SHG Cross Country

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SHG Girls Win State!

SHG Girls Run
the State of Illinois
Back 2 Back

They were not expected to win this year. With illness, injury and bad weather gunning for them, they were not projected to prevail. Did they want a repeat championship? They desired this one even more than the last. On Saturday, at Detweiller Park in Peoria, the SHG Girls Cross Country team made history for the second year in a row. Last year, they were the very first CS8 team to claim a first place team trophy in Girls Cross Country. This year, they were the very first CS8 team to win a Back to Back Championship!

Twenty seconds is all that separated the top six SHG runners. It was that 20 seconds that mattered the most. At the mile mark, all seven SHG runners came in between 6:02 and 6:06. By mile two, Madz Negro had pulled away with Emily Delvo in hot pursuit just nine seconds off her pace. Julia Wykoff, Lauren Fyalka, Jessica Megginson and Kelsi Frank were stride for stride another 14 seconds back. Maria Lowis was just behind them. At the finish line, Negro finished in the highest position for the team at 16th place individually with a time of 18:23 while Delvo took the last all-state position at 25th place in a time of 18:30.

This year’s race was not about times. It was about position. There were three East Peoria girls who made all-state, and there were three Crystal Lake girls who made all-state. Many questioned, how did SHG win it? They won it because they put six girls in front of Crystal Lake’s fourth runner, and they won it because they put all seven of their girls in front of East Peoria’s fifth runner. How far up the ladder you finish is important, but how closely your team bunches together up that ladder is of tantamount importance.

There were 167 runners who competed in the Class 2A girls race. Fyalka finished in 31st place in a time of 18:39. Julia Wykoff finished in 33rd place in a time of 18:41. Frank finished in 36th place in a time of 18:43. Megginson finished in 41st place in a time of 18:47. Lowis was 69th in a time of 19:18

This team has run as a family unit all year, sibling rivalry and all, and you simply don’t leave any family member behind. If you want to accomplish greatness, put your strongest family on it, and they will succeed. When you look at times they may not have been a dominate force this weekend, but they were the team that took home the state championship trophy! CONGRATULATIONS SHG GIRLS!!! You are the strongest family in the state of Illinois!!!

Ryan Paced SHG Boys
at State Meet

The SHG Boys Cross Country team was considered underdogs this year. It was going to be a “rebuilding year.” They were not even supposed to get a bid to go to state, but they did! While they were standing in their box readying to start the race, the announcement came in that the SHG Girls had secured their second state title. The boys were empowered, and Sean Ryan took that news and ran with it.

On a bitter cold day Ryan paced his team through the 3 mile trek at Detweiller with Brian McMahon close by. Time drops are not typically expected on a course when the weather is so lousy. Times at Saturday’s state meet is what the SHG boys’ race was all about. Ryan finished first on his team in a time of 16:12. He shaved a full 26 seconds off his time from the PND meet ran on this same course earlier this year. His time was better from last year’s state time by 33 seconds.

McMahon ran in second position for his team just five seconds behind Ryan. McMahon’s state time was 16:17. He shaved just 8 seconds off his time from the PND race earlier in the year, but he bettered his state time from last year by 28 seconds. McMahon and Ryan have consistently led the SHG boys’ team all season long.

Another dominant consistent force for SHG all year has been Eric Delvo. Delvo finished with a first state birth time of 16:45. Last year Delvo was an alternate on the state team and did not get a chance to run. Earlier in the season at the PND meet Delvo ran 17:24, that is a 39 second time drop for the young sophomore. Big things are expected of him for next season.

Another state first timer was the shoeless wonder Martin Fisher, who ran in fourth position for SHG. Fisher proved that running with one shoe is really not that important, even though his foot was freezing. The inch and a half gash in his heel, from being spiked, certainly didn’t hold him back either. Fisher put up a time of 16:56 to better his PND time by 27 seconds. Big things are expected of him for next season, too!

This was senior Steven Begando’s first and last state race of his running career, at least at the high school level. Begando took the final team points for SHG and finished in a time of 17:21, which was a 37 second improvement over his time from PND earlier in the year. He should have a beautiful track season this spring with all of this extra conditioning. Michael Ralph and Mason Switzer ran in sixth and seventh position on Saturday for SHG. Ralph posted 17:45 and Switzer was just 20 seconds off his pace at 18:05. The time was a 44 second improvement for Switzer over his PND time.

It was a season to be remembered and improved upon for the SHG boys. This is just a starting point for this young team. Six of the seven runners will return next fall.

Madz Negro Rocks Sectionals
& OMG, OMG Jessica!
November 1, 2008

They're baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! The Sacred Heart Griffin Girls took the Centralia Sectional title again this year, and the top five point earners were separated by a mere 18 seconds! The girls scored 36 points with the next team Springfield High scoring 103 points. Madz Negro (19:33) looked to be making a full recovery on Saturday as she sprinted towards the finish line in second place behind Mt. Vernon’s toughest competitor Margo Richardson (19:14), who ran out in front of the field by more than 300 meters the entire race. It was just in the last 50 meters that Quincy Notre Dame’s Amanda Darnell (19:31) clipped Negro taking second and giving a 3rd place finish to Negro. Senior Julia Wykoff (19:39) ran her last high school Sectional in great ease coming in just six seconds behind Negro in 6th place. Wykoff, a captain, led her team at the beginning of the season and is making her comeback when it counts the most. The biggest surprise and delight of the day was, OMG, OMG Jessica Megginson!!!

