West Virginia's Mr. Football 1978 Was Better At Running!

 

Incredibly, the PSU distance corps in the late 70s and early 80s had two Mr. Footballs on the same team.  In addition to this post's subject, Ricky Garcia was the star quarterback at the same high school featured in the movie Remember The Titans!

Jeff Adkins is certainly an excellent choice among our Group to hold up as an ideal representative.  Intelligent, hard-working, accomplished, friendly and talented are just some of the attributes I admired as his teammate for 2 years. And here's another post of praise for him from a former roommate.

 Here's an interview with Jeff as forwarded by our Blog Laureate:

Jeff Adkins Interview – Woodrow Wilson HS Distance Standout

 

Jeff Adkins is one of the best distance runners ever in West Virginia. He currently holds the West Virginia High School 3200-meter state record with a time of 8:49.34. That record has stood for over 38 years. A very small number of West Virginia High School athletes have broken the 9:00 minute 2-mile barrier: Chris Fox of Martinsburg HS in 1977 (8:56.?), Jeff Adkins of Woodrow Wilson HS in 1979 (8:49.34), Steve Taylor of St. Marys HS in 1983 (8:58.17), and Jacob Burcham of Cabell Midland HS in 2012 (8:57.73).

Adkins will always be remembered for pulling off the tough double in football and cross country during his junior year.

Adkins graduated from class AAA Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, West Virginia back in 1979. After graduating high school, he earned a full scholarship to run and study engineering at Penn State University under the direction of Harry Groves.

I personally think that Jeff Adkins is one of the most underrated high school distance runners to ever come out of West Virginia. I am extremely pleased to have him for an interview.

 

Coach McMillion: What’s your full name?

Jeff Adkins: My full name is Jeffrey Donald Adkins.

 

CM: Where were you born?

JA: I was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

 

CM: Where were you raised?

JA: My Dad was in the military, so we moved all over. Junior High I was at West Point, NY. In 9th and 10th grade I was in Fayetteville, NC, and we moved to Beckley my junior year of high school.

 

CM: Who were your parents?

JA: The late Donald Adkins from Charleston, WV and the late Jane Rayburn from Huntington, WV.

[Jeff Adkins dad, Lieutenant Colonel Adkins was born July 16, 1935 in Charleston, WV to the late Lonnie Guy Adkins and Eva Givens Adkins. Upon graduation from high school in Charleston WV, Adkins enrolled at Marshall University on an athletic scholarship, participating in football, wrestling, and track. His father, who was a World War II veteran, encouraged the military life, so Adkins joined the Army ROTC. Shortly after graduation from Marshall in May 1958, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. Adkins retired in June 1979 and took a position with Morehead High School as JROTC Commander, and he later became Athletic Director. He retired a second time after serving as principal at Holmes Middle School. Lieutenant Colonel Adkins flew 750 combat missions in Vietnam, earned the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and 30 Air Medals, one for valor, among other medals.]

 

CM: Do you have any siblings?

JA: I have two brothers (Mark & Michael) and three sisters (Kimberly, Christina, & Monica).

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CM: What sports did you participate in as a youngster?

JA: I participated in Football, Swimming, Baseball, and Wrestling.

 

CM: Where did you attend junior high at? Did you participate in any sports?

JA: West Point, NY. There were no school teams, but we had intramural track, floor hockey, and speedball. We did have two somewhat informal track races against other schools. I remember running the 880-yard run under 2:11.1 to win a race in 8th grade. It was brutal. There were two other kids right there with me. I can’t believe there were three eighth graders running that fast. I also set the school record in the 600-yard run. Around 1:20 I think.

My Dad was a coach for the West Point Triathlon team, which was a club sport that included running, swimming and pistol shooting (it was a training team for the modern pentathlon). I was able to compete in that when I was in 8th grade. It included an 8K cross country run. That was fun. I could beat most of the cadets, because I was a competitive swimmer and a pretty good runner, and I learned to shoot well.

I participated in swimming, baseball, football, and wrestling outside of school.

 

CM: What years did you attend Woodrow Wilson High?

JA: I attended Woodrow Wilson my junior year (1977-78) and senior year (1978-1979).

 

CM: Who was your high school coaches (football, track, cross country)?

JA: Pete Culicerto was the head football and track coach, while Bob Moseley was the cross country and track distance coach.

 

CM: When did you first start running?

