Throw-Up Thursday

 15 years ago...

A Veterans Day Victory

Both Nick K. and Greg Fredericks were able to spend the day with Coach Groves who was honored at his residence for his service in the military.  And they also spent an afternoon on the Penn State Golf Course with him taking in the Mid-Atlantic NCAA Cross Country Championships.

The action was especially great for the PSU Womens team who won the event handily!  Tessa Barrett led the way with the victory.  The team will thus move on to the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana on Saturday November 19th.  The Men battled to a fifth place finish in a competitive field. No drones were spotted at the event.

Mid-Atlantic XC Champions!

Coach Groves served in the same unit as Willie Mays! Photo by Nick K.

1982 Atlantic Ten Cross Country Champions

Keeper of The Cup Harry Smith brings us this great pic of the 1982 Atlantic Ten Cross Country Champions from Belmont Plateau.

L to R bottom row:

Barry Enright, Jeff Adkins, Ricky Garcia, Clark Haley, Paul Mackley, John Evans, Harry Smith

Top Row L - R:
Rob Whiteside, Mark Overheim, (A-10 Commissioner?), Coach Harry Groves, Nick Kello, Gary Black, Zeb Stewart

My favorite parts of this:

1. Zeb and Harry S. rocking the mustache.
2. Rob rocking the old school gray t-shirt.
3. My first ever mention of Barry Enright on the blog!
4. Gary distracted as always.
5. Nick weighing more than he does NOW!
6. Clark with a hat reminiscent of Bushwood CC. (Looks good on him, though.)
7. Coach Groves with the Dirty Harry sunglasses.

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.

"In, You Son of a B..."

It's been a while since we had a Coach Groves post.  And because I have been reposting old posts from years ago, I figured I might as well post one with Coach Groves WHILE tooting my own horn.

Coach golfed with us a few years following his retirement from coaching.  Some years he golfed 2 holes with each foursome. Some years he just dispensed beverages from a cart. I was lucky enough to golf with him and Nick K. and Paul Mundy in 2009.  For some reason Nick filmed this putt.  I have no other video of any other putts that year.  And somehow, Coach almost sank the putt, showing me the exact line I needed to take.

A Birthday Present For Coach Groves

With Coach Groves missing his first Penn Relays in 70 years, many people stood up and brought the Penn Relays to Coach Groves.  Mark Hawkins, Nick K., and Larry Mangan  Clark Haley updated Coach live over the phone during the Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America victory.  And the entire team group of alumni at the reception on Friday night made sure to sign a Program for him which was delivered on Sunday.

Addendum:  I supplied Mark with Coach's phone # prior to the event, so I assumed it was those guys who updated Coach on the shenanigans going on at the track.  (See:  Ass, you, me...)

Photo courtesy of Will Rottler. Thanks Will.

More Pics of Yore With Some Additional Down Under Content: The Only Fool Here Is Me!

Photos by Greg Reyner.

That's Track Alumni Golfer Todd Leggett tossing the javelin, but we need help identifying the three steeplechasers.  (Some time between '82 to '86.)  Mere moments after posting, the answer was given by Bob Hudson!  (Steeplers - Vinny Accardi, Rick Clellan, Nick K)  My readers are the best.

I have received a few submissions concerning the recent post about recruiting in Australia.  It isn't bad enough that so many swimming and crawling/running creatures can kill you in Australia, but now the plants are getting in on the action!

Australia's Plant of Pain

But let's leave on a happier note.  Here's a cat with an accurate map of Australia on its nose.  I am assured that this isn't a joke.  Tasmania must be on her tongue.

More Coach Jackson Horner Goodness With Strong PSU Track Alumni Ties

I especially like Coach Horner's pants...  Takes me back to smiling memories.  I once fell off a pair of platform shoes when I tripped on my bell-bottoms.

This is a photo of the 1978 PIAA Cross Country Champions.  Note the PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) connections here.

Without help, I identify Coach Horner (1950's PSU captain), Nick K. (who still is running fast miles!), Dan Draper (where is he now?), Randy Moore (of 7:11.17 4 x 800 fame!), Brian Mount (our W & M connection and honorary Track Alumni Golfer), Bob Hudson (still with ginger locks!) and last but not least, Hugh Hamill (my foursome partner at last year's tourney!)

Others include John Dixon, John Coyle and Steve Phillips.

Third Place Foursome Had More Fun Than Anyone

Larry Mangan, Clark Haley, Coach Groves, Nick K. and Mark Hawkins.

Two things are remarkable about our third place foursome this year.

1. Clark Haley was NOT on the winning team!
2. They managed third place (+1) despite apparently never sleeping the whole weekend!

