RIP Mike Fanelli

Very distraught to learn of the passing of the great Mike Fanelli. We became friends through this blog. Despite having crossed paths many times, we never formally met.

His help with our blog and his love for running always was a great motivation. He encouraged my ramblings when others were indifferent. 

He always wanted to be a guest at our Reunion and Golf Tourney as he was a great admirerer of Coach Groves. He also married a Nittany Lion.

My condolences to his family and friends. Thanks for your example. 

Who Was Faster? A Meaningless Poll

Neither Scott Fitzkee nor Gregg Garrity were on the PSU Track team back in the day. But as PIAA State sprint champions (I know Scott was, and have been told Greg was too. The Interns were unwilling to look it up for sure.), they would have been notable contributors to the team. Coach Paterno was never big on 2 sport stars, or helping Coach Groves in any way. There were exceptions.

But my poll question is unrelated to that. It was brought to me by a patient who ended up as a Penn long jumper when Coach said he had too many jumpers already to him while attending a PSU summer camp. 

Who was faster?  Scott Fitzkee or Gregg Garrity?

I know the real answer already, as I know both of the gentlemen. Scott was the biggest star in York County Track in the 70s and Gregg was on my Holmes Hall dorm floor in 1980-81.

Answer in the comments here or on the Facebook page. 

 

 

Steps Forward On The Cross Country Course

Penn State made strides forward on the Madison, Wisconsin Cross Country course at the Big Ten Championships.  Both the Men and Women had performances that matched their best in several years. Both performed better than their pre-race predicted finishes.

The women finished 4th with 3 attaining All-Big Ten honors:

• Madaline Ullom    6th
• Florence Caron    11th
• Kileigh Kane        13th

The Men placed 6th with Evan Dorenkamp placing 17th

It's Already Championship Season!

Our honorary Drone Fuhrer, George Brose, of the all-encompassing track blog Once Upon a Time in the Vest , sent along this wonderful picture from 1963. 

It shows Coach Groves and his William and Mary team heading to the NCAA XC Championships. They finished 17th.

Homecoming

It was Homecoming yesterday in University Park and the football team dominated poor ole UMass in what I consider a little bit of overkill.  But what do I know? I admit I don't keep up with things anymore, and never watch any pre-game or post-game blather.  I also turn the sound off,  so because of Penn State's glorious no-name uniforms, I don't know any of the players names unless there are graphics involved on the screen.

Football Alumni make up the largest sports alumni group at Penn State Athletics. I would bet their active numbers are higher than 75%.  The second largest sports alumni group is Penn State Track and Field/Cross Country.  With all the work Clark Haley and others have done for 21 years now, we reach less than 20% of the total number.  Rather disappointing , to say the least. We continue to work to get those numbers higher.

So, it is heartwarming to hear from new members.  And when we do, I try to highlight them. This example is especially cool because it points out that Clark truly is a Leader.  Thanks, Clark!

 

Hello!

My name is Tom Williams, and I was on the XC and T&F teams back in '81-82. (I am in the back row of the attached team pic)

Among my great regrets in life, one has been not being more connected to the team back in the day and moving forward.  I arrived at PSU with total anonymity and left the same.  To his great credit (and somewhat out of character in those days), Coach Groves let me walk on.  I was not a D-1 athlete.  I knew it, and Coach Groves knew it.  However, I knew I wanted a Penn State education, I knew I loved the sport, and I knew that one day I wanted to coach.  Coach Groves gave me more than my share of verbal smacks along the way, and like many stupid 19 year olds, I assumed he hated me.

Fast forward to 2008--a big leap.  See the other attached pic.  While at a conference in Eugene, I found out there was a track meet at Hayward Field.  Attendance was a no-brainer.  When I went, I found out the US Jr National Team was participating and one of the coaches...was Harry Groves.

I found Coach, and perhaps thankfully he did not remember me.  But as he put it "there are a lot of people I don't remember any more."

And then something remarkable happened.  I mentioned that I was a coach, and Harry lit up.

