:00 for the first times ever. Having taken advantage of the super conditions for fast running, the Wolves were up to the opportunity and came home with a meet that can and should serve as a good launching point for the challenging courses and teams that are to come.
A BIG DAY ON THE MOUNTAIN
For eight years now, King has been taking the trek south to compete in the Mt.Carmel invitational in San Diego. Some might say it’s because of the great weather, or the championship-level course or the great competition. While all are certainly attractive, perhaps the best reason for returning is that the runners rise to the occassion and put together a collectively good performance for an earlyseason affair.
Lane Werley and Loyola’s Elias Geydon wowed the crowd last season with a neck-and-neck battle over the 2.95 mile layout that heralded the emergance of Lane on the state scene. So the dual this time could have been billed “part two” or “the re-match” as the two talented All Americans shadowed each other over the course and finished in the same order as they did in 2009, (Lane taking second after getting out-kicked in the last meters). They both improved on last year’s marks while making it look effortless and notched the 5th and 6th fastest times on the course EVER. Hanna Peterson has national aspirations of her own and ran a technically perfect race, starting conservatively and then patiently picked others off to finish in third, behind two of the nation’s best -- both of whom broke the course record for the meet now in its 30th year! Her 15:23 (the girls course is 2.7 miles) was nearly three minutes better than her time from two seasons ago and the 8th fastest mark ever on the course. She shattered King’s best-ever on the course by nearly a minute. Nick Rini is as stealthy as they come and the senior quietly had a great race to notch the #2 all time mark for King at Mt.Carmel at 15:58. Ben Huscher was greatly improved as well and Aaron Youngren followed in his tow for a PR on the course as well. Carrie Soholt ran super to get back to the marks she was making prior to a year of injuries.
The junior girls were led by Taylar Amiot and Courtney Mort who had big course PR’s. Devin Becerra was leading the junior boys in 16th place, but Adam Schupp, a bit back of him, was putting together an amazing race of grit and tenacity. Adam ran the 5th fastest King time on the day and a full 1:15 ahead of where he was last year. Harrison McMillon was another who had a big day of improvement, dropping 1:50 from 2009. Ryan Aguirre was a minute-thirty ahead of a year ago. Nathan Meier had his second big race of the year but seemingly all were eclipsed by Joey Tompkins who raced 1:34 faster than last year and, ready for this?... 4:21 ahead of 2008! Joe Casco and Nathan Torres led the soph boys and continued to race well. Woodie Landeros however was the headline as he dropped almost 5 minutes off of last season with a stunning 17:42, right behind Cobi Hopkins who also improved much to go 17:40. Ryan Gibeault was another of the “big droppers” going some two minutes faster than last year. Raelyn Werley had another strong race to snag the #5 King time on the all-time course list. Katelyn Fatten had such a great day last week at the Cow Run, she already had the meetannouncer calling her by name as she put down a very impressive race and put herself firmly in the 10th fastest all time. Lauren Soholt
ran 1:45 faster than a year ago.
The 9th graders finished the day, and Priscilla Carrasco and Sabrina Suarez were close to one another and close to the front of the field all the way through. They both went across the line right around 18:00 minutes. Iveth Guitierrez and Carli Texeira were right behind them along with Savanna Saucedo who finished the scoring. Tim DiGerolomo had another fine outing, but the pleasant surprise of the morning was Taylor Beaulieu who really moved up the depth chart of 9th graders. Jacob Enriquez ran well too. So indeed, it was a big day at Mt. Carmel. With training still locked into the base phase of our periodization, and a ton of worthy opponents that could have distracted some from doing their best, the King kids came home with something to help motivate them for the battles that lay aheaad.
ONE POINT MAKES TWO SECONDS
The third year of Big 8 cross country got off to a rousing start at Riverside’s Andulka Park on a 2.77 mile course. As the league has matured and grown in it’s short life, the excitement surrounding the competitive nature of the league was evidenced by the large crowds that lined the course on Wednesday afternoon and were treated by very close races at the varsity level. Both the boys and girls varsity races were decided by a point, and in both cases, the Corona Panthers were victorious.
The girls’ contest started off with speed, as three of the Southern Section’s finest took the pace out hard and kept it honest all the way to the line. Hanna Peterson, Mariel Mendoza (North) and Adriana Olivas (Centennial) matched each other almost the entire way, dropping below 6:00 minutes per mile, until Hanna sprinted away for the victory in the last 300 meters. Behind her, Hanna’s teammates were working for places against a vastly improved Corona squad. Corona’s supremacy in this race was earned by the strength of their backend scorers, as they were able to put 6 in front of King’s fifth. Lane Werley led the way for the boys’ race, winning easily, but like the girls’ race, his teammates were running superbly well in the group and despite a strong pack by Corona, King was able to snag a very close second-place that really came down to a four-second difference between themselves and the Panthers. Typical of cross country, the one point difference didn’t come from Werley’s individual victory, but was found in the packs of the two teams. A simple switch of one runner from both teams would have turned the race in King’s favor. Marc Jimenez led a great JV race for much
of the way before relinquishing to Chris Miller and Daniel Balcazar who led a great pack attack by the Wolves to snag the win for King at the JV level. On the girls’ side, Corona’s depth was enough to win that race despite Kasey Tippets’ individual win. It was a great start to the league season, and with a much-better Corona girls team and a much-better King boys’ team, the league makeup has gotten much tighter which will only make the final two races of the season as exciting as this first one was.