The 2006 CS8 Runner of the year consistently took third position points and ran all state in 2007. However, the year 2008 had been more of a struggle for the junior co-captain. That battle to everyone’s delight, ended on Saturday! Megginson (19:41) went out with the lead pack and looked comfortable, strong and in control the whole race. After teammate Kelsi Frank twisted her ankle and fell out of the 3.1-mile race at the one mile mark, Megginson took charge of making sure her team was not down a point scoring runner. She stepped up, and she stepped up in a big way securing an 8th place individual finish just two, count them, two seconds behind Wykoff. All seven runners including Frank were at 6:21 to 6:23 at the mile mark.

Emily Delvo (19:50) proved her toughness, once again, on this lengthy Centralia run through the woods. Delvo, who has been suffering from a minor foot injury this week, rose to the challenge knowing her team was counting on her to score. Delvo finished just nine seconds behind Megginson for ninth place. Final team points came from two-sporter Lauren Fyalka (19:51) who finished 10th, just one second behind Delvo. Fyalka was scooped up at the finishing chute to head out of Centralia to compete in the CS8 swim meet, where she helped the SHG Girls’ Swim team take the championship with first place finishes in the 200 medley relay and 200m individual medley.

Final finisher for SHG was Maria Lowis who finished in 20th place overall with a time of 20:22. It is important to note that slotting Lowis in as a point scorer over any of her teammates also secures a victory for SHG by more than 50 points.

The SHG Girls look to next week’s State competition, where East Peoria will likely be their toughest competitors. The EP Girls finished first at their Sectional meet with 71 points with tough competitors Peoria Notre Dame right behind with 96 points. EP’s top five point scorers were separated by one minute 37 seconds. An 18 second separation by the SHG girls looks very promising for state! It is going to be a great race at Detwieller Park next weekend. You won’t want to miss it.

The SHG Boys Cross Country Team
Was Determined for a State Birth
November 1, 2008

For anyone who was watching the Boys Cross Country race at the Sectional meet, in Centralia this weekend, the look they saw on the faces of every single SHG runner was, DETERMINATION! If you want something bad enough, you go out and take it, and that is exactly what the SHG Boys did!

Coming into the Sectional meet, SHG was seated behind Chatham Glenwood for an opportunity to run at state. They had to get at least fifth place at this meet to go, and that meant, they had to beat Glenwood. Not only did they beat them, but they did it with authority. SHG scored 164 points to Glenwood’s 194. In cross country the lower the score the better :o) SHG finished just 10 points out of third and two points away from fourth.

Again this weekend, Brian McMahon paced his team throughout the 3.1 mile course. For McMahon, it appeared to be just another race, with a job that needed to be done, and he was going to get it completed. Teammate Sean Ryan was helping McMahon out at the mile, where he was just two seconds back. At the two mile, a mere eight seconds separated the junior captains. At the finish line, it was McMahon who would take home individual hardware sprinting into 7th place with a time of 16:46. Ryan ran in second team position and finished 20th overall with a time of 17:01.

Once you get passed being more than impressed with these week to week team leaders, the pack to watch is senior Steven Begando and the sophomores Eric Delvo, Michael Ralph and Martin Fisher! At the mile mark, this forceful foursome was separated by a mere two seconds. At the two mile mark, only 10 seconds came between them. At the finish, the boys brought it home together, one right after the other at 17:36, 17:41, 17:44 and 17:45 respectively.

In the end, 59 seconds separated the top five point earners and that’s where the winning comes. The closer your team packs together, in the front, of course, the better your team is going to finish.

SHG’s seventh man was junior Mason Switzer, who was running in a Sectional race for the first time in his high school career. Switzer finished with a time of 19:06. And, the SHG boys are going all the way to state!

Emily Delvo Secures Regional Crown
Team title Belongs to SHG
October 25, 2008

It was a picture perfect day for racing in Jacksonville Saturday where the 2008 Regional Cross Country meet was held. When team points were announced, there was a moment of déjà vu as the Sacred Heart Griffin Girls varsity team scored 21 points last week at the CS8 meet and came back with another 21 points this weekend at the Regional for the win! What was different this weekend from last? Emily Delvo took the individual regional championship crown, and SHG placed six of their seven runners in the top 10.

It was anybody’s guess at the mile mark as to who would win the individual crown. However, from the start, it was clear who would win the team title. At the mile, Julia Wykoff led the charge at 6:06 with Madz Negro, Emily Delvo and Lauren Fyalka clipping at her heels posting 6:07 and 6:08 respectively. Kelsi Frank, Jessica Megginson and Maria Low followed close behind at 6:10, 6:11 and 6:12. Now, just imagine a finish at the 3 mile with all seven girls that close together. It is certainly what their coaches dream about :o)

Coming out of mile two, things began to change, and Delvo was making it clear to the crowd who would win this Regional race. Second place, however, was still up for grabs as Frank, Negro and Fyalka went stride for stride with teammate Wykoff just three seconds back.