Coach Groves shared that he had been trying to keep a list of all of "his guys" who went on to become coaches.  Suddenly I wasn't the scrub walk-on.  Suddenly I was someone Harry wanted to get on his list.  It was awesome.  Not the same guy who scared me to death my freshman year!

Back then I rarely had a camera with me, and even when I did I seldom took any pictures.  Thankfully, I got a picture which now means a lot to me.  Me and Harry at Hayward Field.

So, to guys like Clark Haley and everyone else on that '81 XC team...I wish I had been a better teammate and friend, but make no mistake, it was one of the most memorable years of my life.

 

 

2nd quick story...

Being a scrub, I also errantly assumed other guys on the team looked down on me, and certainly no scholarship guys would even know my name.

Then about 10 years later I was helping out at the runners' expo for the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta.  This guy--who looked familiar--came up with a huge smile and said "Tom!  How are you doing, man?"  It was Clark Haley.  He acted like I was a long lost brother, which I guess I was without realizing it.

I have had lots of interactions over the years with my buddy Mark Heckel, who didn't believe I ran at PSU until he checked the team track photo.  :-)   Both there at the same time, but throwers lived on a different planet.

 

Evan Dorenkamp Channels Che Arosemena

Evan Dorenkamp became the third PSU runner to win the Paul Short Invitational Gold Race in 23:53.7 (8k). The last winner was PSU Track Alumni Golfer Che Arosemena way back when!

The Men's team placed 5th of 43 teams.

The Women placed 4th of 44 teams, paced by Sophia Toti in 16th (20:40.0, 6k).

We are everywhere!

Including along the Danube River.   Mark Heckel, our Director of Security, has been touring all of Europe for the past 45 months (or so it seems to me).  He met up with Brian Boyer (our Official Physicist and soon-to-be ex-European Liaison).  Brian will be moving back to State College in the coming week, where Mark will be able to visit him often (including at our next Reunion and Golf Tourney!).

Incredible usage of the Alumni Jersey!

Gunny Was a Remarkable Man

 It is with sadness that I report the passing of Roger "Gunny" Roll.  It is hard to describe Gunny in just words, but here are a few items I find interesting...

• He was Coach Groves' best friend for many years.  Years that were difficult for him.
• He would take 10 mile runs with the team in my early years.  Teams that were in the top-4 in the Division I NCAA XC. I probably couldn't do that 1 year after graduation!
  
• He had more than 1 Purple Heart from Vietnam.  I think the number was three, but really "just 1" would garner my greatest respect.
• He taught me many things in those days, sometimes in words, and sometimes by just watching how he interacted with the world around him.
• I never heard him say a negative thing about anyone.  
• He was a long-time Official for NCAA meets in both XC and Track and Field.

Never had an interaction with him that wasn't positive.  RIP  (Thanks to Mark Heckel for the photo and the word on the news.)

 We have lost all 3 of these giants of PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) in the last several years.

Tyler McCandless Wins in Kauai, Again!

Paradise Run

Our Le Faucon d'orange Put Together This Slideshow For The Coaches' Remembrances

 Mark Hawkins put a lot of work into a slideshow that was run throughout the ceremonies held at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track recently. Don't forget to thank him when you next see him!

 

Slide Show

A Hiccup For 800U

Both Handal Roban and Isaiah Harris failed to advance to the semi-finals in the World Athletics Championship 800M yesterday.

Isaiah found himself in a slow heat and was nipped for an automatic qualifier for third place by 0.03 seconds. I think this represents the first time he has failed to make a final including his days as a Nittany Lion. Next year, Isaiah! 

Joe Kovacs Gets Bronze At World Championships

Joe Kovacs placed third in the shot put at the 2023 World Outdoor Athletics Championships today. That's after placing 4th in the US Championships.

Winner Ryan Crouser almost surpassed his world record on his last throw. This despite 2 calf blood clots. Scary situation, for sure. 

An Oldie But A Goodie

Clark Haley and I had the opportunity to interview Coach Groves at the 2009 Alumni Run.

