Diamonds Are A Guys Best Friend

 Via our West Coast Promoter Mike Fanelli, via Founder and Keeper of the Beer Clark Haley comes this picture from the 1980 Run for the Diamonds in Berwick, PA.  I think both Greg Fredericks and Larry Mangan won diamonds that year.   Not bad for a couple of milers...

An Improbable Win

How can a team that came in third in the District 6 Championships and failed to advance to the State Championships end up winning it all in the State?  Can't happen, right?  (LetsRun.com thread HERE)

Wrong, because it just did this weekend.  And Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfer Jayson Jackson helped make it happen.  He coaches the St. Joseph's Academy XC team in State College.  And even if the girls' team failed to advance to the State meet, 5 of the team members did make it on the individual requirements to make the trip.  And 5 runners make up a scoring team, so...

According to the rules of the PIAA, they count as a team in the scoring.  They then went on to run the races of their lives and not only beat both District 6 teams, but every other team in the single-A race, and climbed to the top of the podium!  Notice that Mark Haywood's Camp Hill team is third.

The coaching reach of Harry Groves extends to its 4th or 5th generation!  Well done.

 1 St Josephs Cath (6)      93    4   19   21   22   27            
  2 Marion Center (6)       116   14   18   23   29   32   49   59 
  3 Camp Hill (3)           119    9   13   17   37   43   64   73  

We Just Lost A Former Middle Distance Star

Teammate Mark Haywood brings us the news of the passing of Bruce McLanahan in Camp Hill. Bruce was a middle distance star for Coach Groves in his early years.

"Bruce became a good friend of mine over the years. He lived two blocks away from me and we would often share walks around the neighborhood and talk about track, XC, and all things Penn State. He was one of Coach Groves’ runners too although he pre-dated us. Served as mayor of Camp Hill for a while and was very active in the community. Anyone who knew Bruce knew how quick he was with a smile, a laugh, or an amusing anecdote. He made your day better just being in it. This is a very sad time and a great loss for Camp Hill but I am grateful to have known Bruce as a good friend..."

Layers And Layers Of PSU Track Alumni Golfers

“They worked so hard, and they ran gutsy races…it came together at the right time.”

-Mark Haywood.

Our efforts here at the Blog With It All are partially to unite Penn State T&F/XC athletes across multiple decades who otherwise might not know each other.  But then sometimes, other events intervene to bring them together without any efforts on my or the Interns part!  (Even though Mark Haywood and Tim Johnson already knew each other.)

Like when the reporter covering the District 3 XC Championships gets to interview the winning coach of the Class A Girls race... 

Camp Hill Wins District 3 XC Meet

Very proud to know both of them, who are among the rest of my PSU Track Alumni (Golfer) family.  The finest people the world produces BTW.

Just A Few Answers And Team Pics (From Coach Groves!) For Ricky Garcia

The word went out yesterday for some remembrances for Ricky Garcia's time at PSU.  And some have already come in!  Thanks, keep them coming....

• Ricky Garcia was an awesome competitor and a great teammate. Always smiling and gregarious, even when he was barking at a certain coach!!! -Larry Mangan.

• Recalling 1982 TAC US 15km road championship...hosted in State College...Jeff Adkins wins..I have race of my life running with Ricky Garcia for first 8 miles.. then he drops me and puts at least 30 seconds on me in last mile to finish in top 5 in the United States championship. But he's a miler/ steeplechaser... what range!!  -Harry Smith.

• My most vivid memory of Ricky is when he and Ted (Lyon), both former teammates at TC Williams HS and having more than a little history with each other, were having another one of their epic spats on a run. We were near the Creamery on a run across campus and Ted kept egging on Ricky and finally said something that really pissed off Ricky. I don't know what it was. Ricky tackled Ted and somehow a rock materialized in Ricky's hand although I didn't see where the rock came from. Ricky yelled that he was going to bash Ted's head in and he might have done exactly that if we hadn't pulled Ricky off him. We kept them away from each other til they calmed down. To this day, I can't be certain Ted and Ricky weren't just trolling us all, but if it was an act, it was a damn good one by both of them. Although this episode was full of violence and the threat of worse violence, it was not hard at all for a bunch of college boys to find the whole thing pretty hilarious too. Definitely memorable and I made a mental note to avoid making Ricky mad ! I remain hopeful that Ricky will regain his memories. Those were some of the best times of our lives, and I pray that some of these stories may help Ricky in some way. Hang in there Ricky and stay upbeat !!  -Mark Haywood.