At the finish line it was Delvo at 17:50 who took the crown finishing strong with Frank at 17:54, putting up the team’s fastest third mile, placing 2nd just four seconds back. The Negro Fyalka tandem was stride for stride again at the finish placing 5th and 6th respectively with times of 18:24.2 and 18:24.7. Wykoff would bring in the final team points in 7th place with a time of 18:35. Jessica Megginson at 18:46 was the final SHG runner to place in the top ten with a 10th place finish while Lowis finished just out of the top ten in 11th place with a time of 18:56.

The 2.9 mile course was a welcome site after last weeks winding hills in Taylorvile. Next up, the true 3.0 mile cross country course in the woods of Centralia. The Girls’ sectional race will begin at 10:00.

SHG Boys Cross Country Team
Steps Up in a Big Way 3rd at Regional
October 25, 2008

“Step up” is the name of the game for entire the SHG Boys Cross Country team this season. It is a year that was thought to be a building year that has now become much more than that. It is a team that is competitive and brinking on the edge of great things to come in the next week.
This team has consistently been led by juniors Brian McMahon, Sean Ryan and sophomore Eric Delvo all season long.

This team, who graduated three top runners, finished third at the Jacksonville Regional behind Chatham Glenwood and Springfield High exactly like the team before them. The 2007 team took 99 points behind Glenwood’s 56 points. This year’s 2008 team took only 61 points behind Chatham Glenwood’s 53 points. Saturday’s SHG team ran with no phenomenal incoming freshmen and no four year veteran seniors. It is a young team that has stepped up in a very big way.

McMahon in 7th and Ryan in 8th were the only members of the SHG team to finish in the top ten with Delvo right behind them in 11th place overall. McMahon put in another phenomenal finish at 15:50 improving his time over last year by 29 seconds. Ryan held strong behind him at 16:01 bettering his time over last year on this same course by 26 seconds. Many have asked themselves, what was Eric Delvo doing last year? Delvo posted 16:22 this season and did not even qualify to run the Regional meet last year. His last race of the 2007 season was conference where he ran 18:27, which makes his improvement this season more than 2minutes strong!

Michael Ralph has been fairly consistent at a fourth scorer for SHG this season. The sophomore posted 16:38 on Saturday for 15th place and a 23 second improvement over last year on this same course. Martin Fisher is having a phenomenal first cross country season consistently scoring the final points for the SHG varsity all season long. Fisher posted 16:43 just five seconds back from Ralph for 20th place overall.

Two SHG runners that coaches are taking very seriously this season are Mason Switzer, SHG’s number seven, and Michael Schaddel, SHG’s number eight who stepped in for Steven Begando, who was out this weekend taking the ACT. Switzer and Schaddel ran in tandem style throughout the race and literally raced each other through the finish line, finishing at 17:44 and 17:45 respectively. Neither athlete was even in the running for a spot on the state series team last season. Switzer has improved his conference time over last year by just under two minutes, and Schaddel has improved his conference time from last year by four minutes and three seconds… a feat that is absolutely unheard of in this coach’s seven year’s of experience. Kudos goes out to this entire team and the best of luck at Sectionals.

All Seven Varsity Girls in top Ten
at CS8 Conference
October 18, 2008

“Every week these girls keep changing it up. I never know what to expect!” exclaimed SJR Sports Reporter Marcia Martinez upon the conclusion of the varsity girls CS8 cross country race on Saturday. While it is definitely true, you never have a bead on which SHG girl is going to finish in what position, but one thing you do know is that all seven of them are going to be very close together and in the lead. Seven in the top 10 was the CS8 goal and on Saturday, the SHG varsity girls procured positions 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10 for a total point value of 21 for the CS8 team title, and seven individual all conference honors. Springfield High was second with 51 points.

While winning a CS8 conference meet and placing seven runners in the top ten is admirable and noteworthy, the win was individually bittersweet for some. City champion Emily Delvo led the Blazers again this weekend but was unable to lock down the individual title. Delvo came up seven seconds short behind Springfield’s Kirby Hale posting 19:15 for second place on a course that is arguably tougher than the heartbreak hills of Lincoln Park.

For Kelsi Frank and Madz Negro it was a great race individually speaking as each runner moved up a position on the team this past weekend. Frank who posted 19:17 was just two seconds behind Delvo, while Negro posted 19:22 just one second in front of teammate Lauren Fyalka at 19:23 for 3rd, 4th and 5th place respectively. Senior Julia Wykoff, at 7th individually, may not have had the final CS8 race that she planned for but, she is still helping her teammates out with tight points at 19:37 leaving a mere 22 seconds between the top five point scorers.

Equally helpful was the position of 6th and 7th SHG runners Jessica Megginson and Maria Lowis who came from behind to take the 8th and 10th place CS8 medals. Megginson at 19:51 was 12 seconds better than her last race at Lincoln Park and Lowis at 20:04 improved by 8 seconds. In this sport every second counts for something, and dropping time from week to week is of utmost importance. This group will compete against Chatham Glenwood, Jacksonville, Quincy Notre Dame, Springfield High, Lanphier, Southeast and Taylorville at Jacksonville for the Regional title on Saturday.