JA: We used to have to do the 600-yard run as part of the Presidential Physical Fitness test. I remember setting my elementary school record as a 5th grader (around 1:45).

 

CM: When did you first have success at running?

JA: I guess in Junior High; I was always the fastest distance runner in the school, then I won that local 880-yard track race.

 

CM: Which sport did you like most in high school? Why?

JA: I liked track & field the most. I was able to focus on one sport during winter and spring and really get ready to race. During cross country I was also playing football, so that was pretty hectic. I loved running cross country, but I was always worried that I was not in the best shape for distance running.

I liked football too. I knew that my best sport was track, so football was really for fun. I liked the football coaches and most of the guys on the team. I thought the coaches did a good job of preparing us for games without beating us up in practice. We were state champions my junior year (1977). If football wasn’t so much fun, I would have dropped it and focused on cross country.

 

CM: How many miles per a week did you run in high school?

JA: I’m guessing around 60 to 70 miles per week. I would run a few morning workouts in addition to afternoons. In retrospect, I was training myself way too hard; I tried to run hard every day because I didn’t know better. I believe the mileage was not real high because the summer after my senior year I got the training schedule from Penn State coach Harry Groves and he wanted me to work up to 100 miles per week during the summer, because he said that’s what I would be running when I got to college. I remember that was a big jump in mileage for me.

 

CM: What was your favorite track or cross-country workout?

JA: In college we would do “tee-to-green” workouts on the golf course, where there would be a sustained effort from tee-to-green, then a very short recovery as we jogged to the next tee. The effort was around 10K race pace, and the total distance was around five miles. I thought that was a good race prep workout. Early in the season we did “Julian Pike,” which was a 1.5-mile hill that we would do 3 or 4 times. That was brutal.

 

CM: What awards did you win in high school?

JA: I was an Adidas All-American in track based on the 8:48 for 3200m I ran at the Bellaire Relays in Mansfield, Ohio. I was the high-point winner at the State meet my senior year, winning the mile, 2-mile, and mile relay.

 

CM: Can you tell us about your 1977 & 1978 State Cross Country Championships?

JA: I remember 1977 was the year I outkicked John Case from Fairmont High. He went to Ohio State on scholarship.

1977 was interesting because I played a playoff football game the Friday night before the Saturday state meet. The football game was in Parkersburg and we won. I had to drive back to Beckley, then get up early and drive to the state cross country meet the next morning. My expectations were not very high, so when I moved into third place late in the race I thought that was a pretty good day. Then it seemed like the next two guys started coming back to me even though I wasn’t running any faster. I caught Case as we went over a creek with about 300 meters to go. I stayed on his shoulder until about 50 meters to go, then hammered it.

[Here's Jeff Adkins Friday/Saturday double from the fall of 1977: On Friday, November 4th, as a high school junior, he played defensive back on Woodrow Wilson's (Beckley, WV) football team that defeated Fairmont Senior 6-0 for the State Championship (all classes) title.

On Saturday November 5th, he came back to win the individual crown in XC.

Adkins left Beckley around 5:30 Saturday morning and was able to walk the cross-country course before his race.

According to coach Bob Mosley, for the first half mile Adkins was running in the fifth position behind West Fairmont’s John Case. At some point in the race Adkins had moved up to second and was running about 20-25 yards back with about a half-mile to go. He then closed less than five yards with 400 meters to go and within steps of Case with less than 100 yards to go.

Adkins outkicked Case by a few steps in the final stretch to take the individual title for all-classes. He covered the tough 3.1-mile Davis & Elkins course in 17 minutes and six seconds. John Case of West Fairmont was runner-up, followed by Neville Leonard of Martinsburg; Fred Riley of Keyser; Ed Fahrens of Elkins; Chuck Hess of Martinsburg; Jim Chivers of Brooke; Tom Austin of St. Albans; Harvey Goho of Princeton and Tom Oyurzah of Keyser.

In the team standings, West Fairmont defeated Martinsburg by the narrowest of margins, 100 to 101.]

 

JA: I don’t remember much about 1978, except that it was harder than I thought it was going to be. I had broken my wrist in a football game the week before, and ran the race in a cast. I played football at over 200 pounds, so I guess that was too much for cross country.

[Here's Jeff Adkins state meet recap from the fall of 1978: A broken wrist may have been a blessing in disguise for Beckley’s Jeff Adkins.

