Teddy Could Have Been A Tremendous Nittany Lion

By the looks of his genuine physique, not embellished at all by modern concoctions, it looks like he could have been a wonderful athlete. What events do you figure he could have exceled in?

It Is Time For All Penn State Track And Field Alum (Golfers) To Help A Foundational Member Of Our Group

 I received word yesterday from Craig Virgin that our beloved Kay Warfel was admitted to Lancaster General Hospital yesterday after a visit to the ER with a very serious illness.  Kay's friendship with Craig goes way back to the wonder years of Athletics West. One of their original members, he met Kay as she was completing her graduate degree at Oregon.

Kay needs prayers, good vibes, and encouragement from everyone now.  She has truly been a blessing to our group and has attended nearly all of our reunions.  I can't count the number of times I have been helped by Kay for our Blog and Facebook site.

We hope to have a meeting of our group with Craig in the near future near Lancaster.  We will keep you informed.  Craig was invited by me to our Reunion many years ago because of his deep affection for Coach Groves who treated Craig just as well as you would expect him to after Craig's epic NCAA win on our very own golf course.  One of Craig's prized possessions is the Nittany Lion statue Coach sent him with a hand-written scrawl of a letter we all would recognize right away.  Craig has stories to tell and a firm desire to join our group as more than an outsider from the University of Illinois! 

   kaypsu76 AT gmail DOT com

   please use the @ symbol and period in place of AT and DOT

 

Penn State All-Time Record For Handal Roban

Handal Roban wins in stunning record at the NACAC The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) organize championships every two years, and this year these were held in Freeport (Bahamas). The elite runners do not often participate there, but this year Brandon Miller, having missed out qualification for the World Championships, was ready to give it a shot. Miller had what looked like an infallible strategy. He knew he can run a low 1:43, even when leading the race from start to finish. And he also knew that none of his rivals had even run close to 1:44. Navasky Anderson for instance, had run 1:44.40 earlier this year, Handal Roban 1:44.39 and Tyrice Taylor had not even broken 1:45. And so Miller took the lead, set a scorcing pace, and although Anderson was not too far off, Roban and Taylor were already further behind. But strange things happen on the 800 meter over the last two years. Records tumble left, right and centre. And on the final straight, while Anderson was faltering, Roban found something extra and then some. Miller finished in 1:43.15, just 0.01 off his PB. Everything just as planned. But Roban stormed past and finished in a stunning 1:42.87, a big, big national record for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Behind these two Tyrice Taylor finshed third in a new national record as well. Said Roban after the race: You know, I only came here to have some fun.... Well, that worked out. On the all time list he has risen spectacularly from position 265 all the way up to number 49! Result: 1 Handal Roban VIN 1:42.87 2 Brandon Miller USA 1:43.15 3 Tyrice Taylor JAM 1:43.74 4 Navasky Anderson JAM 1:44.18 5 Abdullahi Hassan CAN 1:44.25 6 Matti Erickson CAN 1:46.80 7 John Rivera PUR 1:47.11 8 Nicholas Landeau TTO 1:47.84

 

Coach Groves Memorial Golf 2025 Tourney Results

Winning "Four"some:  Brian Laird (89), Mike Shine (75), Clark Haley (85)

Longest Drive:  Mike Shine (75)

Longest Putt:  Ryan Foster (15)

Closest to the Pin: Bob Gabel (80)

And let's thank Paul Mundy for the wonderful commemorative golf balls!

Mount Nittany Conquered Again

Shining At The Shrine

2025 Coach Groves Golf Tournament : It's On Like Donkey Kong

Going for broke with my William Murray "Bill Bottoms". 

Reception Well Attended

The 23rd Annual Reunion Is Here!

I have made it to Toftrees to begin  the festivities. I have enough time to get some Kung Pao Chicken before meeting the rest of the rabble. Looking forward to it more than I have in a few years. Hope to see you there. And on the way up, I viewed my first foray into modeling again right before Seven Mountains. 

Happy Birthday Coach Groves

 Distance night at Penn Relays colliding with Coach's birthday is great!

What Do Joe Dirt And Tommy Boy Have To Do With This Year's Reunion?

 

Some interesting changes have come to our Annual Track and Field/XC Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tourney this year.  Clark and Harry have been hard at work to bring us a little twist on this year's festivities.

Although the golf will still be at the MountainView Country Club, the hootenanny itself will take place at Toftrees Resort.  That's the Friday night reception and the follow up Awards banquet. And get this... The first price reduction in room rates have been negotiated by the head duo!  With Hotel room rates skyrocketing lately with all the downtown skyscrapers and retiring alums, that was no small feat.  Huzzah for our intrepid leaders.

Now what about Tommy Boy and Joe Dirt, you may ask?  Well, Toftrees has a great history among our group.  Not only Gunny and Coach Groves decided to live there in the late 70s and early 80s, but several other members of our group have roots there.  My very own Significant other, along with Gary and Steve Black lived there at one point, which is where Gary and Steve picked up the game of golf!

Riding the bus to State College Junior and Senior High, they were joined by a nerd from a nearby apartment.  That nerd soon left State College and headed West for La La Land.  He picked up some Comedy chops and went on the become Head Writer for Saturday Night Live and even joined the cast for a half season before realizing that writing was his forte.