And as the new interns attempt to get the Coach's Celebration up on YouTube, we will have another video to enjoy.

Interview with the Coach 

I Am So Bad At Golf That I Sabotaged 3 Good Golfers!

Each of the 3 people in my foursome this year  are good golfers. But it takes only one rotten apple to spoil the barrel. Here's the only video I took at the tourney. It shows Bill Malchano, Bob Gabel and Steve Shisler all hitting an excellent tee shot. I didn't even get out of the cart because the absolute best shot I could have hit would have been the 4th best..

I subsequently duffed a chip shot and missed a putt. 

3 Good Tee Shots

15 Disparate Musings About The 2023 Track And Field Alumni Reunion

1. Apologies go out to my fabulous foursome this year. Three of the finest friends and long-term attendees whom I both admire and respect. I did nothing but bitch and moan the whole golf round, while contributing nothing but missed putts and bad vibes. I am truly sorry.
2. Talked Mike Shine into golfing for the first time. I believe he enjoyed himself and had 4 shots that counted.
3. The dinner was excellent again this year. Ribs, BBQ chicken breast, fusili Mac and cheese, garlic green beans and Paul Mundy Memorial triple chocolate cake.
4. Got to speak with Ryan Foster and his father. Two delightful people. I think I convinced Ryan to get a third cat. The interactions and interesting behavioral changes that occur with the addition of each new cat are worthwhile. I forgot to inform him that the equation for the proper number of litter boxes is (# of cats + 1).
5. The Hyatt Hotel is an excellent venue. The expense is worth it.
6. Clark and Harry are great at what they have done to keep this independent movement going. Check how many other schools are doing as much. It isn't many. And if they attempt to add me to those who deserve praise, only believe 10% of it.
7. Finally got to meet Joe Head, the first Nittany Lion to run in the Olympic Trials Marathon. He was a full-fledged member of our group before it was founded.
8. The Coach's Remembrance was just right. I especially liked Ken Cooper's, Ryan Foster's and Artie Gilkes' presentations.
9. I live streamed the ceremony on our Facebook (Meta) page. Eight people watched live, but it has already been viewed more than 100  200  300 times since.  I actually hurt my back and tired my arms holding the phone up for 2.5 hours. Too stupid to think of a stand...
10. Coach Schwartz was my assistant coach for XC in 1977.I immediately knew he was the ying to Coach Groves yang at our first meeting. Total and complete respect.
11. This weekend reinforced my opinion that members of our group are the most interesting, the most accomplished and the most intelligent people I have ever known.
12. Coach Gondak is an excellent inheritor of the position once held by Coach Groves. I first met him at one of our early Friday receptions where I brought the potato chips and Clark Haley was truly the Keeper of the Beer in the small meeting room at the Hampton Inn.
13. Ken Worthen is apparently the finest golfer in our tournament history. I heard many people telling me his play was outstanding from hole 1 to hole 18. I did not get to speak with him, but I want to thank him for dragging Don Ziter to his third tournament championship! Harry Smith also.
14. The monies we collect for the weekend may seem steep to some, but that is never the case. In low turnout years we break even with Officers often adding significant funds behind the scene. In high attendance years we do have a surplus, which is given in its entirety to the Penn State Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country teams. (Not the Coach Groves Scholarship Fund). In these surplus years, the funds are often given to an individual employed by a company that matches charitable contributions. This is not done to earn Nittany Lion points for someone to get better parking or tickets for football games etc. The only funds ever mismanaged by our group was the $4.24 lunch at Wendy's I was once allowed by a donation from Paul Mundy made to our blog. BTW the Mountain View Golf Club has changed the hole where Paul hit the tractor trailer on 322. I miss those days.
15. Got to speak with Brie Berkowitz for an hour on Friday. I have known Brie since she was a young lady. Her mom was our kids' school nurse and a running partner of my wife. Her dad was a XC coach in our county. They have already endeared themselves in the PSTAFXC community, and Brie is an outstanding PV coach for the Lions. Truly a small world!
16. More to come... 

