Sunday, October 31, 2010

Season ends on high note

The SJA cross country team's season finally came to an end on Oct 30, but not without a fight! With a 12th place finish at the Tiffin Regional, the team failed to qualify to the state meet for a second consecutive year, but a few of the runners served notice that they will be back and better than ever next year.

Once again the first runner for the Jaguars was senior Erin Gaffney, who despite taking a nasty down hill fall during the first mile of the race bounced back up to run a lifetime best of 19:44 - putting her 16th on the all-time SJA list. Not too far back was junior Mary Kate Chambers who knocked over 30 seconds off her lifetime best with a time of 20:10. Junior Jessica Sirchen saved her best for last with a season's best 20:19. The fourth finisher for the Jags was freshman Rachel McGuire who knocked off over 40 seconds from her personal best to finish in 20:30. Rounding out the scoring for the Jags was Celine Mangan who rebounded from a couple of rough weeks with a 20:39. Both Rose Urankar and Helen Steve ran close to their season best times and gained valuable experience running in their first regional race ever (as did McGuire and Chambers).

Both Coach Stephanie McHenry and myself would like to thank all the athletes for a very rewarding season. Regardless of state place or not, THIS is exactly what high school athletics and competition is all about.

thanks! Coach Kieser

Monday, October 25, 2010

Moving On

The SJA Cross Country team qualified for the regional level of competition for the 11th straight year by finishing 5th last week at the Edgewater District. The top 5 scoring runners for SJA were Erin Gaffney, Mary Kate Chambers, Jessica Sirchen, Celine Mangan, and Rachel McGuire. Rose Urankar and Helen Steve rounded out the varsity squad.
Next weekend the Jags will be running at the Tiffin Regional Meet in which the top 4 teams qualify for the state competition.
The JV team finishes their season Monday at the Walsh Warrior Classic. Good luck to all!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Districts and Walsh

SJA @ Edgewater District and Walsh Warrior Classic
Saturday, Oct 23 and Monday, Oct 25

Saturday, Oct 23

12:00 – meet in room 331 for movie time. Not mandatory but more fun when there’s more people. This is bring your own food.
2:15 – bus leaves SJA to take team to Edgewater Park for District Meet. LOWER campus just like Wednesday’s meet (and pretty much the same course).
If athletes cannot be at the movie time but are going to the meet please be there by 2:30 to make sure you’re ready to do the team run. We are expecting full and LOUD support the entire race. We have the biggest team, let’s use it. But remember, you’re NOT allowed to run along people who are racing. That is considered pacing, which is illegal. Spread out along the course, don’t stand in clumps because all you’re doing is over-shouting each other.
2:45 – JV runners run 4 miles on the course, but please do NOT interfere with other races going on!
3:10 – varsity plus alternate begin warm up.
3:45 – spikes on and head to start line in sweats
3:50 – check in at start line with official
4:05 – Girls Division I district race.
Warm-down, vote for Jag of the Race

Monday, Oct 25

Warrior Classic (last chance)
Walsh Jesuit High School
4550 Wyoga Lake Road
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44224

2009 time schedule is what I’m working off of
4:00 - Girl’s Freshmen & Sophomore Race
4:30 - Boy’s Freshmen & Sophomore Race
5:00 - Girl’s Junior & Senior Race
5:30 - Boy’s Junior & Senior Race

Dismissed from class at 2:00pm
Bus leaves at 2:15
Arrive at 3:00
3:10 – frosh/soph warm up
4:00 – frosh/soph race
4:10 – junior/senior warm up
5:00 – junior/senior race

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

JV team defeats Mentor at Edgewater Park

The JV cross country runners took on the JV team from Mentor today at a very windy Edgewater Park in a meet hosted by St. Ignatius. This meet was the tie-breaker between the two teams at Mentor got the best of SJA at McDonough, but SJA got revenge at Gilmour. The Jags took 11 of the top 17 spots to dominate the meet by a score of 24-35. Leading the way for the squad was freshman Alesha Vovk who ran a personal record of 21:45, which earned 2nd place overall in the race. She was followed to the line by Jessica Bresnahan, Emily Bauer, Grace Harter, and Maggie Boyer who finished 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th respectively to round out the top 5 scoring.