• Don't make Ricky mad. Ricky is one of my best friends. He actually wasn't the only person I pissed off. Great athlete. He probably could have had a college scholarship in a few sports. Intense competitor and we all know the really good ones have a bit of a mean side. I know he's suffering and Read his FB posts everyday. He is dealing with pain that would put most men on the floor - but remember he ran the steeplechase! We all love you Ricky!!  -Ted Lyon.
  

And Greg Fredericks has chimed in with links to team photos from all the Coach Groves' years! Check out 1980,1981 and 1982 XC for Ricky and all of his teammates. CoorespondingTrack years.

Coach Groves Penn State XC Teams

Coach Groves Penn State Track Teams

Brackets Going To The Dogs

The March Madness is ongoing.  Following the first round of action, several Track Alumni Golfers are near the top of the list.

• Mark Haywood       28/32
• Zeb Stewart             28/32
• Mark Hawkins        27/32
• Tyler McCandless   27/32

And there are several other dogs joining the first ever Jack Russell Terrier Challange.  Remember, these guys filled out their brackets without thumbs!  Cut them a break!

• Thomas Bernard Roth    (St. Bernard)   26/32
• Kierrun O'Brien    (mixed?)                     25/32
• Spott Moskowitz  (Jack Russell)             23/32
• Bo Quinn   (Jack Russell)                        21/32

More Alums Bolster Large's Chances On The Trail

With the giddiness of the night on an actual mattress in Harpers Ferry well behind him, Rob Whiteside (trail name "Large") trudges on through the shale shards of Pennsylvania toward his goal of Katahdin Mountain in Maine. So two more PSU Track Alums met him as he was about to cross the Susquehanna River at Duncannon.  Another "Town" meal for him and Phoebe (trail name "White Rabbit")  should bolster them for the hike toward the Delaware Water Gap and his home state of New Jersey.

Jeff Sanden, Large and Mark Haywood.

Now everyone must go the the poll on the left sidebar on the full website to vote for whom Rob now looks the most like.

Ernest Hemingway.

Jeremiah Johnson.

Santa Claus.

David Letterman.

Ben Bernanke.

A Hat-Tip To Coach Groves: Penn State Track And Field Alumni Golfers Make Great Coaches: Part 2

It was a bang up day again across the fruited plain for Coach Harry Groves' coached athletes.  Honestly, I think this has a little to do with Coach Groves himself.  He instilled a love of the sport(s) in each and every one of us.  He taught us values, organization, goal-setting, and hard work, even when we disagreed and b*tched about it among ourselves.  All of us came out of it much better off than when we entered his domain.  (Even prodigal sons are welcomed with open arms to our Group!) Here are a few of the recent coaches achieving great things on cross country courses with a little help from Coach's past tutelage:

• Coach Mark Haywood's Class A Camp Hill boys won the PIAA State title for the first time in school history. Here's his wife's thoughts on this.  I was at their wedding and did I mention it was a great affair?

  

  Mark Haywood, right.

• Coach Jayson Jackson's St. Joseph's Academy won the PIAA Class A girls title.  Jayson is another Nittany Lion I have had the pleasure to meet because of my efforts at herding cats to our Reunion and golf outing.  You should think of attending too so you can realize just how great members of our Group are! Absolutely everyone is invited to join.

  

  Jayson Jackson's St. Joseph Academy victors.

• Matt Lincoln's Chandler Wolves won the Arizona Division 1 title.  A Canadian in Arizona via Happy Valley!

  

  Matt Lincoln, right.

• The State College boys were 9th in the PIAA Class AAA race.  Coaches Steve Shisler, Dave Felice and Nick K. keep the Little Lions near the top of the game!

  

  Dave Felice, Steve Shisler and Nick K., right.

• The State College girls were 5th in the PIAA Class AAA race with Artie Gilkes and Rebecca Donaghue guiding them.

  

  Artie Gilkes, Rebecca Donaghue, left.

• Dominic Hockenberry repeated as Class A Champion and will be headed to Syracuse in the Fall.  Dominic was is coached by Bill Kvashay until his retirement this year.

  

  Bill Kvashay, left.

• Gettysburg's lone runner placed 10th in the PIAA Class AA race.  He is coached by Group Friend and William and Mary liaison Brian Mount.

  

  Brian Mount, center.

• I'm sure I missed some.  Let me know!
• John Mahoney, Assistant Coach of Central Bucks West, helped his team to 3rd in the PIAA AAA race.  (Thanks to Beth Shisler for the update!) 
• Here's an update from Tom Rapp on his season: 
  

  Hey!