ABOUT THE GIRLS JV
Taylor Moore led the SHG Girls JV runners by nearly a minute and a half on Saturday taking second place in the Girls JV race behind Springfield High’s number one runner Maddie Alexander. Moore ran 20:56 and will be the 8th alternate for the SHG team through the state series. Kayla Kolis and Megan Layzell ran side by side for a good portion of the race with Kolis finishing at 22:21 and Layzell at 22:37. Bridgid Cavanaugh was at 23:00 while Anastasia Hanauer was at 23:27. Rounding up the girls JV squad were Chelsie Bivens (24:08), Morgan Clem (24:20) and Haleigh O’Connor (25:16). All eight girls medaled.

Sean Ryan & Brian McMahon
Finish with All Conference Honors
October 18, 2008

The Ryan McMahon tandem has been the scenario all season long with third wheeler Eric Delvo knocking at the door. As was the case again this weekend but instead of McMahon taking the lead position, it was Ryan’s turn. Both boys finished their season with CS8 individual honors taking 9th and 10th place respectively. Delvo finished just out of the honor roll in 12th place. SHG (71) took a third place team finish behind Chatham Glenwood (62) and the title went to Springfield High (18).

At the mile mark it was McMahon and Ryan with Delvo clipping at their heels. At the two mile mark it was McMahon and Ryan with Delvo just 10 seconds back. Between two and three miles Ryan pulled ahead finishing in 16:50 with McMahon in hot pursuit finishing in 16:53. Delvo finished in 17:09. But, it takes more than three to score team points. The team scores five runners.

At the mile mark Michael Ralph, Steven Begando and Martin Fisher were just two and three seconds behind Delvo respectively. At the two mile mark it was a different scenario. While Ralph, Fisher and Begando were close to each other, they had lost contact with the front pack.

This was the first time for all the runners on the tough and windy Taylorville course and it was taking its toll. Ralph finished in the top 20 taking the last individual medal at 19th place with a time of 17:42. Begando and Fisher finished just out of the medals at 21st and 22nd place respectively with times of 17:53 and 17:56 respectively. All three athletes are looking for big time drops next week at the Jacksonville Regional. Sophomore Patrick Root made his varsity debut on Saturday and finished in a time of 19:33.

ABOUT THE BOYS JV
Some say the CS8 boys JV race was the one to watch on Saturday. Well, if you are taking a medal count for the SHG boys it was certainly one worth mentioning. Medals were handed out to the top 20 runners and the SHG junior varsity boys took home four of them! Mason Switzer was 12th at 18:40 with Michael Schaddel not even a full second behind him also clocked at 18:40 for 13th place. What an incredible season Michael Schaddel has had!! Freshman Michael Kelley was 17th at 19:13 with sophomore Ian Satlar hot on his heels at 19:16 for 19th place. Harold Osborn finished just out of the medals in 21st place with a time of 19:34 with Joey Showtis just behind him at 19:45. Rounding up the SHG Boys JV team were Donovan Kavish (20:11), Brendan Cavanaugh (20:20), Ben Casson (21:08), Kyle Hartwig (23:44) and David Ahrens (25:13).

SHG Girls CC Highest 2A School
at Hometown Favorite
October 11, 2008

Metamora, where the Runnin Red Invitational was held on Saturday, is coach Jacki Ralph’s hometown and the course is a favorite for the SHG runners. This year’s results were even more favorable when the varsity girls’ team edged out arguably their toughest state competitor, East Peoria. SHG finished second to 3A school Palatine with 74 points. East Peoria was third with 87 points.

Leading the SHG Girls’ Varsity team again this weekend was City Champion Emily Delvo. A mere eight seconds separated SHG’s top eight runners at the mile mark with Delvo and Wykoff neck and neck and Lauren Fyalka tucked in just behind them. The returning Madz Negro was just behind Fyalka followed closely by Maria Lowis, Kelsi Frank, Jessica Megginson and Taylor Moore.

Delvo pulled away in the second mile and improved her final course time by more than one minute over last year. Delvo was the only SHG runner to finish in the top ten taking home a 7th place individual medal posting a time of 18:11. Fyalka and Wykoff finished just five seconds apart at 18:41 and 18:46 respectively for 15th and 16th place.

Negro is making an excellent recovery moving up one place at a time with each meet’s performance. It was only Tuesday when Negro ran in fifth place team position, and this weekend she was in the fourth position for the team with a time of 18:54 placing 21st overall. Frank was just four seconds back with 18:58 for 23rd place to round out the top five point scores.

Megginson, Lowis and Moore followed Frank in at 19:13, 19:20 and 19:35 respectively. The girls finished in 26th 31st and 36th place in a field of 155 varsity runners. Also running varsity this weekend were Morgan Clem (22:50) and Megan Layzell (23:42).

ABOUT FRESH-SOPH
Newcomer Kayla Kolis (21:41) has consistently led the Girls Fresh-Soph team all season long and this Saturday was no exception. Kolis placed 30th in a field of 112 runners and led her team to a 7th place team finish out of 12 teams. Helping Kolis out were Chelsie Bivens at 22:25 for 39th place and Anastasia Hanauer at 22:27 for 41st place. Bridgid Cavanaugh was 52nd in a time of 22:42 and Haliegh O’Connor rounded out the team points running 25:37.