Larry Mangan, Nick K., Clark Haley and Mark Hawkins slightly before 3:00AM (photo by Tim Backenstose)

Chief Laundry and Morale Officer Larry Mangan relates that he had a great time and was constantly laughing through the entire round of golf.  Which, for those who don't golf, is difficult to do when trying to hit that damn little white ball, over and over...

Founder Clark Haley had the organization honed to a sharp edge like never before.  The only potential hiccup was the chance of rain that somehow never materialized for the 13th year in a row!

Nick K. was again looking good on the golf course as well as the track during the Alumni "Run".

" Le faucon d'orange" Mark Hawkins also participated in all activities and unveiled the newest batch of Alumni Singlets and the new Alumni tees at the Reunion on Friday night.  He deserves much more in pay than he gets for doing this! We plan on a new batch in just a few weeks for those paying attention.

Coach Groves shows off his new Alumni tee.

Kyle Dawson displays the very first blue Mens Singlet.

Is There Anything This Guy Can't Do But Golf?

Here's some great pictures from the recent Penn State National from the camera of Mark "Le faucon d'orange" Hawkins.  And since Mark happens to appear in them, someone else must have taken the photos with his camera.  Turns out that the someone is Greg Fredericks.  So now that makes about a million things he is better at than I.  Golf seems to be the only hold-out.  But I always say that the golf is optional...

Nick K. and Mark Hawkins. Photo by Greg Fredericks.

Singlets on display!

Mark Hawkins, Beth Shisler and Nick K. following the NVTC Mile.

Mark Hawkins in the earlier Penn State Relays NVTC Mile.

A Remarkable Bunch

Mark Hawkins, Nick K., Stephen Shisler, John Ziegler and Gary Black

The recent Penn State Track and Field Alumni team for the 2013 USATF 5K Masters XC Championships.

The Results Are Finally In!

The Penn State Track Alumni* team entered the USATF Masters 5K XC Championships with 5 runners over the age of 50.  They all ran quite well and placed 8th in the over 50 team competition.  Blog Muse Rob Whiteside was the team manager for the competition. There really are some incredible over 50 runners in this nation!

     24.John Ziegler      18:12   

     30.Mark Hawkins      18:47   

     32.Stephen Shisler   18:52   

     35.Nicholas K.       19:04   

   75.Gary Black        23:56  

 *Entered as Nittany Valley Running Club because you had to have a team registered already in USATF.  We'll have to remedy that in the near future.  Seems time has come to unleash the Penn State Alumni team!

Many photos will be available soon.

 

A Juvenile Diversion as We Patiently Wait For the "Old Men" to Finish the USATF XC Championships

The 5K USATF Masters XC Championships are being held today in Flemington NJ.  The PSU Track Alumni Golfers will be there fielding a team in the 50 and over division. (For Larry, "I think they all are over 50!")  It seems that Steve Shisler actually qualified just TODAY for that dubious honor!  Welcome to the back side of the hill Stephen! At least it's "downhill" from here.

Birthday Boy and his beautiful wife.

Others in the event may include Mark Hawkins, Nick K., and Gary Black.  I'm not entirely sure about any of this, but why start caring about accuracy in media now?  Good luck, don't break a hip, and in the case of Gary, don't break another!  Addendum:  The 5th member of the team is John Ziegler and they are in the 50 and over division.

So to pass the time before the results are in, here's the original "Mahna, Mahna"  skit from the Muppets from Sesame Street in 1969. It'll come back to you after the first utterance and stay with you far longer than any of you wish!

58,000 Miles Ending at the Vietnam Memorial: With Some Coach Groves Photos as a Bonus

Coach Groves and his watch at the Spiked Shoe XC Meet.

Michael Bowen served during the Vietnam War and was fortunate enough to spend his tenure in the relatively safe environs of West Germany.  But one of his buddies wasn't so lucky and became one of the more than 58,000 fallen troops in Southeast Asia.  He became inspired to run one mile for each of those killed during the conflict.  He just finished the job after 31 years of running at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington several days ago.  He now relates that he is beginning the 1,500 additional miles for those still MIA and 3,000 for those killed on 9/11.  Hats off to him.

And Coach Groves must have posed for several hundred photos at the recent Spiked Shoe XC Meet named in his honor.  Here are a few of my favorites from Charles Fuerte.

Nick K. with Coach.

Artie Gilkes makes Coach chuckle.

Director of Operations Ryan Foster, Coach Groves and Kara Foster.

From Red Square to the Flemington Diner

A Call for Masters XC Runners!

Steve Shisler has put a call out to join a Masters XC team for this year's USTAF Championships in Flemington NJ on Saturday October 20.  Top notch talent is already on board with Nick Kello and Mark Hawkins already on board with Steve. Let's put PSU Alumni on top where we belong! I had some pleasant childhood memories at the Flemington Diner which has been resurrected.