   

  I wanted to bring you up to speed on our recently-concluded season. After winning the state meet last year, we stepped into this year knowing we were a bit depleted by graduation. Add in a couple of injuries and illness and basically we lost numbers 1,2 5, 6 and 7 from last year. Still we had a very successful season winning our league, district and regional (SW Ohio - one fourth of the state) meets. We scored the second lowest total ever at regionals - 35 points.

   

  We finished runner up at state to Cleveland St. Ignatius, a perennial power currently ranked #10 in the country. We actually scored 25 points less than our championship team last year but couldn't quite match St. Ignatius. In Ohio, only two teams make the podium and receive medals and trophies. We were thrilled to be one of the two. We have been on the podium three out of the last four years. I feel like this might have been my best team ever, but part of winning a championship is picking the right year to be good. Guess we didn't quite do that. We lacked a solid number one and had four different guys at that spot this year. However, our 1-5 split was usually between 15 and 25 seconds. Lots of pack running which made it fun, but sometimes hard to coach during a race because they would all zoom by at the same time - tough to give individual instructions like that.

   

  Anyway, thanks for reading.

   

  Run Happy!

   

  Tom

Nittany Lions Make Excellent Coaches And Parents

It was a bang up several days for PSU Track Alumni Golfers in the Coaching ranks.  And let's not forget the parental ranks either!

First up is great friend, teammate and class-mate Mark Haywood, who coaches the Lions of Camp Hill.  The boys won the Class A District 3 title and the girls were 4th.  Mark also coaches our Grand Exalted IT Czar Jeff and Mary Sanden's daughter Carissa Sanden!

Carissa Sanden thumbs-up for her parents Jeff and Mary Sanden.

Mark Haywood, rear, and his Winning Team.

Lisa and Mark Haywood. Their wedding reception was awesome.

Next up is the Little Lions of State College High, who are coached by 5 of the greatest PSU Track Alumni Golfers of all!  The Lions won District 6 in both the boys and the girls.

Rebecca Donaghue, left  and the victorious women. Where's Artie?

Here's Coach Artie Gilkes with Coach Rebecca Donaghue!

Coach Dave Felice, center, with Coach Steve Shisler and Coach Nick K. to his left.

Group Members Shine At PIAA District 3 Championships

Mark Haywood, now the Head Coach of the Camp Hill Cross Country teams led his team to the Boy's Team Title in the A Division.  Congrats to all!

Coach Haywood, top right.

Honorary member and William and Mary conduit Brian Mount had his Gettysburg team improve this year to 9th place, with his first boy taking second place overall.

Gettysburg XC

And Daughter the Younger's York Suburban team placed first in the Boys and Girls AA team races.  The boys dominated with a total spread of just 41 seconds.  The girls did quite well considering they were without their top runner and had 3 Freshman, 1 Sophomore and a Junior scoring.

I'm Still Working On the Photos and Stories From the Reunion

I actually have the day off and will eventually get to the photos from this weekend.  That is, after I pay all my late bills, feed the animals, water the plants and take a nap!

So until then, let's put up a list of people that couldn't make it and had a good reason:

1. Steve Shisler and Beth Shisler were at the Big Ten Championships watching their son Alex Shisler score points for the Nittany Lions.  Excuse Accepted.
2. Brian Boyer had business requiring knowledge of Physics in New Mexico.  Excuse Accepted.
3. Steve Balkey had a son graduating from College.  Excuse Accepted.
4. Paul Mundy had a daughter being married. Excuse Accepted.
5. Bill Kvashay and Mark Haywood were coaching at Districts.  Excuses Accepted.
6. Gary Black had business requiring extensive travel. Excuse (reluctantly) Accepted.
7. Darryl Jones had Graduation duties at Gettysburg College. Excuse Accepted.
8. And last, but certainly not least, Phil Passen was in Israel and even supplied proof with a Wrist Band pic at the Dead Sea Scroll Museum! Excuse Accepted.

Rockin the Band!

Hershey Crawling With Penn State Track Alumni Golfers

It has been a few year's since I attended the PIAA State Cross Country Championships.  It certainly has become a much bigger affair over the years.

Some highlights:

• My daughter's York Suburban team ended in 5th place in the AA Girls event (and 9th in the AA Boys event.)
• Rebecca Donaghue's and Artie Gilkes State College High AAA Girls team finished in 13th place.  Dave Felice's Boys team placed 4th.
• Mark Haywood's (Asst. Coach) Camp Hill team finished in 15th place in A Boys.
• Bill Kvashay's Lake Lehman runner Dom Hockenberry (Bill coaches him in track) finished 2nd in the AA Boys race.
• Coach Gondak reports that the Girl's AA winner (Elizabeth Chikotas, Saucon Valley) and AAA winner (Tessa Barrett, Abington Heights) will both become future PSU Track/XC Alumni Golfers! (And he wasn't done working yet!)