A Large And Robust Reception

It was a spirited evening of excellent comradery at the Hyatt in a ever changing State College. Building is going on everywhere and everything seems under construction.

A large number of newfound members came, and the core of frequent attendees were more vibrant than ever. 

Raffles were held with the top prize of a really neat metal Nittany Lion decoration made by Olympic silver medallist Mike Shine auctioned off to Sue Miley.

The foursomes were selected according to the arcane Vatican formula overseen by Harry Smith and Clark Haley. 

Lifestream Of Coach's Celebration

I will attempt to Live stream the Coach's Celebration on Saturday from 10:00am to noon on our Facebook Page

Penn State Track Alumni (Golf) Facebook 

Back In State College

Just made it in to the Hyatt. Sprang for a suite on the top floor. Already ran into Tom Shiffer. He must be back from Europe slumming it with us reprobates! Hope I can golf with him.

Remember when the coal burning building was the tallest thing around? My wife once climbed the thing for a view of the whole valley. 

In Every Life...

We have never had one of our Golf Tourneys canceled due to weather. We have had a few damp rounds, however. One year there was a raging river just a few inches underfoot on the back nine. Quite creepy, actually. My expensive Nike shoe fell apart and I had to move on to Adidas since. Neither company has sponsored me, though.

The weather forecast looks ominous, but I don't trust weathermen. Even if 1/3 of them are fellow Lions.

Just Days Away

 

 

Finally found my clubs in the garage following a 3 week search.  I guess some opossums used it as a nest and birthing area last year.  Or maybe a skunk?

 

Anyway, I'm bringing them up to State College for the 21st Annual Penn State Track and Field Alumni Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tourney.  There will be a bump in our usual numbers, and many extra friends will be at the totally free and open Coach's Remembrance Ceremony on Saturday.  Let's have a great time and support the current program with mirth and aplomb.

Still Time To Join In The Fun

The Hyatt Hotel has extended our deadline to Friday, August 4 to register our numbers for the Friday night reception and the Saturday night Awards Dinner. There is still time to snail mail or Pay Pal us!

Reunion Details

Pay Pal

A Long Time Coming: A Milestone Right Before Our Reunion

Today, the Blog With It All surpassed 1,000,000 visits.  Never thought I would author something that would sustain as long as 15 years of more than 180 views per day!  I have had a little help over the years, but never what I had hoped.

Good things must end, and the end of Penn State Track and Field Alumni (Golf) is coming some time soon.  Not just yet, but with the desertion of Interns, I can't keep pace any more, much like I couldn't keep pace with the likes of Tom Rapp, John Ziegler, Bruce Baden, Mike Wyatt, Bob Snyder, Alan Scharsu and many others back in the day.

Hope to see some of you at the August 2023 Reunion. Thanks to all.

The Stats:

5,554 days

(15 years, 2 months, 15 days)

3,456 posts

1,000,000 Views

180 Views/day

Time Is Running Out

 

Finally, A Pay Pal Option For the Réunion and Golf Tournament August 11, 12 2023!

We will honor Coach Groves and Coach Schwartz on Saturday at the Ashenfelter Track. 

Please consult the myriad of choices from Clark's email.... The link for Pay Pal leads to the "donation" page for our Group in my name.  All responses and monies will be sent to Harry Smith and Clark Haley directly.  Click this link for all the info:

Clark's Email explaining everything, along with all the various fees. Find yours and get your entry in!

Please add the suggested amount to the total to defray my costs for the Pay Pal option. The funds will come to me and I will alert Clark and Harry of your announcement of attendance!

Sign Up Here!

Finally, A Pay Pal Option For the Réunion and Golf Tournament August 11, 12 2023!

We will honor Coach Groves and Coach Schwartz on Saturday at the Ashenfelter Track. 

Please consult the myriad of choices from Clark's email....

Choices are HERE!

Please add the suggested amount to the total to defray my costs for the Pay Pal option. The funds will come to me and I will alert Clark and Harry of your announcement of attendance!

Sign Up Here!