SHG Boys Cross Country Team
Continues to Impress at Metamora
October 11, 2008

Springfield, Illinois – October 2008 The Sacred Heart Griffin Boys Cross Country team was expected to have a building season after losing three of their top runners from last fall, but that expectation has taken an upward turn. SHG’s top four runners were 5:28 at the mile mark this weekend in Metamora and that is not a beginner’s pace. This team has big goals ahead of them and big expectations.

Junior and co-captain Brian McMahon (16:20) continues to lead the mighty cyclones from week to week improving his times over last year by more than a minute most every week. Co-captain Sean Ryan (16:32) is also doing his job by improving his times from week to week as well as, surpassing his times from last year. The biggest team changeover is in sophomore Eric Delvo (16:48) who has taken hold of the team’s third position and isn’t about to give it up unless, of course, he moves forward with it.

Newcomer and senior Steven Begando (17:23) was stride for stride with sophomore Michael Ralph (17:23) this weekend coming across the finish line in for fourth and fifth position respectively. At the half mile mark, Ralph gave up a shoe that may or may not have influenced his final time, but he was still able to secure SHG’s final team points. SHG finished 7th among 20 teams with more than 200 runners out on the course.

Sophomore Martin Fisher continues to make his mark running just four seconds behind Begando and Ralph at 17:28. It was Sean Orlando who rounded up this weekend’s top seven in a time of 18:21. Also participating in the varsity boys’ race were Harold Osborn (18:54), Mason Switzer (18:59), Michael Schaddel (19:03), Donovan Kavish (19:54), Brendan Cavanaugh (20:04) and Joey Showtis (20:14).

ABOUT THE FRESH-SOPH
Newcomer and sophomore hopeful Patrick Root led the SHG Fresh- Soph team in Metamora this weekend. Root took 47th place in a field of 155 runners in a time of 18:26 just five seconds off varsity runner Sean Orlando’s mark. Freshman Michael Kelley followed Root in at 18:32 for 50th place. Sophomore Ian Satlar finished just behind Kelley at 18:47, almost a full minute improvement over last season on this same course. Freshman Ben Casson finished at 20:05 on the 2.95 mile course and was trailed by Kyle Hartwig and David Ahrens at 24:02 and 27:01 respectively.

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12 Seconds Separates Top Three
For SHG at Boys City Meet
October 7, 2008

Springfield, Illinois – October 2008 Brian McMahon, Sean Ryan and Eric Delvo have taken over the leadership on the SHG Boys Cross Country team. They are making a statement that they have come to run, and they will not be overlooked. The Sacred Heart Griffin Boys team finished second at the City Meet this year, scoring a total 41 points. McMahon, Ryan and Delvo directly followed the top four Springfield High runners in, in times of 17:06, 17:13 and 17:18 respectively. A mere 12 seconds separated the threesome for 5th, 6th and 7th place.

The top ten at City receive medals, and sophomore Michael Ralph took home that tenth place medal with a time of 17:41. Rounding out the top seven for SHG were Martin Fisher (17:51), Steven Begando (18:01) and Sean Orlando (18:35). Push this group of boys up to the forefront in the weeks to come and the SHG Boys team is sitting pretty for a state birth, come November. Stay tuned, Metamora is this weekend.

Nearly every single member of the boys team improved their times over last year’s city meet by more than a little bit. Mason Switzer ran 18:38, a minute twenty better than last year. Michael Schaddel, who has done nothing but improve from one race to another, ran 19:24, a full 2 minutes and 34 seconds better than last season at city. Michael Kelley was the lone freshman who participated in the varsity race and ran in the 10th position for the varsity team at 19:28. Patrick Root and Donovan Kavish are also new to this year’s team, and both athletes were clipping at Kelley’s heels in 19:36 and 19:37 respectively. Harold Osborn made a comeback from a sprained ankle to run 19:58 followed closely by Ian Satlar who finished in 20:04. Rounding out the varsity race were Brendan Cavanaugh at 20:20 and Joey Showtis 20:24. Cavanaugh was nearly a minute faster than last year, and Showtis was just under a minute faster.

ABOUT THE FRESHMEN 2-MILE
At two races during the beginning of the season the freshmen boys are able to participate in a 2-mile race. Running for SHG were Ben Casson, Kyle Hartwig and David Ahrens. While Casson did not improve his time over his first 2-mile race earlier this year, he did improve his placement and took home a 5th place medal in a time of 13:53. On the other hand, Hartwig improved his time by leaps and bound. Using a new running style Hartwig went from 17:25 at the Lanphier Invite to 15:48 at City. Who knew that a little confidence and better form could make a difference? Also bettering his time was David Ahrens who ran 16:46 at City. At the end of the race what is most important is that you improve from one race to another. These freshmen seem to be on the right track!

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Five in the Top Nine
All Seven in the Top 15 at Petersburg
September 27, 2008

Springfield, Illinois – September 2008 Placing as many runners as they can in the top ten is what the Sacred Heart Griffin Girls Cross Country team does best, and they were doing it again this past weekend in Petersburg. Julia Wykoff, Lauren Fyalka, Emily Delvo, Maria Lowis and Kelsi Frank were 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th respectively while Jessica Megginson and Taylor Moore placed 11th and 15th respectively.