Rebecca Donaghue (center) and Artie Gilkes (right)

Jeff Sanden almost never misses the PIAA Championships.

Assistant Coach Mark Haywood (left) and Chris Herr.

Dave Felice.

Another Mish Mash of PSU Track Alumni News (And More)

Well, now that the warm downs are over for the spectacular efforts by our Group's XC runners in Happy Valley and New Jersey, let's turn our gaze on the rest of us scattered across our lands.

Coach Van Houwe and his York Suburban team.

First, I'll toot my daughter's horn.  Her team won the recent PA District III AA team title and are headed to States with bigger goals in mind.  Although Martha wasn't in the top 7, she came into her own at the JV County Championships and took 1 1/2 minutes off her previous 5K time.  This was in a torrential downpour and quite muddy conditions.  I told her to put the longest spikes she could find in her shoes (1/2 inch beauties!) and go have fun.  This was exactly my experience in my first ever race for PSU in Pittsburgh's Schenley Park in 1977.  I was happy to see the similar results both of us had, with our best ever XC race in otherwise difficult conditions.  She hopes to wear the PSU uniform in XC at Penn State Mont Alto next Fall.  Nothing could make me prouder.

Next, Mark Haywood deserves some accolades for bringing the first ever team title to Camp Hill at the same District III meet.  He helped coach the team to the victory in the Class A team competition.  Way to go Mark!

Now here's a photo from yesteryear with two three PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) in it.  Can you name both all three! running on the boards?

Photo from Ted Rupe.

And here's another one pictured with 2 males sharing 1/2 and 1/4 of his genetic make-up.  Who is he?

Keep the submissions coming!

Just Because You Can Go Home Again...

Doesn't Mean Anyone Will Know You.

Actually a total of 2 people did know me.

I traveled to dear 'ole Dover High School, scene of my teenage triumphs (on the track only!) to watch my daughter's York Suburban team take on my Dover Eagles.  Also on the track was the Camp Hill Lions for a nifty tri-meet.

I did find friend Ron Bair before the meet started who was a teammate of mine and was there to escort his daughter Olivia during the Senior Day activities. He was the only person from Dover who recognized me and it was good to see his daughter Olivia Bair was an 800 M runner!

But there was a big PSU presence at the track even in the middle of bucolic rural York County.  Camp Hill's coach Mike Barndt was apparently a former PSU trackster.  I didn't get a chance to talk with him though.

And lo and behold, there was my teammate all 4 years at PSU, Mark Haywood.  There aren't too many people I've run more miles with than Mark, and it's always good to see him.  He may be able to attend our festivities next year as his daughter Katy Haywood will be moving on to college.  Mark follows his daughter's track exploits closely and she happens to be quite good at an activity neither Mark or I have ever attempted, the pole vault.  She had 3 good attempts at 10' 6" while I watched, each one of them with more than enough height for much higher results.  My advice to her was "Trust the pole" as if I know anything at all about the event.  I think I heard Don Skerpon say that once. Sounded good to me.  Remember though, I was unable to carry his 16' pole down the runway, so I never was able to see what pole vaulting was like.

Happy Valley Rituals

Each of us has our quirky rituals we must do or see whenever we return to State College for whatever reason.  Some have been ingrained in us since childhood let alone our college days.

Many travel directly to the Berkey Creamery for a cone and end their trip with a purchase of a couple of half gallons with dry ice for the ride home.  Others simply must have a Diner Sticky at some point during the trip.  My own family has a few really quirky habits that you probably never heard of.

1. I always have a celebratory bag of Middleswarth BBQ Potato Chips, and sometimes several.  It is my greatest vice nowadays, so I consider myself lucky.  The rest of the family usually has their own bag too.
2. We travel to Bellfonte to feed the ducks, trout and carp at Tallyrand Park.  They also have a Chinese Buffet there that is quite good with a DQ right next door.  Not a bad combo.
3. When I go to the Arts Festival, I always buy a little trinket to remember it.  This year I was intrigued by the wood items made from the PSU Elm trees damaged in the 1995 and 1996 storms.  But as the rockers "started" at $2200, I settled for a Shaker Box for dispensing stamps.  Pretty cool anyway.