Also earning PR's on a tough day were freshmen Molly Moore, Annie Grove, and Courtney Catherine plus sophomore Regina Russo. Senior Lauren Peplin chipped in a season best and Julia Swit completed her first race marking all 51 girls on the team competing this year.

Next up for SJA is the district meet this Saturday at Edgewater park at 4:05. The JV wrap up their season next Monday at Walsh Jesuit.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Ohio Independent Schools Championships

In just its second year of existence, the Ohio Independent Schools Championships is a meet designed to give schools that aren't in a conference or league a chance to compete against each other when conference meets are being held all over the state. In their first trip to this meet, the SJA cross country team finished 2nd to Laurel and ahead of schools like Beaumont.
SJA ran a little short-handed due to the PSAT and injuries, but had some runners step up to the varsity level. Erin Gaffney led the way again with a 3rd place finish and was followed to the line by Mary Kate Chambers, Celine Mangan, Rachel McGuire, Helen Steve, and Rose Urankar. Those 6 girls plus Jessica Sirchen will be the varsity team at the District Meet this coming weekend at Edgewater Park - 4:05pm.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Week of Monday, Oct 18

Things are starting to come to an end folks...lets really do this right!!!! And check the website for your sweat pants number! You are responsible for your number!!! Its on the roster link.

Monday, Oct 18 - at Mastick. mileage run and senior led striders! 3:40-5:20
Tuesday, Oct 19 - at SJA. Meeting then ice cream run. Bring a buck and we'll get the rest! But you're RUNNING to East Coast.
Wednesday, Oct 20 - JV meet at Edgewater. 4:30 start. Bus will take us to the meet. Varsity will do a workout. Everyone please bring/wear team sweats!
Thursday, Oct 21 - regular Thursday. Done by 5:00.
Friday, Oct 22 - regular Friday. meeting first then pre-meet for all.
Saturday, Oct 23 - Districts at Edgewater. Race at 4:05. Schedule to be determined later on what we'll do. JV expected to run the district course for their workout.
Sunday, Oct 24 - nothing...JV eat right and get ready!
Monday, Oct 25 - last JV meet at Walsh. Time schedule TBA.

We will have a "Uniform Turn in Party" the Wednesday after the last varsity meet during activity blocks.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Massillon Itinerary

Massillon Community Park
Directions
2200 Finefrock Road SW in Massillon 44647

I-77 South to Rt 21 south (near Fairlawn)
Follow Rt 21 South to Massillon
Turn right on Finerock Road and follow for about a mile or so
Park will be on the right.

7:15 – bus leaves SJA
8:30 – bus arrives at Massillon Community Park
Learn the course!!! Know the finish!!!
9:20 – Begin warm up
10:15 – girls varsity race (full team all at once)
For fun we have separated an A team and B team

Good warm down, team stretch, team meeting to follow

12:00 – leave for SJA
1:15 – ETA at SJA

Varsity A
Gaffney
Mangan
Chambers
Bauer
McGuire
Steve

Varsity B
Urankar
Vovk
Ward
Nagy
Bresnahan, Jess
Harter
Boyer

Bresnahan, Jill Krasienko
Schwind Roddy
Timmons Catherine
Moore Bello
Petersen Saul
Kramer Nagy
Miller Lanning
Dunn Simone
Grove Strasser
Zimmerman Williams
Miranda Reminder
Roberts Hurley, K
Armstrong Russo
Gatian Hurley, S
Peplin

Monday, October 11, 2010

Back to Work

After two great weeks of PR's and improvements, the running Jaguars came back to reality a little bit this past weekend. The varsity team, competing for the 5th straight year at the prestigious Portage Invitational finished a disappointing 19th of 38 teams. Temperatures snuck up to the high 80's by race time and this took a toll on the Jags. Erin Gaffney, Mary Kate Chambers, and Rose Urankar all ran solid races on the day, but it wasn't enough as the Jags fell short of their top 10 goal.