SUPER XC CLASSIC GETS OFF THE GROUND IN FINE STYLE
When a first annual event bills itself as “super” and “classic”, it’s hard not to be amused a bit, as there is no history nor tradition present to earn such accolades.
That said, the first run of the meet held by South Hills HS at Bonelli Park in San Dimas was a good one, if not super, and should the standards set in this inaugural continue forward, it could well become a classic in short order.
The course was classic cross country, with loops, turns, terrain and hills. Spectator friendly, the King harriers put on a good show for parents and supporters even if the footing and undulating course robbed most of PR potentials. It was the sophomore boys race where King really shined, taking first overall with a strong showing by Brandon Berz, Joe Casco, Trevor Berney, Perry Elerts and Vince Hernandez shored up the scoring with all five in by 13th place. Arroyo was second. Nathan Meier had another fine outing for the JV squad, leading the way for the Wolves to help snag second place with Glendora winning. It was an exciting dual meet within the invitational, as both teams distinctive red and navy-blue uniforms showed clearly where the scoring was taking place. Tyler Parrish had a huge race as did Rafi Perez, Joey Tompkins and Dustin Means finished the scoring. Timothy DiGerolomo ran well near the front of the 9th grade race, ultimately finishing 8th overall. Eric Boltinghouse was 2nd for the team, finishing 22nd overall.
The varsity boys were down three guys as the team opted to train a number while giving others a chance to shine. Marc Jimenez was one of those who resolutely took out a hard pace and pulled the pack along. Daniel Balcazar had his finest race of the season. The squad ended up in third, just four points out of second, this despite not having two of their normal scorers.
The varsity girls were admittedly “flat” and appeared to struggle in the tall grass. Like the boys, their #1 was training through the race, but the others competed well and ended up in fifth, led by Carrie Soholt’s 3rd place overall finish.
Priscilla Carrasco is a normal varsity runner but ran the 9th grade race and made the most of the opportunity to win, doing so by a large margin and making it look easy. It was her first ever victory. Sabrina Suarez was in the top 5 overall. Carli Texeira had a terrific kick to end her 3 miles, while Savannah Saucedo and Maddie Wrathall finished up the scoring spots. Taylar Amiot and Samantha Enriquez ran well in the JV contest, looking strong after some good training of late. Bayleigh Porter also looked strong in the sophomore race, finishing 5th overall.
“Super” may not be the exclamatory one would choose immediately in describing the meet, but there are plenty of wonderful words that would work in it’s place, apt descriptions of a meet we could see returning to when it finally matures into a classic.
RECORDS FALL IN CLOVIS
King’s return to the hallowed paths of Woodward Park to find great racing and great competition didn’t return void. The Clovis Invitational beckoned the team after King last visited this spot at the California State Finals last November. Though the pressure and intensity of the State Finals wasn’t present on this mid-season affair, the loaded fields of State-bound squads brought out great performances by the Wolves. The team’s unquestioned Number One’s, Hanna Peterson and Lane Werley had breakout out and break through days, both ending with the two of them lowering substantially their own school records.
Hanna has been a bit “under the radar” this season despite a stellar race at Mt. Carmel in mid-September when she finished in the shadow of two of the nation’s best. This race was a break out for the senior and the state’s radar has now been officially lit up. Her scintilating 17:56 - 6 seconds behind Catrina McCallister of Arcadia who is ranked 6th in the country - was a technically perfect race, well paced and well finished. Lane’s been a bright dot on the national radar for a good year now and he toed the line ranked 9th in the country and alongside the #1 and #7 ranked harriers in the land. It was as it was billed, exciting. Typical of his State race 10 months ago, he took it out conservatively, but moved into second place by two miles and held it to the line, finishing three seconds from the win, behind Amar Moussa, the top runner in the country. His time of 14:54 was the 15th fastest mark EVER RECORDED on this course and by fifteen seconds the Riverside County record on the course, and after flirting with a sub 15:00 5K time twice last
year, it was the break through he had been waiting for. Quite a day for the driven senior who in typically understated fashion described his race with one word, “good.”