And this time I found a different brand of potato chips which were introduced to me by Mark Haywood.  These aren't available at too many places but they sure are delicious.

What are some of your Happy Valley indulgences?

Progeny Soars to New Heights

Kathryn Haywood won the Pole Vault at the Arctic Blast Track Meet at Northern York last weekend.  I was originally going to make fun of Mark Haywood while doing this post until I realized that his daughter can pole vault higher than I ever could.  I actually was unable to carry a 16 foot pole down the runway back in the day, so that pretty much ruled out any vertical lift!

So you are off the hook Mark.  I'll try again some other time.  Way to go Katy! (Photo from Samuel Getty)

Third Photo Caption Contest Ends

"So THAT'S what Mark Heckel and Alan Scharsu are up to these days!"






 The largest number of votes for any of our contests seem to confirm that none of my own comments make the grade.So whatever clever miscreant is responsible for this  affront to two great tracksters of yesteryear, please let me know!  You have won a free dinner at the Tenth Annual Harry Groves Golf Tournament Awards Ceremony.

I warned you all that Mark Haywood would be hard to beat.  It turns out he has won a second Photo Caption Contest. And snide asides aren't even his strong suit!  Try to say that 3 times fast.

More Track Alumni (Golfers) in the News: And a Caption Contest Winner

Tyler McCandless continues what must be one very long competitive season in placing 8th at the Boston Half-Marathon in 1:06:06.  His next race is next month at the Philadelphia Half-Marathon.  He'll get his sub 1:05:00 there.

Luke Watson also continues his impressive ways in winning the Steamtown Marathon this past weekend.  I'm still looking for the time, though.( Update: 2:16:41) Luke is a PSU grad student, and we never hold his Notre Dame degree against him.  Our tent is a very large one, even for non-golfers!

And I see James Carney dropped out at the Chicago Marathon at 1:05:3x on a brutal Fall day.  He's obviously living to fight another day. 

Addendum II:  Aleesha Barber placed 5th for Trinidad and Tobago at the Commonwealth Games.

Most impressive of all, however, is Mark Haywood's choice entry in the photo caption content.  I'll always vote for the guy making fun of Gary.  The Chicago-style voting made this our most popular poll yet.  I'm not entirely sure how many times Mark's great-great grandparents voted, but Al Capone will award the gift certificate to The Creamery to Mark shortly.  Another caption contest will be held shortly.

Unprecedented Practice Round in the Shadow of Three Mile Island!

Or at least the radioactive penumbra!

Jeff Sanden, Gary Black, Mark Haywood and yours truly (three officers in one foursome) braved the perils of Central Pennsylvania in our quest to better our chances of putting our names on The Cup.   Here's a great photo of the three of them with the Three Mile Island Cooling Towers in the Background.

The round went well, as we simulated tournament conditions to the letter (hitting the drink cart girl up twice in the first 9, fudging a shot or two, cursing, scratching and making fun of each other...) with the incredible result of a tournament-best 6-under par!  I smell a berth on the Hall of Honor waiting in the wings.

Here's a recap of the disaster at TMI some of you were not even around for.

It's Reunion and Golf Go Time!

Indoor Track Season has begun, so it's time to turn one's thoughts to this year's Reunion and 9th Annual
Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament. It promises to be the largest event ever, cementing our group in PSU's Sports universe. Entries have already begun to trickle in. The Early Bird Discount is now in effect. Remember, you can save $25 by getting your entry in by 3/31/10. That will pay your way to the Awards Dinner and Reception following the tourney and leave you with a nifty $10 you can use for the Donation Raffle to help support our group for next year!

This year's Reunion will help celebrate Coach Groves' 80th Birthday as well as other events. There will be cake! It will be held on an off week for the team and we will have current coaches and team members participating for the first time. The union of us old -timers and the young bucks (and women!) will be a tremendous way to help make Penn State Track Alumni (the Golf is optional!) the world's most active and largest Track Alumni Group. Most questions can be handled by perusing the web site, but any additional questions will be easily answered by contacting me by email, dfbaskwill(at)cs(dot)com.

Be alert for the coming email blast and be tolerant of duplicated efforts. I'm no more organized now than I was as a Freshman in 1977. In fact, I'm not quite sure I'm not less organized.

Pictured at the 2009 Reunion are: IT Czar Jeff Sanden '83, some fat guy, legal counsel Doug Kent '80, Don Ziter '81 and Mark Haywood '81. Some of the best friends anyone could ever have. We ran a lot of miles together. Don't miss out on seeing your friends and making many more that share your love for PSU Track.