And here's Coach Sullivan ready to lead the troops into the IAAF World Championships in Russia.

Coach Sullivan in Red Square.

Alumni Singlets in Action

Mark Hawkins again lined up for the Nittany Valley Track Club Mile at the Friday night session of the Penn State National.  He hasn't had much speed work training this year, but his 5:20 result isn't bad at all.  In a humorous side-note, the video is from Greg Fredericks (Thanks Greg!) and he tells me that Coach Groves was barking at him for letting the guy pass him at the end!  That's exactly 36 years after Coach first barked at him for the same thing.  Hee hee hee.  Welcome home, Mark.



In other news, that's Nick K. who was leading Mark the whole way but had to pull out with 2 or 3 laps left due to a calf strain.  He will live to beat the 5:00 barrier next time.  Also that's Megan Hutchinson in the pink top.  The former Nittany Lion came in with a 5:08 and sorely needs an Alumni Singlet if she's going to put up times like that!  Someone alert her to the blog, as the order form will be up soon right here on the blog with it all!

Fifth Place is Still in the Top Half! (And Don't Forget to Order a Singlet!)

5)     Bob Hudson, Nick K., Mike McCahill, Beth Shisler (+3)

This crew represents 4 of the original members of our humble group.  Mike McCahill has been  to every one of our tourneys except last year.  One of these year's he'll get his name on The Cup I am sure!

Bob Hudson traveled back home from Buffalo NY with a golf game which is much improved.

Nick K. stayed near home in State College for his 8th appearance in the tourney (I think).  My daughters are still talking about our visit with Nick when he lived in Manhattan.  I need to start those Group Outreaches again!

Beth Shisler must have missed the fairway on Hole 3 or she would again have won the longest drive contest.  Her foundational womens alumni singlet must be easing the pain of letting Gary steal the award from her.

Speaking of Alumni Singlets, orders are now being taken.  Click on the link on the right sidebar to order your very own.  Help spread the word of the world's best Track Alumni Group. The women's version is blue with white lettering, the men's are the classic white with blue lettering.  Your graduation year (or any other year you want!) appears on the right shoulder.  There is also a retro "S" on the back collar.

 

Just Like Old Times

My aversion to actually attending a PSU Football game led me to miss a great mini-reunion of some of my best friends and PSU Track Alumni Golfers.  Rarely seen Don Ziter even traveled from either Boston of Florida to attend the festivities.  Mark Hawkins, Larry Mangan. Steve Balkey, Jeff King, (current PSU trackster) Olivia Mangan and Nick K. all braved the gorgeous weather for a few runs and a tailgate before the Iowa football game. They apparently even made a foray up Four Hills at the end of a run, which must have been a thrill for everyone.  I'm pretty sure it's also illegal now, but maybe I'm mistaken.

Some of them even braved the ancient cavern known as Rec Hall for a shower prior to the tailgate.  The same showers that were the scene of a certain brave future Best Man's hour-long shower while seated in a folding chair after a particularly difficult work-out.  The best water pressure in the world was counterbalanced by the need for immediate action if anyone flushed the toilets nearby.  Most everyone ever using the facility knows what I'm talking about. I'm still healing some of the burns.

Here's some poor quality video of the showers at Rec Hall, demonstrating the amazing water pressure that was so welcome after work-outs and mountain runs.

Foursome Number 3

"My" foursome is next.  I actually was responsible for putting together a rather good group.  If it hadn't been for me, we would have challenged for the Cup!

Former roommate Doug Kent brought his "A" game and used the tourney as a tune-up for another tourney on Sunday.  His attempt to ignore the Bird House on Hole 5 was met with skepticism from the other 3 of us, but he managed to cut the corner fantastically.  (Alas, we didn't use the shot.  Cheating isn't in our DNA!)  Coach Groves would have been proud of the effort, however.

Nick K. reminded me often that his game wasn't up to his usual standards, but needless to say, I would never know the difference.  A lot had to do with the saturation of the grounds.  You could actually hear water rushing underground in many places, as if an underground river was just feet below the surface.  It was also good to see that Nick has adjusted well to the shift from Urban to Rural existence.

Jeff Sanden took a break from his world travels to lend his Robo-Driver to our efforts.  There are so many buttons and plugs and switches on it I doubt I could even hold it, let alone swing it!  Our foursome ended up in third place, which isn't bad for a threesome and me.  Jeff also managed to earn the Golden Putter.  I'll deliver Horace personally soon, as Gregg Davis has delivered it to me because he couldn't attend this year's event.