800U Gains Speed, But Don't Forget The Others!

Isaiah Harris and Rachel Gearing made appearances in the 800M Semis at the USATF Championships in Eugene yesterday.  Rachel was there following her School Record 2:01.24 in the Prelim Round.  And this continues Isaiah's streak of never failing to make the Finals in the 800M since his Freshman season at PSU.

But there are plenty of others in the mix at Tracktown:

• Danae Rivers, former 800M School Record Holder ran 2:03.90
• Terrance Laird in the 100M  8th in 10.18, upcoming in 200M
  
• Evan Dorenkamp in the 1500M  26th in 3:44.31
  
• Tyler Merkley in the Hammer
• Morgan Shigo in the Hammer
• Michael Shuey in the Javelin
• Rachel Fatherly in the Shot Put
• Mallory Kauffman in the Shot Put
• Darrell Hill in the Shot Put
• Joe Kovacs in the Shot Put
  

800U Rolls On

 

Incoming Sophomore Handal Roban kept his season going as he cruised to victory in the 800M at the Central American and Caribbean Games.

The Games were in San Salvidor in El Salvidor,  Handal is from  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. His PR of 1:45.93 was another punctuation to this stellar Freshman campaign.

Harry Smith Retired To The Caddyshack

Harry Smith, retired

Harry Smith went to elementary school just a mile from where I live. He learned how to golf at the site of a previous Dairy restaurant that is even closer.

He went on to Reading for high school and of course good ole PSU to study more lucrative pursuits than what I did. This allowed him to succeed at finance and family and retire early. 

Of course, this meant more golf. Just not the golf we expected. He found himself in the Caddyshack for his son Holden in the 2023 Amateur Disc Golf World Championships. 

www.pdga.com

Let's hope he is a bit better than Kramer's caddy who cost him and Jackie Chiles millions by advising "Go for the green."

Holden was in a tie for the lead after Round 1,and is currently 3rd after 2 rounds. Canadian smoke and torrential rains have wreaked havoc of the schedule. Let's hope he can hang on and find a few more birdies with the help of Harry. 

Oops! I was following a different Smith. Holden finished at +5 on the other course. Still great, hanging with the world's best. (But - 7 in the 4th Round!) 

Birdie from a treacherous lie.

 

A Reminder Of The Coming Super Collosal Reunion

I promise to get the Pay Pal option online soon. But please, let others know. We want everyone to show.

The Details

A Real Alumni Singlet Spotted In New York

 A few Penn State Track and Field Alumni (Golfers) were featured at the USATF NY Grand Prix.

• Morgan Shigo was 7th in the Hammer   231' 7"
• Michael Shuey was 6th in the Javelin  236' 6"
• Darrell Hill was 3rd in the Shot Put   70' 2.25"
• Isaiah Harris was 2nd in the 800M   1:45.11

And Darrell came through with his real Alumni Singlet in the action!!! Thanks, Darrell.

 

The "Alumni-Singlet" Is Always Appreciated

3 First team All-Americans for the Nittany Lion Men in 2023!

• Tyler Merkley in the Hammer Throw.   7th with 237' 6"
• Evan Dorenkamp in the 1500M.         8th in 3:44.2   (3:40.34 in Semi-Final)
• Handal Roban in the 800M                 3rd in 1:45.95

And again, the Nittany Lions chose the "Alumni-Singlet like" tops for the events on the Final Day!  This is always great and appreciated by us old-timers.  The singlets were originally invented by Dennis Pollow and have taken off in a big way. 

 

Quick Poll:  Do the Alumni Singlets improve the performance of wearers?

• Yes, of course they do.
• No, are you crazy?
  

It's Penn Relays Week! And Happy Birthday Coach Groves

 

Nothing better than the week of Penn Relays.  I was lucky enough to enjoy some fine years in the stands at the greatest Track and Field Carnival of them all.  And it's also Coach Groves' birthday this week.

Penn State has two fine middle distance contingents, and some very good Field eventers. Could prove interesting.