Both leaders were supported by great casts who helped establish the two squads as contenders here in mid-season. Sparked by Carrie Soholt’s team talk on Friday, the young and somewhat green girls put together a good race, running one second under the team time the 2009 team ran at State. Carrie had a great race to finish 19th overall while Raelyn Werley, Katelyn Fatten and Lisa Garside finished the scoring. Of those three, Raelyn and Lisa had some experience on the course but as sophomores, it was limited! The team finished 4th overall in the race, the highest finish ever for King in the Clovis “Championship-seeded” race. Of the 123 schools that brought a full team, the King girls had the 6th fastest team performance on the entire day.
Nick Rini had another phenomenally tough performance, rolling along in Werley’s wake and dragging his teammates with him. He notched the second-fastest King mark ever on the course. Devin Becerra was the third Wolf across the line, followed by Chris Miller who PR’d and ran his best race, well, ever. Daniel Balcazar finished the scoring. Collectively, the five set the school record for team time on a 5,000 meter course going 81:01. There were 131 boys’ teams spread through the day, had they all raced at once, King would have finished 13th overall. In the other races of the day, the JV teams ran alongside other school’s varsity squads in the Extra Large School Varsity races. Adam Schupp was simply amazing, like several of the girls he didn’t let his first spin on the course go to waste as he put down King’s #15 all time mark on the day and had he been in the other race, would have finished as King’s #6 on the day! Marc Jimenez, Aaron Youngren, Nathan Meier and Brandon Berz finished the scoring. Emma Jaramillo had a super race to drop some 30 seconds off of last year while Lauren Soholt and Bayleigh Porter both had terrific efforts. Sabrina Suarez, just a frosh, rounded out the scoring, finishing just behind Taylar Amiot who had a 27-second improvement off of 2009. Woodward Park served up some goodness once again. Covered in ideal weather conditions and propelled by some of the best teams from across the state, King came away in a noticiably different place than when they arrived. Exactly why they went.
SECOND LEAGUE MEET TURNS INTO TRACK RACE
After two, one-point races at the varsity levels in the first round of Big 8 competition three weeks ago, Corona and King were set to do battle again in the second round. The outcome which went to Corona the first time, were reversed this time. On a super-flat layout that seemed akin to a track race, the pancake terrain aided in tremendously fast times. The girls teams are closely matched, as the one-point Corona victory showed three weeks ago. When the dust settled this time, King was the victor, but again the margin was slim ... only four points. Corona’s top three were again right there trying separate Hanna Peterson (who won for the second time) and Carrie who gave everything to slip into the trio, something she was not able to achieve last weekend in Fresno. Raelyn Werley, Katelyn Fatten and Kasey Tippets were next in but were followed by another trio of Panthers which made the score deceptively close. The boys race was a complete reversal of the nail-biter in round one. This time, the Wolves met the challenge of a well-coached and well-trained team head on and battled with maturity and passion. With Lane Werley taking his
leading duties in stride, the real war was back in the trenches as King’s pack was working hard for every point. Devin Becerra and Nick Rini both had huge performances to split the 1-2 punch of Corona. Daniel Balcazar and Adam Schupp were the big-boys on the block however as they pulled #6 man Chris Miller like a posse over the third mile and beat to the line the 3-4 runners of Corona. The scoring gap grew from a 1-point deficit to a 20 point victory.
The JV races were not scored due to administrative reasons, but had they been with the runners that did make it to the line, King came away with “unoffiical” victories. The girls were led by Priscilla Carrasco and Iveth Gutierrez both of whom had strong races. Lauren Soholt was third across the line. Taylar Amiot and Samantha Enriquez were the final scorers. The boys saw a great race up front as Nathan Meier and Joe Casco survived a strong battle that was for much of the race a pack of five. Ben Huscher finished 5th overall, while Perry Elerts had his fastest time ever for three miles.
THE PERFECT STORM BRINGS DOWNPOUR OF IMPROVEMENT AT MT.SAC INVITATIONAL
The Mt.SAC Invitational course can bring either heart ache or joy. Its challenging three hills and 63 year-long tradition give harriers the opportunity to challenge themselves against both history and their own ability or strength. Throw in warm weather -- as October in So Cal can often serve up -- and it becomes an experience only for the hearty. But cover the 2.91 miles in clouds, cool temps and subdue the dust with a rainstorm that leaves town before race day, well you got the setting for joy.
Such was the case for the 2010 edition, creating, well literally “perfect” racing conditions. One could call the 2010 version of Mt.SAC “Joyville, USA”. King’s runners took advantage of the weather and hardened paths and obliterated their own personal bests on the course and came home holding the fastest ever recorded times for Riverside County runners, both male and female.