The Woodrow Wilson senior won his second consecutive state cross country title Saturday. He covered the three-and-a-half-mile course just outside of Wellsburg in 15:57 and less than a second ahead of Chis Keister of Huntington East. Adkins said the wrist didn’t hurt him at all in the race.

The golf course over which the race was run was classified as “one of the best courses I’ve run all year” said Adkins.

“It had rolling hills and it was long and grassy,” Adkins noted. “It had just a little mud around the lakes and it didn’t have any bare spots.”

Finishing behind Adkins and Keister in the race was Oak Glen’s Ed Burda. And it was from Burda that Adkins looked for stiff competition. But it never came.

Elkins took the team title with 97 points and was followed by Parkersburg (98), Keyser (113), Magnolia (127), St. Albans (137), Fairmont West (150), Beckley (168), Barboursville (197), Huntington East (201) and Greenbrier East.]

 

CM: Can you tell us about your junior track season?

JA: At the 1978 West Virginia High School State Track & Field Championship, West Fairmont’s John Case would break the record in the 1-Mile run with a time of 4:14.0, while I was runner-up in 4:25.8. I had a leg injury, but ran anyways. The meet was held at Marshall University’s track in Huntington.

 

CM: Can you tell us about your senior track season?

JA: At the 1979 West Virginia High School State Track & Field Championship, Beckley regained the AAA boys title, with six event victories accounting for 60 of their 71 points. Sprinter Randy Glenn won the 100 and 200 for the Flying Eagles, while I swept the mile and two-mile. My 9:11.3 in the two-mile established a new record. I won the mile over Oak Hill’s Mike Rominski, 4:20.47 to 4:22.30 respectively. Our team also won the Mile Relay in 3:24.67 over Wheeling Park. I tied my teammate Randy Glenn for high point honors with 21.5 points.

[Earlier in the spring, Adkins broke the 3200-meter state record with an 8:49.34 hand time clocking at the Bellaire (Ohio) Relays. He defeated junior John Zishka of Lancaster, Ohio. It was declared a dead heat, although Adkins was given the win.]

 

CM: On an Ohio running message board: Legend has it, that you didn’t care for John Zishka. That you almost fought after the 1979 USATF at Ohio State after the 1500-meter run. I heard Zishka elbowed you, while jockeying for position at the end of the race. Zishka won in 3:57, but was disqualified. You won in the same time, while Pittman was runner-up in 3:58. It was said, that the feud carried over to Bellaire in the 3200m.

I also heard after the 1600m at Bellaire, which Zishka placed 1st and you placed 2nd, that you shook the third-place finishers hand. John Zishka came towards you to shake your hand, but you supposedly snarled at John Zishka and walked away. Any truth to that story?

JA: That 1500m was indoors at the Knights of Columbus meet. I thought I won outright, but I could be wrong. I was boxed-in on the inside behind Zishka, then he started drifting out to Lane 2 because Pittman was going around him on the outside. I saw my opportunity and passed on the inside, and surprised Zishka. He threw his whole arm and fist into my chest as I’m passing him at the finish line. He ended up getting DQ’d. I looked at him after the race and said something like “What are you doing?” I don’t remember if he said anything because everyone started gathering around us. We did not shake hands.

I remember that meet because I doubled back in the 3000m and won, and broke Rudy Chapa’s meet record (8:20-something). I was awarded the most outstanding performer of the meet for winning the 1500 and 3000, and setting the record.

I don’t remember talking to Zishka at Bellaire, but I remember talking to Ricky Pitman in the stands. He was having Achilles problems and was not 100%. I outkicked Zishka in the 3200m coming from way back in the last 150m. Then Zishka came back and killed me in the 1600, running 4:09. I think I was 4:17. I was dead. I had a meet the night before in Charleston (I think it was the Gazette Relays) where I ran a 1600 and a 4x800 relay. I wanted to run easy in the 1600, but Mike Kominsky of Oak Hill was in the race and I had to blast the last 200 to get the win. I don’t remember the time.

I got along with Zishka after that – he came to Penn State on a recruiting trip and we laughed about the incident. He ended up coming to Penn State, but transferred to Oregon after his freshman year. I don’t believe he ever ran faster than he did as a freshman at Penn State.

 

CM: What was your high school PR’s?