The JV and open runners stayed in Ohio to participate at the competitive Stow Invitational. The JV squad moved up to varsity status for the weekend and experienced how competitive running in Northeast Ohio can be finishing 12th of 18 teams. Leading the Stow Varsity were freshman Rachel McGuire and Sophomore Emily Bauer. The JV team, which was actually the "C" for SJA, competed well finishing 3rd of 8 JV teams. Leading the way was a motivated Helen Steve who finished 4th overall. A small fact many would over look is that our "C" team beat Chardon's "B" team at Stow. This is significant because earlier in the season Chardon's "B" beat our "B". This means our whole team has made much better improvements than at least one of our competitors. The leading runner in the open race was freshman Maddie Miller.

Next week the team competes at the Independent Schools Championship in Massillon.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

practices week of Monday, October 11

Monday, Oct 11 - Run at mastick - 3:40-5:15. Vote on Jaguar Award
Tuesday, Oct 12 - meeting room 331, then regular Tuesday practice done by 5:15
Wednesday, Oct 13 - weird schedule test day. I cannot shake free until regular hours. Workout at Memorial Field. Begin warm up at 3:15 (please EAT intelligently). Done by 5:15
Thursday, Oct 14 - regular Thursday at SJA - done by 5:00
Friday, Oct 15 - regular pre-meet day at SJA - done by 5:00
Saturday, Oct 16 - meet at Massillon. ONE RACE at 10:15. Bus leaves at 7:15. Expected return 1:00 or 1:30? Due to injuries and improved performances by some JV, the district line-up will have to be determined by the performances in this race. Erin, Celine, Mary Kate, and Jessica are set as varsity. The rest is open. The order of finish at Massillon will be a big deciding factor, but we also have to look at who has been running well lately, who ran aggressively (and not sat back). Regardless of who is varsity at districts, it is our hope that ALL the girls 100% all the other runners so that they know it is about putting the best 7 runners on the line at the district meet. That is what matters.
Sunday, Oct 17 - nothing planned

Future reminders
Wed, Oct 20 - JV at Edgewater vs. Mentor and Solon (JV only - meaning anyone not running at Districts). 4:30 start?
Sat, Oct 23 - varsity at districts - Edgewater Park - 4:15 start? will confirm later
Mon, Oct 25 - JV at Walsh last chance meet. Times TBA
Sat, Oct 30 - varsity at regionals - Tiffin, OH

Lastly, there will be a day set aside after school in which all uniforms, including the new sweats will be turned in. Please have them washed (cold water) and ready to be stored for the winter. More on this later, but we need our inventory!!!!

I'm not accepting pictures for the slideshow after districts, so if you've got 'em, give 'em.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Stow and Portage Itineraries

Stow Itinerary - Sat Oct 9

6:45 – bus leaves SJA w/Coach McHenry (parents may take kids separately to the meet but please let Coach McHenry know!!!
7:40 – bus arrives at Silver Springs Park, Stow (see website for directions)
8:10 – varsity warm up
8:50 – varsity check in at start
9:00 – varsity girls BIG SCHOOL race
9:10 – JV warm up
9:50 – JV check in at start
10:00 – JV girls race
10:20 – open girls warm up
11:00 – open girls check in at start
11:10 – open girls race
12:30 – estimated leave time
1:30 – estimated return to SJA

Jaguar award presented Monday at Practice

Varsity 9:00am
Bauer
Bres, Jess
McGuire
Harter
Vovk
Riley
Ward

JV 10:00am
Schwind (1st alt)
Steve
Zimmerman
Bres, Jill
Dunn
Nagy
Petersen

Open 11:10am
Roddy Bello
Catherine Saul
Moore Kramer
Miller Semidey
Hurley, S Konys
Grove Strasser
Krasienko Williams
Lanning Reminder
Armstrong Hurley, K
Miranda Russo
Roberts Gatian
Waters, K Peplin (2 miles)

Portage Information given to athletes on Thursday...