Both Lane Werley and Hanna Peterson broke the Riverside County Records for the course. Lane needed only 2 seconds to do it, he took 20 off his personal best while admittedly not having his “best” day. Hanna Peterson needed to leapfrog 8 other past performances and drop 40 seconds to do it, she took off 43 and went home with the record. So now, two King runners sit atop the county list for the heralded course. Lane led the boys varsity team to a 1:20 drop in Becerra and Nick Rini went 2-3 for the Wolves, They both PR’d as well, and both dropped below eclipsed 16:00 in our history, in this one race, three up with big-time races to help the team drop that Sweeps race. Hanna Peterson’s 17:13 was good while the girls’ inflated score left the team still put together the #2 all time team and saw PR’s from Carrie Soholt, Lisa Fatten had never even seen the famed competitor didn’t let that stop her SAC race at 19:35. Three hours separated the varsity of the team who raced in the charge for the sophomore boys was followed by Perry Elerts who faster on the course than he ran last Vincent Hernandez and Woodie group … all guys that could well be on the Cayla Kim and Kaelyn Manning all raced in the sophomore girls race. Lauren
In the freshmen races, Iveth Gutierrez the hills and moving up steadily through at 21:30. Carli Texeira had a solid race a time that almost broke 18:00 in the 9th again and Jacob Enriquez had his best race Tristan Valenciano dropped under 20:00. The JV teams ran in near darkness but lit up Huscher, Aaron Youngren were near the the guys to a 2nd place finish. Rafi Perez, all going sub 17:30. Taylar Amiot had a the last two miles. Kimberli Graham and bests and racing great.
The 2010 Mt.SAC Invitational will go down game-changing day.
team time from the previous school record. Devin with both having truly outstanding performances. 16:00. Prior to this day, only two King runners had did. Marc Jimenez and Adam Schupp again came team time to 79:04 and finish 5th in the Individual for 4th place overall in the Team Sweeps and near the bottom of the 17 team field, they time (behind last year’s CIF Finals squad) Garside and Raelyn Werley. Katelyn course much less race it, but the great from running a very impressive first sweeps action and the remainder afternoon. Brandon Berz led the with a super sub-17:00 PR. He notched a 17:09, well over a minute year at his former school! Nathan Torres, Landeros rounded out the scoring for the varsity seven in 12 months! Lauren Soholt, well as the entire contingent of King runners finished in the top 10.
showed her great strength by hammering the race, running 20:54. Sabrina Suarez was despite battling illness. Tim DiGerolamo had grade race, Ryan Rasmussen battled mightily of the year, just 2 seconds behind his teammate.
the gloom with gritty efforts. Nathan Meier, Ben front of their race for much of the distance and led Tyler Parrish and Joey Tompkins had superb races lifetime best as well, moving up about 10 spots over Courtney Mort were also dropping their personal in history as one of the fastest ever. King enjoyed a
Lane Werley and Hanna Peterson both set Riverside County records for the Mt.SAC course, 14:35 and 17:13 respectively
GIRLS HANG 10 AT BIG 8 LEAGUE FINALS
The outcome of this league championship campaign was never certain. Matched against a vastly improved and tenacious Corona squad, King’s 10th straight League Title was never promised. Corona had managed to break King’s 10-year win streak in league action back in September, winning by 1 point. King managed a 4 point victory in round two, three weeks later. Those who entertained doubts or questions in the Finals would be understood. Two solid teams, evenly matched all year, let the race begin!
When the race ended, the girls of King managed to pull out a 9 point margin of victory and walked away with a decade-long list of League titles. That string spans three leagues, the Sunkist, the Ivy and now the Big 8. Considering that King could not even field a full team of five runners back in 1999 when the brand new school was competing in the Arrowhead league, it’s been quite a run. The victory was assured by a strong pack of Kasey Tippets, Lisa Garside and Raelyn Werley (King’s 3-5 scorers) who were able to wedge themselves between Corona’s top three and the rest of their scorers. Corona’s top three runners have been a dominant force against King’s typical race order, necessitating that Carrie Soholt as King’s #2 do something to break up that group. She did just that, bringing about a 2 point swing in King’s favor and finishing 6th overall. At the front of the race was Hanna Peterson who bested again her main league rivals and earned the League title and MVP honor. She becomes the 8th King runner in a row to win an individual league crown, going unbroken back to Megan Fairley’s Sunkist League victory in 2003. Fresman Priscilla Carrasco and rookie sophomore Katelyn Fatten rounded out the team.
Corona’s JV squads finished second in 2009 to King, but were able to reverse the outcome this year. King finished second to the Panthers, despite a solid second-half of the race by the scorers. Taylar Amiot really shined with a well-paced run followed closely by Iveth Gutierrez who again showed her strength by moving up throughout the race. The two went 2nd and 3rd respectively. Sabrina Suarez wrapped up a great freshman year with a 9th place finish. Lauren Soholt finished 11th and Cayla Kim concluded the scoring in 16th place to help bring home the Runner’s Up honor for the Lady Wolves.