Julia Wykoff (18:37) gave a valiant effort against the freshman phenom from Lutheran High, Kristin Garwood, pushing and pulling for more than 2.5 miles with Garwood finishing just nine seconds ahead on the 2.9-mile course. Two sport treasure Lauren Fyalka (18:52) made a sweet comeback after last weekend to secure the number two spot for the SHG Girls. Wykoff and Fyalka have done well to lead their team at nearly every meet this season.

However, what is also noteworthy from Saturday’s performance are the stepped up efforts from Emily Delvo (18:54), Maria Lowis (19:07), Kelsi Frank (19:18), Jessica Megginson (19:21) and sophomore Taylor Moore (19:53). When the paper comes to interview after each and every meet it is often the number one runner who gets all the coverage, and occasionally the number two girl gets a word in edgewise. Those next three point scorers and two pushers never really see the limelight, even though their efforts for the team are more than important.

Moore has done an outstanding job this season improving her times each meet and holding onto the number seven spot uncontested week in and week out. Lowis has stepped up in a big way from first alternate last season to fourth position this weekend. Frank has put in solid performances each week and has become a runner her team can count on to get the job done. Delvo is another countable point scorer. There is never any doubt that she will pull the numbers. This was not Megginson’s finest weekend, but she, too, is traditionally a point scorer, and without the numbers this team does not win championships. So, kudos to the girls that may at times seem overlooked!

ABOUT THE JV
The SHG Girls Cross Country team is made up of two parts that are of tantamount importance, the Varsity team and the JV team. Last season SHG’s girls JV team was arguably the second best team in the conference. This season, by the time conference rolls around, the same thing will be said again. Kayla Kolis (21:33), Milena Pisani (21:35), Aimee Kauffman (22:31), Bridgit Cavanaugh (22:54), Megan Layzell (22:55), Morgan Clem (23:01), Chesie Bivens (23:14), Hailiegh O’Connor (25:12) and Meagan Osborn (25:31) all performed in Petersburg.

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A Week Plagued with Injuries
Played Out Well in Petersburg
September 27, 2008

Springfield, Illinois – September 2008 At the start of last week it looked as though SHG might have three varsity runners on the sidelines this weekend, Martin Fisher with a shoulder injury, Michael Ralph with a knee injury and Steven Begando with a foot injury. However, all three varsity runners held it together, and with strong performances from their leaders Brian McMahon and Sean Ryan intact, the team performed out in front at the Petersburg Porta Invite on Saturday.

Ambiguous scoring aside, the SHG boys outraced the rest of the field and would have taken first by one point over Carlinville with the pushing efforts of Sean Orlando. McMahon (16:19) and Ryan (16:23) set the pace as they always do leading their team to the finish line. Eric Delvo (16:41), who has stepped up in a big way this season, was stride on in third team position for his team the entire race. Martin Fisher (16:58) followed Delvo in with a “man-up” performance having suffered all week with shoulder pain. Michael Ralph (17:13) held on to the fifth team position for points, but it was the effort of Sean Orlando (17:14) that would decide the victory on a traditionally scored field. Orlando was literally clipping at Ralph’s heels as they came into the final stretch. That is the kind of closeness coaches look for in a team finish. The boys individually placed 4th, 5th, 9th, 15th, 21st and 22nd respectively.

Newcomer and senior Steven Begando (18:12) literally hobbled through the last mile and still held on to the 7th varsity position. Begando suffered a heel injury and, by example, taught his young team what it means to finish the race.

ABOUT THE JV
Newcomer Patrick Root is making a statement about his desire to be a vital part of this SHG team with his performance of 18:18 just six seconds behind Begando. Root ran 8th man this past weekend followed very closely by Mason Switzer (18:19) and freshman Michael Kelley (18:20). All three young men are a force to be reckoned with. To have three fall back guys who are right in the mix after your 7th varsity man is excellent.

Speaking of forces, Michael Schaddel (18:30) is making it clear that his performances early on this season were not a fluke as he runs down the heels of his teammates ahead of him. Also making a statement this season is sophomore Ian Satlar who may seem quiet on the sidelines, but out on the course it is loud and clear that he came to compete posting 18:41 on Saturday.

Donovan Kavish and Joey Showtis have become quick running buddies as they run practically in each others footsteps posting 19:12 and 19:15 respectively. Brendan Cavanaugh rounds out the junior squad with a performance of 20:22 this weekend.

Freshman Ben Casson went sub 21 minutes this weekend which is always a high point in the first running season. Casson posted 20:56. SHG’s final freshman are Kyle Hartwig and David Ahrens who posted 25:28 amd 25:55 respectively. If you were one of those who witnessed Hartwig’s amazing sprint to the finish, you are probably looking forward to him giving more of that talent during the race next week. We will all be looking to see a lot more from this young SHG team in the next several races.
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SHG Girls Are In It To Win it!
September 14, 2008

Springfield, Illinois – September 2008 Humid and soggy were the conditions at Lincoln Park this weekend for the Lee Halberg Invitational, but that did not stop the SHG Varsity Girls Cross Country team from making yet another early statement. A back to back state title is something every one of these varsity girls plans to be a part of this season.