Friday, Oct 8
12:01 – team leaves for Michigan
4:00 – arrive at the course, do pre-meet workout
5:30 – leave course, pick up dinner on the way back – eat at hotel
Jo-Ann Fabrics run??? Movie??

Saturday, Oct 9
8:30 – team jog, stretch, then breakfast
12:00 – leave hotel for the meet
1:35 – begin warm up
2:20 – check in at start (box 35)
2:30 – Girls Div I race
4:00 – leave for home with quick stop at Subway on the way out
8:00 – ETA at SJA

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Week of Monday, October 4

Monday, October 4 – Practice at Mastick 3:40-5:20. Regular run with one 2 minute pick up in the middle. Abs, stretch, and pick ups when done.

Tuesday, October 5 – Practice at SJA. Team meeting first in 331 then easy run, lift, barefoot drills, etc…3:20-5:10

Wednesday, October 6 – ITS YOU NEED TO HAVE A STOPWATCH Practice at SJA. Will do repeat 400’s on Tyler field in the valley behind school. 3:30-5:20. Please everybody have a watch!

Thursday, October 7 – Practice at SJA. Typical Thursday of cross train, etc…done by 5:00.

Friday, October 8 – varsity leaves for Michigan AFTER 2nd activity block. JV has practice with Coach McHenry after school as normal. Meeting in Room 331 for goal setting then pre-meet day. Pasta Dinner????

Saturday, October 9 – varsity at Portage – 2:30 start time. www.portageinvite.com

Stow Invitational at Silver Lake Park.
Varsity – 9:00am
JV – 10:00am
Open – 11:10am

Stow varsity – Bauer (1st alt for Mich), Jess Bres, Ward, McGuire, Harter, Vovk, Riley
Stow JV – Schwind (1st alt for Stow varsity), Steve, Zimmerman, Jill Bres, Dunn, Nagy, Petersen
Stow open – Moore (1st alt for Stow JV), Miller, Roberts, Konys, Bello, Grove, S. Hurley, Catherine, Saul, Strasser, Miranda, K. Hurley, Roddy, Reminder, Lanning, Williams, Simone, Kramer, Russo, Gatian, Semidey, Peplin*, MB Waters*, K Waters*, Armstrong*, Fibbi*, Timmons*, Krasienko*

Not running* Swit, Hennings
* subject to change.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Another solid day at Gilmour!!

After a festive day for Freshmen Welcome, the SJA cross country welcomed themselves to some fast times at the Gilmour Invitational on Friday, October 1st.
The day started with the varsity using their race as a workout running as a group of 7 for over a mile before picking up the pace on the second half of the race. Even with that strategy 2 runners, Jessica Sirchen and Maggie Boyer still ran season bests - just 2 of 7 season bests on the day. The team still managed a 5th place finish in a competitive 15 team field. Next week the varsity will be racing in the prestigious Portage Invitational in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The JV team continued their dominance from last week with a 1st place team finish and a low score of just 23 points. 12 of the first 24 finishers in the race were Jaguars! In all, there were 19 PR's set in this race. Finishing first overall in the race was Sophomore Emily Bauer who ran a personal record by 30 seconds. For her effort Emily earned the Jaguar of the Week award in a close vote over junior Kayley Dunn who finished 15th overall with a 2 minute PR of 22:22. Also in the top ten were freshman Rachel McGuire (PR, 3rd), Sr. Grace Harter (SB, 4th), frosh Alesha Vovk (PR, 7th), soph Jess Bresnahan (8th), and soph Helen Steve (9th)
Team results are posted to the right and full results can be found on www.baumspage.com