When we look at some of the great athletes of our time, we assume that the path to greatness was an easy one. Rarely do we see the hours of toil on the practice field or tears in working through an injury or the exhaustion from hours of travel, practice, game time and a life where a normal routine is often hard to find. Through the media we always seem more aware of the glamorous side of sports. We see the arms raised overhead in victory, the embrace with coach and family, the stoic face as they seem to effortlessly push themselves or their team to championships.
INTENTNESS I am sure that if we did see the majority of our winning teams and athletes road to victory it would be marked with more setbacks than success. It is with reflection that we see how hard it is to remain true to the course when faced with adversity. Wooden says that “the road to real achievement takes time, a long time, but you do not give up. You may have setbacks. You may have to start over. You may have to change your method. You may have to go around, or over, or under. You may have to back up and get another start. But you do not quit. You stay the course. To do that, you must have intentness.” Some of you have suffered through physical setbacks, but all of you have suffered through mental hurdles. How have you worked through those mental demons? Or, have you? As a reminder to earlier discussions, Wooden began coaching basketball at UCLA in 1948. When he arrived there from Indiana he didn’t have a real gym, he was given a limited budget, but he was given the expectation to reach the top of the NCAA. Fifteen years later, the Bruins won their first National Championship. We don’t seem to have a lot of patience these days for teams who are expected to win. Can you imagine if Wooden had coached in today’s era? He probably would have been fired and the dynasty of winning 10 national championships in 12 years could have been lost.
RUNNERS UP NO MORE, BOYS WIN FIRST TITLE IN FIVE YEARS
If you look at the history of league finishes for the boys of King High, you’ll find that cross country earned the first league title in school history back in 1999, but outside of a couple exceptions, “second place” has been the team’s M.O. for much of the last decade. This year, the nemesis was a strong Corona squad, who had not only won the first two Big 8 titles (while King took second) but had amassed a string of league titles that stretched back for seven years. It was a setting for a great clash, and it didn’t disappoint. Battling well in temps that soared to the mid-90’s and over the three-mile layout, both teams did their best, but for the first time in a half-decade, King came out on top, runners-up no more! Individually, Lane Werley won his second-straight league title after chasing down a fast start by Corona’s Michael Gauger. Behind him the drama of the meet was being played out. Critical performances by Devin Becerra and Nick Rini set the stage. Becerra was in third with a mile to go before fading back a bit to 5th, but still ahead of Corona’s #2-man. Rini held off a Corona runner who dived to the line in an effort to snag the point. The 5-6 combo by those two were huge, as King was able to put three in front of Corona’s #2, even if it was by a hair! Corona put the next two across the line, but another studly run by Adam Schupp (who was sick all day!) and Daniel Balcazar stopped the bleeding and sealed the 8 point victory. It was a great effort that was truly earned as the Corona guys gave everything they had and made King race every step of the way. If there was an “easy” win in the very hot day, it came in the JV boys race, were King seemed to handle the opposition early and sustain it to the finish. Nathan Torres finished off his season in fine fashion going wire-to-wire for the win while Nathan Meier pushed him hard the whole way. Joe Casco showed the future is bright for King with a very strong 4th place showing. Brandon Berz and Perry Elerts rounded out the scoring to help King win easily over second-place Santiago. All five of these scorers are underclassmen and will presumably return next year to fill the shoes of the varsity seniors who will have graduated. The day might be remembered for the high temperatures that cooked some of the times, but in the end it was an historic day for both the girls and the boys of King Cross Country.
Wooden believed that a person’s character should be paramount to winning and if you don’t think and act like a leader then the team would suffer. While we may all not be natural leaders, we may affect others’ actions, thoughts and beliefs in ways we never realized. By not recognizing our unique abilities to sincerely help and lead others, we are not taking initiative. Wooden does say that we must “cultivate” this trait, in others words it can take time. While it may take time, you may realize you are taking initiative without recognizing it. Do you throw away trash that you see left behind without any recognition or thanks? Do you wear a watch to practice, have good eating habits, stretch well vs. going through the motions, avoid people that take you away from being the best you can be? If the answer is “yes” to any of these, then you are showing initiative. You are acting as a role model for others even if they don’t acknowledge it. You are helping yourself and your team.