It wasn’t just three girls packed tight at the mile mark or even the two mile mark this weekend. It was all seven, Julia Wykoff, Lauren Fyalka, Kelsi Frank, Jessica Megginson, Emily Delvo, Maria Lowis and Taylor Moore were running in a tight pack through the first mile and onto the second mile. The SHG Varsity girls put six runners in the top 13 positions from a field of 118. A mere 29 seconds separated the top five point earners for another first place team trophy this weekend. SHG might need to add another wing for the hardware these girls have already secured.

“I think they scored well,” said Coach Hartnett just as the girls’ race was finishing. Indeed they did with a total of 23 points. A perfect score is 15 and on such a sultry day with such poor course conditions times were not the focus. This meet was all about positions. Wykoff secured the number one spot for her team this week with a 3rd place finish. Just five second behind her was 4th place finisher Fyalka, a two sport athlete, who would later end her day with a school record in the 100 yard breaststroke.

Count another nine seconds and here comes 6th place finisher Frank a full two minutes faster this year than last. Literally on her heels in another four seconds was Megginson in 8th place. Delvo finished 11 seconds behind Megginson for 10th place overall. Lowis and Moore rounded up the girls’ varsity finishing 13th and 25th respectively. Lowis shaved 51 seconds off her time on this same course last season.

ABOUT GIRLS JV
Kayla Kolis and Aimee Kauffman stepped it up this weekend for the SHG Girls Junior Varsity team. It was the race that started the day and Kolis and Kauffman played the tandem game up through the second mile when Kolis pulled away. Again, times did not reflect the wellness of this team. Kolis finished in the top position for the JV girls with a 12th place finish while Kauffman finished in `14th place. There were 99 total runners in the JV race. Also competing JV for SHG this weekend were newcomer Anastasia Hanauer, freshman Bridgid Cavanaugh, senior Megan Layzell, freshman Haleigh O’Connor and sophomores Megan Osborne and Chelsie Bivens,

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Brian McMahon Has His Day!
September 14, 2008

Springfield, Illinois – September 2008 The horribly humid and mega muddy day at Lincoln Park promised many curves this weekend at the Lee Halberg Invitational for the SHG Boys Varsity Team. It’s my turn to lead said Brian McMahon (17:36) as he crossed the finish line in the number one position for his team on Saturday. Juniors Brian McMahon and Sean Ryan are this year’s team captains and this weekend McMahon, who finished fourth on his team in Granite City last weekend, took to the forefront at Lincoln Park helping secure a third place team victory.

Ryan grabbed a hold of the second team position with a time of 17:46, but it was Eric Delvo who came to impress again this weekend. Coaches are beginning to wonder where this talent was hiding out last year. Delvo took the third team position with a time of 18:03. Following nearby was newcomer Martin Fisher in a time of 18:28 just six seconds ahead of teammate and final point scorer Michael Ralph at 18:34.

Senior and newcomer to the CC scene, Steven Begando (19:01) took SHG’s 6th position leaving the 7th spot to junior Mason Switzer. Switzer at 19:11 shaved a full minute and more off his course time here last season.

ABOUT THE FRESHMEN 2-Mile
At the Lee Halberg Invitational it is tradition to run a freshmen two mile race. It was something that started many years back that has just kind of stuck. SHG’s Michael Kelley was the top performer for his school. His goal was to go sub 12 minutes, but course conditions were not ideal for a best time. Kelley went 12:37 and finished 20th in a field of 59. Joining him for their first CC race ever were Ben Casson, Kyle Hartwig and David Ahrens.

ABOUT BOYS JV
Sean Orlando was sharing the lead during the bulk of the boys Junior Varsity race this Saturday. Orlando was second at the mile and second coming into the two mile mark. It was there that he fell short of his goals placing 14th overall in a time of 19:28. Orlando comes to the CC team from the soccer fields and was sharing his regret having missed out on a freshman and sophomore base with one of his coaches this weekend. A little more time, a little more experience, and a lot of perseverance will see this young runner to his victory.
Junior Michael Schaddel, however, has done nothing but succeed past his personal bests so far this season. Schaddel shaved more than three full minutes off his time from last season at this same race. Schaddel scored his highest individual overall finish ever on Saturday placing 18th in a field of 118 runners. This coach believes he is still smiling.

Patrick Root and Ian Satlar, both looking well on their way to a great season, also had sound finishes in the field with 20th and 30th individual places respectively. Rounding out the Boys’ JV team this weekend were Donovan Kavish, Joey Showtis, Brendan Cavanaugh and Harold Osborne. Osborne was well on his way to a good finish before he regretfully sprained an ankle approaching the second mile which did not allow him to finish the race.

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Granite City Opener Proved
Fast and Furious for SHG Girls
September 6, 2008

Springfield, Illinois – September 2008 Times were fast and furious in Granite City on Saturday for the Varsity Girls’ team with the race going out nearly two minutes faster this year than last. Last year at the season’s Cross Country opener the winner of the Girls Varsity race finished in a time of 19:01. This year the winner finished in a time of 17:43! However, the SHG Girls proved their state championship caliber was not just hype when three of their top five girls finished in the top 10 positions and the next two landed in the top 20. No other team put more than three of their runners ahead of SHG’s top five giving SHG the advantage with a point total of 58 for a solid first place team victory. The next closest team was 38 points back.