Fred Wolf eventually wrote screenplays for some movies starring his friends from the cast.  Yeah, Tommy Boy and Joe Dirt I and II came from the mind of a nerd from Toftrees!

Anyway, here are the details of this year's event.  Please come!

 

23rd Annual Penn State Track and Field & XC Alumni Gathering / Harry Groves Memorial Golf Outing

August 1 – 2, 2025

 

This year, the opening reception and dinner will take place at The Toftrees Golf Resort, 1 Country Club Lane, State College, PA 16803.  We have a block of rooms reserved there for $139 / night (held until July 1 – held under “Penn State Track and Field Alumni” - Katie is the contact (if any problems arise)) – phone number there is (814) 238-4404.  Other hotels near campus are The Penn Stater, The Nittany Lion Inn, The Graduate, The Hyatt Place, The Hampton Inn, The Hilton Garden Inn and The Ramada (Ramada being the only one comparable in price)…

FRIDAY’S EVENTS (August 1st):                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm   Meet and Greet cash bar (hors d ‘oeuvres will be provided) – Silver Banquet Room                                                                                                                                    

                       50-50, Putting contest, Raffles

SATURDAY EVENTS (August 2nd): 

10:30 am – 11:30 pm - Bike tour around the surrounding University Park/ Toftrees area (provided you bring your      own bike and there is enough interest), headed by some of our Alumni (Gary Gittings assisted by Tom Shiffer).  I think Gary is looking into bike rentals in the area for those flying in (hope he is anyhow!).

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm - Campus walk to the Berkey Creamery and the Nittany Lion Shrine where a group picture will be taken headed by our alum, Vivian Riddick

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Mt Nittany hike for all interested, with a pitstop at the Voodoo Brewery to help cover the pain upon completion - also led by Alum Vivian Riddick

We will decide Friday night if any changes need to be made concerning the Campus Walk and Mt Nittany hike, based on willing participants.

4:00 pm– 6:00 pm - “Painting with Caryl” - Wine and Paint (or whine and paint for many in this group) – Room provided at the hotel (name tbd).  Costs included in fee – available to the first 15 -20 confirming participation (as we pay for all of the materials up front).

1:00pm – 6:00pm   - Golf outing at the Mountain View Country Club (old Elks Club) with a 1:30pm start time - captain’s choice scramble (for those of you not familiar with this type of scramble, you play the best hit of your foursome throughout).  If you need clubs, there are always folks bringing extra sets, so you don’t have to worry about renting (be sure to let us know when you register, so we can plan to have them there).

6:30pm – 10:00pm   Dinner reception and awards ceremony for golf outing and painters.  It will take place at The Silver Banquet Room as well.

Costs / Fees:

$450 / FAMILY (all under one roof) – All / Any Events                                                                                                                  

$350 / FAMILY – Saturday only – All / Any Events                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           $300 / FAMILY – Both Nights – No Golf or Painting                                                                                                                                 

$200 / FAMILY – Friday Night Only                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

$250 / SENIOR PERSON (over 67) – All Events (add Spouse / Significant Other $100)                                                                                                                                      

$200 / SENIOR PERSON – All Saturday Events (add Spouse / Significant Other $50)                                                                                                                    

 $150 / SENIOR PERSON – All Events – No Golf or Painting (add Spouse / Significant Other $50)                                                                                                                    

 $100 / SENIOR PERSON – Golf Only (add Spouse / Significant Other $50)  or Friday Night Only                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

$300 / PERSON – All Events  (add Spouse / Significant Other add $100)                                                                                                                                                   $200 / PERSON – All Saturday Events (add Spouse / Significant Other add $100)                                                                                                                                    

 $150 / PERSON – All Events – No Golf or Painting (add Spouse / Significant Other add $75)                                                                                                                               

 $100 / PERSON – Golf only (add Spouse / Significant Other $75) or Friday Night Only                                                                                                                                                            

RECENT GRAD (past two years) – DROP 25% off your fees                                                                                             

OLYMPIAN – COMPLEMENTARY – and thanks for attending!                                                                                                                                                                                                  

QUESTIONING THE METHODOLOGY BEHIND THE COSTS – DOUBLE YOUR CHARGE!                                                      

NON- REFUNDABLE FEES – IF YOU CANCEL, OR IF THERE IS A WEATHER-RELATED CANCELATION – ALL MONIES WILL THEN BE CONTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO THE PENN STATE TRACK & XC PROGRAMS.                                                               

This event is open to all friends and families of the current or past PSU T&F or XC programs.  This is all about the laughs, brother/sisterhood and continued support for the current men’s and women’s track and field and/or cross-country programs.  Remember, when it comes to considering golf, you will have three other hackers on your team to laugh at, and with, so don’t worry about how bad your game is! 

Donations / Gifts are happily accepted if you would like to help us defer some of our costs, as we contribute all proceeds to the current programs.

Please send checks or money orders to:

Harry Smith                                                                                                                                                                                          2040 CentralGrove                                                                                                                

 Toledo, OH  43614 or Venmo him:   @Harry-Smith2262

PayPal option available again this year on the Blog or Facebook page (Dave Baskwill is coordinating) – if utilizing PayPal include another $10 to your total as mentioned above to defer the charge.

If you should have any other questions or comments, please let me know – Hope to see you this year!    

Clark Haley ’85   (484) 716-8517

Clarkehaley@yahoo.com

Happy Birthday, Pre.