INITIATIVE
However, in taking these actions, there is very little risk involved. There is no chance of failing. It is in that fear of failure that we decide to never take action. We become stuck and unwilling to take action because the results could be less than perfect. If you can keep in mind that we are not and never will be perfect, you can perhaps free up your mind and body to achieve any type of goal. One of John Wooden’s team managers was quoted as saying he would have to go into the gym ticket booth on game night to see who the team was playing that day. Wooden would never talk about an opponent, he never prepared his teams to go against any one team, but challenged them each to take initiative to be their best no matter who the opponent. “Respect your opponent, but never fear them. You have nothing to fear if you have prepared to the best of your ability.” By taking the initiative to do more than what you thought possible, physically and emotionally, you are improving yourself and thus improving our team. In the book “Beyond Success”, the author Brian Dibiro says that when you take initiative, you are taking action. However, it is “the difference between knowing what to do and doing what you know. “ We know what it takes to succeed, but it is our ability to take initiative (the doing) that helps you lead a more noble life and become a more inspiring teammate. You can do more, even when nobody is looking. The end result will speak for itself. What do you want your results to be? “Remember this your lifetime through- Tomorrow there will be more to do.- And failure waits for all who stay-With some success made yesterday. Tomorrow you must try once more- And even harder than before.”
FINALLY, FINALS AND FINALS AGAIN
Though the 2010 boys team is statistically one of the best teams King has ever put on the line, and though the girls from King have been to CIF Finals for each of the last eight seasons, a berth in this season’s CIF Championship was everything but certain. The CIF preliminaries had the usual offings ... warm weather, the tough Mt.SAC course and the ever-present D1 depth that the Southern Section provides. For the boys the challenge was steeper as at least three of the starting lineup were sick and only one had ever been to Finals before. For the girls, while healthy, the team is relatively young and inexperienced. So, the races had a lot of drama as both teams, ranked in CIF, made efforts to qualify for the CIF Finals. While it wasn’t pretty, they both came away with the goal accomplished.
The boys ran in the heat of the day and while well positioned at the top of the Switchbacks as a group, by the time they arrived at the infamous Poop out hill the story had begun to switch as three teams, Arcadia, California and Great Oak were packing well while King’s scorers seemed to be dropping back. With Lane Werley cruising comfortably in 2nd place, Nick Rini was running a super effort finishing 13th overall. The pack of Daniel Balcazar, Adam Schupp and Marc Jimenez weren’t having their best races of the year, it was enough to push back a hard-charging Warren squad who missed the final spot for qualifying 13 points back.
Finally, the boys made the Finals. After getting there three of the first four years of the program’s history, 2002 (and Division 3) seems like a long time ago and a very distant memory. But the push for Finals began three years ago and while the last two seasons saw the teams come up frustratingly close, this group seized their chance and did it in a classic team effort, with those who were healthy, doing enough to pick up the slack for those who were sick. It wasn’t pretty, but they’ll take it!
For the girls, making Finals has been such a steady accomplishment over the last 8 years, it can almost seem as a matter of course. But making the “Sweet 16” in D1 is always difficult and though qualifying seemed to be well in hand for the ladies by the top of the Switchbacks, the outcome began to look a little less certain by the final mile. Hanna Peterson scored a skinny 1 point with the victory, and Carrie Soholt scored a low 13, but there was a bit of a gap to the remaining scorers of Lisa Garside, Kasey Tippets and Raelyn Werley who were tightly bunched. With three solid squads firmly in front of the Lady Wolves,
it was became a race for fourth, and Chino Hills was pushing for their own spot in Finals. King’s depth was the key there, as both Priscilla Carrasco and Katelyn Fatten finished in front of the Huskies’ fifth.
It will be the ninth year in a row for the girls to run at CIF Finals, and while that can seem a bit old-hat, next week will no doubt dawn exciting, as Finals is always that. For boys, absent from the dance for the equal number of years, they’ll get the joy of finding that out for themselves. Photos of Adam Schupp and Lane Werley courtesy of Tim Wood
BOYS 11th, GIRLS 12th AT FINALS; WERLEY AND PETERSON ON TO STATE!
The measuring stick of excellence for many cross country teams in Southern California is to take the starting line in the CIF Finals of the ultra-competitive Southern Section. For King’s girls, 2010 heralded the 9th straight year they’ve arrived at the Big Dance. While this was King’s boys fourth trip to Finals in our history, it was the first since 2002. Both squads entered the races ranked in the middle of the top 16 in Division One, and while they didn’t quite match that prediction, they still came away with solid races and will send their front-runners to Fresno next weekend for the State Championship.
Also present at the meet was a steady rain fall that forced the race from it’s traditional three-hill Mt.SAC course to a 5K concrete layout that, based on the times, lead some to think it a bit longer than 5000 meters. Whatever the distance, the competition heated up quickly for the girls, as Hanna Peterson went out with the leaders and blistered the first mile at 5:19, a split that sent her into anaerobic shock a bit and stole some of her normal spring. She battled tough though and hung on to finish 4th overall, the highest CIF Finals finish for any King girl in our history. Carrie Soholt, who has had such a tremendous and positive impact on our program over the last four seasons and who ran consistently as our #2 all season, suffered from the effects of a nasty cold and couldn’t hold her position, ultimately finishing 5th for the team. Lisa Garside and Raelyn Werley, both sophomores and the heir-apparents to lead the team in 2011 were 2nd and 3rd on the day for King. Just behind them was rookie and fellow soph, Katelyn Fatten, the talented neophyte who concluded in strong fashion a fantastic first season. All three girls, who raced so consistently and strong all season will be back next year to pull the team along to perhaps a 10th-straight CIF Finals berth. Kasey
Tippets and Priscilla Carrasco were the 6th and 7th finishers for the team. The group finished 12th overall.