JA: I ran 8:48 for 3200-meters, around 8:24 for 3000-meters, 4:15 for the mile, and 1:55 for 880 yds. I never ran a fresh mile or half mile in a big outdoor race.

 

CM: Did you participate in Kinney/Foot Locker or NXN cross country championships?

JA: There was no NXN then; I did run Foot Locker Regionals in Raleigh my senior year. I drove by myself from Beckley to Raleigh the day of the race, got my number an hour and a half before the race (they weren’t going to give it to me because they said I was late, but I convinced them to give it to me). I ran and was around 15th. I remember thinking 1) these guys are good, and 2) I’m not ready for this race.

 

CM: What year did you get inducted into Woodrow Wilson’s Track Hall of Fame?

JA: About four years ago.

 

CM: Where did you attend college? And why did you choose that college?

JA: I went to Penn State. They had the best combination of engineering and distance running, and they offered full scholarship. We were 3rd at NCAA XC Champs my freshman and sophomore years (behind Oregon and UTEP back when Alberto Salazar, Rudy Chapa, and Bill McChesney were at Oregon and UTEP had Sulieman Nyambui, Matuse Motswaratu, and others)

 

CM: What years did you attend college?

JA: I attended college at PSU from 1979 to 1983.

 

CM:Who was your college coach?

JA: Harry Groves - a real character and an icon of distance coaching.

 

CM: List of accomplishments while in college at Penn State University?

JA: Won Penn Relays 5000m in 1982 (13:55). Made 5000m finals at NCAA Champs in 1982 (at BYU, so times were slow due to altitude).

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[In June of 1982, named the captain of Penn State’s cross-country squad.

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Jeff Adkins while at PSU (XC):

• Freshman Year – 1979 NCAA Men’s Final on Monday, November 19th at Bethlehem, PA

The Nittany Lions finished 3rd as a team with 186 points, while Adkins finished 65th in the 10K with a time of 30:37.00.

• Sophomore Year – 1980 NCAA Men’s Final on Monday, November 24th at Wichita, Kansas

The Nittany Lions finished 3rd as a team with 153 points, while Adkins finished 144th in the 10K with a time of 31:25.50.

• Junior Year – 1981 NCAA Men’s Final on Monday, November 23rd at Wichita, Kansas

The Nittany Lions finished 14th as a team with 379 points, while Adkins finished 175th in the 10K with a time of 32:37.90.

• Senior Year – 1982 NCAA Men’s Final on Monday, November 22nd at Bloomington, Indiana

Adkins finished 134th in the 10K with a time of 32:42.70.]

 

CM: Tell me about some of your Master’s races.

JA: I started running Masters races in 2006. I won the 5K and 10K that year at the USATF Masters track nationals in Charlotte, NC.

There is a Northern California Pacific Association of USA Track and Field (PAUSATF) that puts on very competitive masters races, and I won the short road series (1 mile up to 10K) and the cross-country series a couple of times.

I’m doing more coaching than racing now; I’ve got a patella problem that acts-up when I run fast, so it is all easy running now.

[Adkins signed up to compete in the 2006 National Masters Track & Field Championships held, that year, in Charlotte, NC. Over four days he raced three times placing 1st in the 5K (16:26:32), 1st in the 10K (34:25:59) and 5th in the 1500M (4:27:58). The Charlotte Fire Department shut down the meet one day that weekend because temps reached nearly 100 degrees with 95% humidity.

Over the past couple of years, he's continued to compete, winning the Masters division of the Pacific Association of USA Track and Field Cross Country Series, placing 2nd in the 2008 National Masters Track & Field 10K held in Spokane, WA, and setting PR's (masters) in the mile (4:35), the 5K (15:54), and the 10K (33:01).]

 

CM: Who did you marry?

JA: I married Tracy Sullivan, who I first met in Fayetteville in 9th grade.

 

CM: Do you have any kids?

JA: Yes, I have two kids, Ryan and Shannon. Ryan was on the Triathlon Club team at UC Berkeley and Shannon went to Pepperdine on a swimming scholarship.

 

CM: Where do you currently live?

JA: I live in Granite Bay, California.

 

CM: What do you do now?

JA: I do legal and engineering consulting for a large environmental consulting firm.

 

CM: Who would you contribute your success to?

JA: I suppose it was mainly just being introduced to various athletic activities at a young age and making that a priority wherever we lived. My Dad was a football player, wrestler, and track sprinter in college (Marshall University), so he was always very interested in having us participate in sports. He never coached me, but he was always a positive influence and someone I wanted to emulate in terms of making exercise and sports a lifelong experience.