Anyone able to be there wish to send us a few pics, stories or swag???  My interns are standing by.

A Fine Man

 Our August 12th (10:00am) Reunion Remembrance Ceremony will offer 2 one-hour tributes to great coaches we have lost from our Universe.  One hour will be dedicated to Coach Harry Groves and now with the passing of Coach Gary Schwartz yesterday, the second hour will honor Penn State's former Men's Assistant Coach and Women's Head Coach.

I had the privilege to talk with both of these men about the other several years ago, and the respect was mutual and warm between them.  They shared many qualities and differed in a myriad of ways.

The Remembrance Ceremony is being coordinated by Nittany Lion greats Greg Fredericks and Vivian Riddick. My hope is for a full house at the Indoor Track Facility.

 

Another Award For 800U!

 As the final qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championship 800M Final, Handal Roban ran a very nice race, finishing in 4th place.  With the disqualification of the lead runner because of his severe swerve into second lane, impeding the surging Texas runner, he ends up in 3rd place! 1:47.28 at altitude.

Ryan Foster, Handal Roban and Coach John Gondak

Details Of The 2023 Reunion and Golf Tourney

 

A Major Award!

 

And I mean way more major than the Leg Lamp on A Christmas Story...

Our very own European Liaision, Brian Boyer is being awarded an 2023 Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award in State College next week. I take this opportunity to congratulate him for bringing this honor to our group.

Some things about Brian some of you might not know:

• He began his career in State College in 1976, earning degrees in 1980, 1985 and 1992.
• He is the only PSU Track Alumni Golfer that likes trains more than Dave Felice.
• He has won the Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament twice without knowing how to golf.
• His 5000M Indoor PR is better than mine.  I am unaware of any other distances where this may apply.
• He is retiring in a few weeks from the IAEA.  I'm pretty sure it's only because they have rules making 65 year-olds retire.
• He will be returning to State College is some capacity in the coming months.
• He is beloved by members of Penn State Track Alumni Golfers from 4 generations.

If you can check out the award ceremony next week, get some pics for my Interns here at the Blog With It All. 

Brian with Coach Schwarz and his wife Myrna a few years ago in Vienna.

A One And A Two...

 

PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) snagged one National Championship and a runner-up spot at the recent Indoor Championships out west.

Joe Kovacs won the Shot Put with a toss of 21.55M (70' 8.5")

Isaiah Harris placed second in the 800M with  1:46.42.

Rachel Fatherly placed 5th in the Shot Put with 17.47M (57' 3.75")

Morgan Shigo placed 8th in the Weight Throw with 22.30M (73' 2")

 

Coach Schwarz Scholarship

Bob Radzwich sent this along:

Hey all,

I saw a few posts on this but not sure if everyone knows the following.

I wanted to let you all know that Terry Losch from Rapid Transit is helping start a track and field memorial fund for Gary Schwartz a former women’s coach at PSU who many of us all at least heard of. Gary has been battling cancer knows this fund at PSU has been started and has expressed his appreciation. He also is directing that once it is endowed to distribute funds that those go to a deserving walk on. Please google Gary and you will see he was an outstanding coach and person.

Fund can be sent for PSU track and field to

Donor and Member Services

2583 Gateway Drive

Suite 130

Bristol Place 1

State College, PA 16801

Put for Gary Schwartz Memorial fund if you wish to contribute

Or

Http://raise.PSU.edu/garyschwartz

Thanks,

Bob

Chairman Of The Board

 

It has been a rough year for Disney.  A 44% drop in market value and criticism of its current path have left the leaders in disarray.  Visiting this past week, I noticed many signs of this perturbation.  Actual stalled projects and notices of others being axed entirely.  A few empty storefronts, and news of long term tenants announcing closure.

Stepping into this mix will be one of our own.  Mark Parker, ex-CEO of Nike Inc. will become the new Chairman of Disney's Board. Let's wish him well in finding a CEO who will guide Disney in a direction for stability and sustainability.  Goofy, Dopey, and the rest of the gang possibly in the mix for a new shoe contract?