In 2002, most of this team of guys were in 2nd and 3rd grade, so had the butterflies been present at the soggy start line, it would have been understandable. Lane Werley, the only one of the seven with Finals experience (he raced as an individual in 2009 and finished as the D-1 Runner Up) took the race out hard, leading by the first turn before settling into the pack and coming by the mile at a reported 4:30 clip. By the second loop, he and two Arcadia runners including the #1 ranked runner in the nation Amar Moussa were gapping the field. With a 1000 meters to go, he and Moussa pulled away and battled to a 1-2 finish, Lane second again by one second. There was a large gap to the remainder of the King scorers, as Devin Becerra and Nick Rini finished 2-3 followed by Marc Jimenez and Adam Schupp. All appeared to have run well in the crowded and talented field. Daniel Balcazar and Chris Miller were the 6th and 7th finishers for the team and collectively finished 11th overall. So it was a fine finish for a season full of good prospects but plagued by questions and uncertainties. Qualifying for the CIF Finals in the Southern Section is never an easy task and both of these teams proved, from July to November, that they were up to the task.
Post-scrip: Showing the quality of the Big 8 League, the conference sent four teams to the finals (King’s boys and girls and Corona’s boys and girls). While no team advanced to the State Championship, the league will send four girls (Peterson, Olivas from Centennial, Williams from Corona and Mendoza from North) and three boys (Werley, Gauger from Corona and Huntley from North). IMPRESSIVE! PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE AND THE PRIOR COURTESY OF TIM WOODS
BITTER AND SWEET AT THE 2010 STATE MEET
As both of King’s individual harriers stepped to the line at the California State Championship, they must have thought, “I’ve been here before.” In the 2009 event, Hanna Peterson solidified herself as one of the state’s rising stars with a school record setting 12th place finish. For Lane Werley, his race a year ago launched him into the national scene with a 3rd place finish and berth at the Nike Cross Nationals.
On a rainy and cold day in Fresno, the scene hadn’t changed much from a year ago, except for the competitors who toed the line were significantly faster and the fields deeper than 2009. Hanna took the line first with intentions of becoming King’s first girl to finish in the top 10 at State. The week prior, Hanna was lured into a “too-quick” first mile at 5:19 that red-lined her and she had to battle to maintain her position to the finish. The strategy at State was to be conservative in mile one, then start moving up. It’s a tactic that has worked well for her in the past. The leaders of the race took it out quickly and crossed the mile under 5:20 while Hanna crossed in 5:30 somewhere in the mid-20’s place. She then began to steadily move up and by two miles, crossed right at 11:20, she was 10 meters back of the top ten running well and looking good. With a quarter mile to go, she was in 13th place and appeared to make a charge on the girls in front of her who were struggling. However it wasn’t to be, as she inexplicably suffered a physical collapse and slowed her pace considerably just to get to the finish line. “I had a bad race” she said after spending some time with medical personnel. Not quite, it may have bee a bad quarter mile, but her race to that point had been executed to perfection. Bitter sweet for sure. Even if Hanna had been able to maintain that last 90 seconds of the race, it still may have come up a bit short of the goal. Mike Kennedy of ESPN-Rise wrote of the D1 race, “Baxter’s performance (the freshman winner who nearly broke the course record) was just the start of what turned out to be the best girls individual race in state meet history.Finishing second in 17:24 was another freshman, Clare Carroll of Granite Bay. Carroll’s time ranks fourth on the all-time freshmen list behind Baxter, Hasay and Deena Drossin of Agoura (Agoura Hills). Drossin was also a Foot Locker champion. Alli Billmeyer of Torrey Pines (San Diego) was third at 17:25. Grabill was sixth at 17:31. In all, eight runners bettered 17:35. In 23 years, no other race has had more than three runners under 17:35.” Amazing depth, and a significant departure from the race Hanna experienced here a year ago. That said, it still would take NOTHING away from the season she has put together, one that has pushed her to the front of the State’s best, showing incredible improvement and setting the stage for what we hope will be a phenomenal track season.