 

CM: Thank you for your time Jeff!

 

Interview by Coach Mike McMillion (mgmcmillion@aol.com)

 

Nittany Lions In The News

First up is Ricky Garcia with a C-Span 3 documentary about George Washington's Alexadria Home, which Ricky just happens to live in.

The documentary will air this evening at 6:00PM and 10:00PM (ET):

Archaeology at George Washington's Alexandria Property

George Washington owned a townhouse in Alexandria, Virginia. We visit the property, currently owned by Rick Garcia, to hear about his family’s connection to the Washingtons and the archaeology of two recently-discovered wells in their basement.

Airing Sunday, Apr 15 6:00pm EDT on C-Span 3

And second up is Megan McCloskey with a 2018 John Oswald Award!

Athletics
Megan McCloskey, who is majoring in advertising and public relations in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications*, was one of 20 Penn State students selected in 2017 to the Parmi Nous honor and tradition society. Students are selected for exceptional involvement with the University.
She is team captain of the varsity track and field team where she was twice selected as academic All-American, Big Ten Scholar, Big Ten Conference Championship High Jump Medalist and NCAA Championship Qualifier.

As president and events coordinator for the Fit for Fritz fundraiser, McCloskey was responsible for planning, promoting and executing an event that raised more than $40,000 in four years. The event honors assistant coach Fritz Spence and assists people battling cancer.
McCloskey was a marketing intern in 2017 for SEI Investments Company and in 2016 for Chartwell Investment Partners.
Her leadership opportunities include:

● NCAA student-athlete voting representative for the Big Ten Conference

● President and special events and outreach chair for the Penn State Student Athlete Advisory Board

● President of Penn State Athletes Take Action, a group that works with middle school students to enforce the importance of positive communication at an early age
“Megan has the gift of communication, leadership and team-building, and she has chosen to share those gifts with Penn State and those around her,” a nominator said. “She is the person I think of when I hear people talk about Penn State’s inspired doers. Megan will surely go on to do great things in her career and life. And she will continue to be a fine representative of the very best of Penn State.”

Megan McCloskey also won the high jump yesterday at the Bison Invitational at Bucknell with her leap of 5' 10"!

* I have told the story before of meeting Donald P. Bellisario in my elective 400-level documentary film class in 1981.  I famouslyy asked him if he was embarrassed to be working in a medium that was interrupted every 7 minutes to sell products?  The class gasped, turned around to stare at the idiot they did not know (I was a biology major) who had asked such an insolent question of one of Penn State's largest benefactors.  Mr. Belliasario chuckled and replied immediately that he thinks 7 minutes with a break is all human beings are able to tolerate.  I smiled and sealed my "C" in the class, despite earning a "B".

The Brotherhood Loses Another

Ted's attire at this year's St. Pat's solo concert.

We lost another brother yesterday.  Ted Lyon was truly a remarkable individual.  With intellect and incredibly varied talents, he was truly one of a kind.  Exactly the way I describe the generic Penn State Track Alumni (Golfer).

I first got word via  Paul Souza and Facebook.  My reaction was eerily similar to my reaction after the passing of Steve Black, my brother-in-law, last year. The empty feeling in my chest, and yet the rapid and fluttering heart rate indicated to me that all of us in the PSU Track Alumni Family are truly brothers. (That includes all you women too, damn it to the new-fangled gender gobblety-gook we have to deal with! We are all a family, no matter what other differences we may have.)

Ted had incredible talents.  His running resume brought him to Penn State to follow Ricky Garcia, both from the famed high school of Remember the Titans fame, TC Williams.  While at PSU, his guitar talents united him with Paul Souza.  They teamed on several bands in State College, including The Trend and The UP. (Incredibly, Steve Black played rhythym guitar with Paul and Ted at one time also!)

Ricky Garcia Lane 1 and Ted Lyon, lane 2 for TC Williams.

Paul Souza, left with Ted Lyon, right.

Following graduation, Ted and Paul both hightailed it to Boston to form a band called Beat Surrender. For 7 years they led off for bands like Santana, Cheap Trick, Bruce Hornsby and the Range and Natalie Merchant.

When the band finally broke up, Ted moved to Williamsport and started another phase in his eclectic life.  He was recently married and has 2 kids from a previous marriage.  My condolences to everyone.