In a sport without a ball, I guess you could say these girls, even with the tremendous loss of their number one runner from last season, Madz Negro, they have started the ball rolling on a season that promises to be more than exciting.

One hundred and forty-four girls competed at the varsity level, and it was the fearsome threesome of junior Lauren Fyalka, senior Julia Wykoff and sophomore Emily Delvo that led the Blazers, running side by side through the first two and a three quarter miles. Fyalka would finish with the highest position in 4th place overall in a time of 18:48. The time bettered her time over last year by 43 seconds. Wykoff was next with a 7th place finish in a time of 18:51, a full 1 minute and 20 seconds better than last year. Delvo was 9th in a time of 18:53, bettering her time over last year by 1 minute and three seconds. Not too shabby for the first meet of the season :o) What do the girls have to say about it, “Just wait till Madz comes back!”

Rounding up the varsity squad were Kelsi Frank in 18th place (19:48), Jessica Megginson in 20th place (19:51), Maria Lowis (20:14) and Taylor Moore (20:47). Lowis also improved her time over last year’s race by more than a full minute. All seven girls will be hanging on to their varsity positions for next week’s Lanphier Invitational at Lincoln Park.

ABOUT GIRLS JV
Newcomer Kayla Kolis proved she is in hot pursuit for a varsity position this year. Kolis, a sophomore at SHG, sat out last season while she gave volleyball a try. This year she knows where her talents lie -- on the cross country course, where she led the Girls’ Junior Varsity team in the season opener and finished with a high school first course time of 21:13. Joining Kolis on the JV squad were Megan Layzell, Aimee Kauffman, Morgan Clem, Bridgit Cavanaugh, Milena Pisani and Megan Osborne.

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SHG Boys Varsity Team
Showcase a New Squad
September 6, 2008

Springfield, Illinois – September 2008 At the start of the SHG Boys’ Varsity Cross Country race in Granite City on Saturday no one really knew what to expect. The squad returned only two former varsity runners having lost their top senior boys Chris Frank, Danny McMahon and Patrick Ryan to pursue their collegiate running careers. Connor Fanning also has not returned to run due to health issues. To no ones surprise, junior and captain, Sean Ryan led the Cyclones with a team best time of 16:53 to better his course time from last season.

The day’s biggest surprise was sophomore Eric Delvo who came out this season and let his intentions be known at the first race of the year. He would secure a solid varsity spot and this week it would be the number two spot. Delvo was nipping at Ryan’s heels only 12 seconds back with a time of 17:05. Following close for comfort was sophomore Michael Ralph at 17:08. Both Delvo and Ralph shaved significant time from their prior performance at Granite City last season.
Returning varsity runner Brian McMahon took the 4th varsity position this week with a time of 17:19.

Newcomers finding out just how tough this sport is, are sophomore Martin Fisher and senior Steven Begando. Both boys come to the team from the boy’s track where the greatest distance they experienced was the 400m. Three miles in comparison took quite a different turn, and then another, and then another. However, both boys proved worthy their first time out and will hold on to their varsity positions for next week at the Lanphier Invite. Fisher ran 17:39 while Begando finished in 18:11. Sean Orlando rounded out this week’s varsity top seven with a time of 18:40.

ABOUT THE OPEN
Only at Granite City is there a race that anyone can partake in, boys, girls, coaches, parents, alums, anyone who wants to run a 3-mile race can run it. Mason Switzer, Harold Osborne, Donovan Kavish, Michael Schaddel, Brendan Cavanaugh and Joey Showtis were racing for SHG. Kavish is the lone senior of this group and a first-timer while the other athletes are returning juniors. Switzer who has been training hard core since the start of last year’s track season came with intent this season. He was looking to claim a varsity spot and next week he will have his day. He led the mighty cyclone open racers with a time of 18:14 just three seconds off Begando’s time to earn a spot on the varsity squad next weekend. Also coming on strong this season in Osborne who ran 18:36 for a 32 second time drop over last season.

Kavish, a thrower and sprinter on the boys’ track team, ran his first cross country race ever in a time of 19:48. Following Kavish were Schaddel (19:51), Cavanaugh (21:18) and Showtis (21:20). Both Cavanaugh and Schaddel ran better races in Granite City this year over last. Schaddel cut more time off his race than any other runner on the entire team, both boys and girls, shaving a full minute and 34 seconds. Keep an eye on this one this year, he’s just getting started.

ABOUT THE FRESH/SOPH
If you have ever met freshman Michael Kelley you know he was born to be distance runner. Kelley has been running distance since the 6th grade and brings everything he’s got to every practice and every meet, every time. This weekend in Granite City it paid off for him. He led the SHG fresh/soph team with a time of 19:15 which puts him in the tenth position overall on the SHG boys’ team. Directly behind Kelley was newcomer and sophomore Patrick Root (19:39), returning sophomore Ian Satlar (19:44) and freshman Ben Casson (21:53).