For Lane Werley, his trip to State a year ago sealed his amazing season as legitimate and no fluke. The expectations to repeat that level of performance were felt all season long in 2010, much more so was the pressure to improve on the 3rd place finish of ‘09. To that end, he came away with somewhat of a bitter-sweet conclusion to the meet. Amar Moussa, Lane’s nemesis from Arcadia who has bested him by less than five seconds every time they dueled, made his move in the second mile after Lane led the field through at 4:39. By two miles, he was a two seconds off Moussa’s heels at 9:29 and with one mile to go in the 5K race, he was right at 10:03 to Moussa’s 10:02. The two seemed to hold that gap over the final mile, while Ryan Urie of Patrick Henry was in 3rd some 25 meters back. Moussa would go on to win, while Lane appeared to have a lock on 2nd. Urie wouldn’t be denied that spot however, and unleashed a torrid kick that endured well past 200 meters in length, nipping Lane just yards before the line.
Lane’s 14:46 time was the sweetness to the bitter pill of getting out-kicked. When he finished 3rd a year ago, his mark was 15:10, so a nice 24 second improvement was served up this day. Even more significantly, he dropped 9 seconds off his PR from October at the Clovis invitational and notched the 8th fastest time EVER RECORDED on the famed Woodward Park course. Amazing. His effort also earned him a second invitation to the Nike Cross Nationals to be held in Portland next week, and if that race goes anything like this State race, he can bet it’ll be faster than it was in 2009.
Lane set the Riverside County Record for the Woodward Park Course at 14:46. His time was also the 8th fastest mark ever run on the course which has been used for 24 years
WERLEY GOES OUT BIG AT NIKE CROSS NATIONALS
He was a scrawny little kid who stumbled into cross country four years ago, mainly to get in shape for his first loves, basketball and baseball. Lane Werley ended up running varsity that 9th grade season, something only a handful of freshmen have done over the years, and while it was a solid season, it didn’t scream out that big things -- really big things -- were to come.
Time has a way of changing stuff. That little freshman grew into a 6-3 man and the kid who was simply looking for something to do during the fall of 2007, discovered in the process a talent he most likely didn’t know he had. Seizing the opportunity it presented, Lane pushed himself with great discipline and personal responsibility over the last couple of years to becoming the best that he could be. That effort landed him at a level no one would have dreamed of just a handful of years ago, but after a muddy slog over 5000 meters at the 2010 Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) on Saturday, he firmly established himself as one of the best high school distance runners in the land. The seventh-annual NXN meet saw a week of rain turn the course into a mud pit, but race day dawned cold and dry. Whereas Lane viewed last year’s race as a “reward for a good season”, this time, his final time, it was a season-long goal. Upon arrival in Portland, his goal was almost fulfilled; a top-ten finish would be the ultimate prize. He got out well after the cannon resounded; something he didn’t do last year which left him clamoring for spots and ultimately a 25th place finish. By 1000 meters here in 2010, he was in 14th place and then spent the next 4K catching up to those who started either too hard or succumbed to the precipitous amounts of mud or other man-made obstacles on the course. With 1K to go Lane had moved into 7th and was locked into a duel with an opponent for 6th. Over the last soggy sprint, Lane was able to pull away and secure a 6th place finish and his second All American title in the last 6 months.
It is always fascinating to see what young people do with their four years of high school. Some see the opportunities before them and let them pass, prone to ease and resistant to risk. For Lane, while he didn’t enter high school with the plan to finish as one of the nation’s premier runners and ready to embark on a collegiate career at UCLA, that scenario presented itself and he seized on it. Over a saturated and muddy field in Portland Oregon, Lane finished his high school cross country career with a flurry and on about as big a stage as one could imagine. It’s quite a way to go out.
PETERSON AND BERZ TAKE ON FOOTLOCKER WESTERNS
Mt. SAC has been host to the Footlocker Western Region Championships for the past decade or so. The meet serves to qualify athletes from 14 western states to run in the Footlocker National Championships held this year in San Diego on December 11. While there is only one boys and one girls race that are eligible for qualifying to the Nationals, the meet also holds grade level races for anyone that wants to give it a go against runners from across the West.
Brandon Berz, who missed much of the summer due to injury, extended his season out into December to get on the Mt.SAC course once again and test himself over the extened 5000 meter layout. He finished in 63rd place at a solid time of 18:24. (The normal course is 2.91 miles, this 5K course is the traditional course plus about 350 meters finishing on thetrack.)
Hanna Peterson also competed in the seeded race with the goal of finishing in the top 10 and picking up one of the spots for the Nationals. It wasn’t to be as the same fatigue that grabbed her at the State meet seemed to do her over yet again. She settled for a hard fought 32nd place. The disappointment of not qualifying doesn’t take away however, the reality that Hanna fashioned for herself an amazing season of high accomplishment (including setting the Riverside County Record for the Mt.SAC course in October) and getting the notice of numerous college programs. She’ll end her high school cross country career at King one of the most improved runners ever to wear our uniform as well as the fastest this school has seen. Hers has been a most remarkable journey!
Check out the three year growth of both of our teams from 2008-2010. All three years are at the top of the all-time 5K team time lists!