I am deeply heartened that I had the opportunity to golf with Ted in a recent Coach Groves Golf Tournament and we had a ball, as we both were there more for the comaradarie than the actual golf.  We reconnected after many years apart, but still started right where we had left off.  Make sure to make it to our Track Alumni Reunion this year.  You could be missing out on something you won't have a second chance to enjoy.

Ted warming up behind me and my dad, 1979.

Let it be said that Ted was still a better golfer than I.  (But then so are you!) RIP,  friend.

George Washington Is Now A Member Of Our Group

I remember hearing stories of George Washington's athletic prowess as a kid.  But with all the myths and stories told, which ones could possibly be true?

One that just might be true is his unofficial world record of 22 feet 3 inches in what was then called the broad jump.

With his track and field bona fides sorta kinda cemented, we can now turn to his links to our group...

Turns out that former Lion great Ricky Garcia bought a house 4 years ago in Alexandria, VA which was built and used by George Washington himself.  The house remained in the Washington family for generations after.

When Ricky decided the house needed a basement he sought help in surveying and excavating the space beneath his living room.  When they discovered a well and cistern, archeologists became interested.  There is now an official archeological dig going on at the home!  I'm hoping they find a Penn Relays Watch or something similar (hee hee hee).

And don't forget that there is only 2 days left to vote in the 2017 Performance of the Year Poll on the left sidebar of the full website.  Please vote for your top 2 of the 6 finalists!

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

Let's Crowd Source Some Memories!

I ran quite a few miles with Ricky Garcia back in the day.  And although I remember nearly all of them quite fondly, Ricky doesn't remember any of them.  He doesn't remember anything from his days running at PSU!

Following his exuberant 4 years running for Coach Groves, Ricky suffered at least two strokes, the last of which left him with no memories of his time with us.

In speaking with him recently with the help of the internets, I promised I would do what I can to bring back some of those memories by appealing to all of you.  We would love to get some feedback of anecdotes, stories, pictures, videos or memorabilia from those who knew him back then to fill in the gaps in his memory.  Please contribute. 

Ricky relates that hearing of some of his exploits seems alien to the person he has become since his mishaps.  He is amused when told how he battled Coach Groves every step of the way.  Coach Groves chuckled the last time I brought up Ricky with him!  Ricky really has lived 2 separate lives.  Faith, family and friends predominate his life now, which is a pretty good way to end up no matter how you got there! Let's help him bridge the two lives. 

Ricky in High School (with Ted Lyon)

Tom Rapp, John Zishka, Ricky Garcia (in back of Zishka), Dwight Stephens, Jeff Adkins.

Ricky leading steeple at PSU ahead of past American Record Holder.

 

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.

My Readers Are The Best: And I'll Never Doubt Our New Blog Laureate Again

The 1974 AAU XC Championship listing from Mike Fanelli's vast archives was a big hit.  The only way to top it would be photographs from that meet.  And Dan Martinez, our best Oregon Duck connection, has come through for us again!  Both Mike and Dan have always been invited to our Reunion and Golf Outing.  It would be a pleasure to have a Duck and a native Philadelphian amongst our ranks.  Please chime in with who is who among the runners pictured. (Hint: There seems to be 2 Nittany Lions lurking in the photos somewhere?)

And it turns out that Larry Mangan was 100% correct and both the previous Blog Laureate and I were 100% wrong.  Larry will now be tasked with his newest Group title as Blog Laureate, a position that has been unfilled for far too long.

The Coach Groves Spiked Shoe Meet was known as the Coaches Conference Meet in its early manifestation.  I'm not sure who did the legwork on this but I am impressed.  The telltale article was found in the Reading Eagle of all places.

1979 Coaches Conference XC Meet

1. Larry Mangan   24:40   5.2 mile  (Course Record)
2. Alan Scharsu     24:56
3. John Zeigler
4. Tom Rapp
5. Jeff Adkins
6. Ricky Garcia
7. Jim Clelland

I cannot thank my readers enough for making this site almost factually accurate! hee hee hee All errors in fact are usually my responsibility.  But most times, my readers rescue me.

I Was A Miserable Steeplechaser

Our newest member, Greg Reyner, has sent along another pic from the past.  There soon will be many more.  Here's a pic of a former away-meet roommate, Rick Garcia.  It's a small world.  I ran quite a few miles with Rick, but Greg and I missed by just one year and have not yet met.

Greg notes that he remembers that Rick and Coach Groves "often had words" with each other.  hee hee hee  I suppose he's quite correct in his analysis.

Some spontaneous thoughts about the photo:

• The uniform singlet is hideous!  The shorts are worse.  
• I also only ever got one foot wet during the steeplechase.  I was really and truly shown how to do the water jump by Arthur Lydiard himself.  It was at a summer meet in Millersville, PA. My hurdling technique was atrocious and my times pitiful, but I was really good at the water jump.
• Rick was a very good steepler and made the US Junior Team, if I remember correctly.
• Note the "wind break trees" in the background.  Coach Groves always talked about the wind break that will one day be provided by them.  More than 30 years later, they are almost helping.
• Is that Pete Bortolotti on the left-hand side of the pic?

"Moldy" Monday

Here's a pic I came across on the world-wide computer-thingie.  With the chic and already overused "Throwback Thursday" meme on Facebook and Twitter, I figured I would do a "Moldy Monday". Can you name all of the Nittany Lions and their home states on this pic? And where was the meet? (Hint: I heard Coach Groves got a speeding ticket coming home from this meet in the van just as they were arriving home.)

Addendum:  It is pointed out that that is Ted Lyon himself behind Dwight Stephens in the pic.  Three TC Williams runners in a row for the Nittany Lions. A Platinum Membership is awarded to Ted for the slight!  We await his future post.

AddendumII: Upon further review, Ted relates it might not be him.  But his Platinum membership and all its options will remain, by the unanimous consent of the Idiot Officers.  Congratulation Ted! 

More Submitted (and Stolen!) Photos of Alums As We Await the Final Day of the 2014 NCAA Prelims

Cas Loxsom and Sam Borchers (2010? NCAA 800M)

Ricky Garcia (circa 1981)

Greg Fredericks (second row) Cemetery Hill, Van Cortlandt Park (1971)  Thanks to George Brose for the photo!

Ricky Garcia (inside) and Ted Lyon (third ) high school race 1977.

Kyle and Owen Dawson with our new author Nick Scarpello

High School Mania!

I came across a nice pic on the inter-tubes yesterday from fellow teammate Ricky Garcia.  His TC Williams (of Remember the Titans fame!) distance medley relay team was the holder of the national record for more than 25 years.  On that team was fellow Nittany Lion Dwight Stephens.  Ted Lyon was also from that powerhouse program.  That's three teammates of mine from just one high school.

Ricky Garcia, second from left, and Dwight Stephens, right.

There are other schools with similar Penn State credentials.

• Lancaster, Ohio's Brannon Kidder, John Zishka and Keeper of the Beer Clark Haley.
• Council Rock's Bob Hamer, among others... coached by my daughter's future coach at PSU Mont Alto Bill Preston.
• And last but certainly not least, State College High with literally dozens of Nittany Lions springing from its halls. 

Are there any other High Schools with similar PSU credentials?  (I know there are.)

The Duel

It has been nearly 33 years since The Duel, but I remember it as if it was yesterday.  One of the participants has since almost died twice (that we know of) while the other has battled back from alcoholism and severe weight gain.  But neither a heart attack nor hyperthermia could kill the one, and alcoholism the other, and both are still running today.

The 1979 NCAA XC Championships were in Saucon Valley, just south of Bethlehem PA.  Alberto Salazar and Henry Rono were among the stars, and they did not fail to disappoint.  I was lucky enough to see the race with Rob, Mark, Barb, Gary and others who had spent the night with me at my grandfather's house.  It really was a unique opportunity.

Right from the start, it was a duel between Rono and Salazar, which continued for the entire 10K. Alberto, probably outmatched in talent, never had any quit in him, which explains his later brushes with death quite easily.  Rono eventually pulled away, but no one would have said it was easy.

More interesting to our cadre of spectators was seeing a tight bunch of PSU singlets near the front of the pack.  Alan Scharsu, John Zeigler, Bob Snyder (I was wrong here.), Larry Mangan and Tom Rapp were there (who else? Help me here! Dwight Stephens? Jeff Adkins? actually Jeff Adkins, Jim Clelland and Rick Garcia.).  The Nittany Lions became the top team with all Americans to finish.    It seems like yesterday...

Complete Race Results Here

And since I don't have video of it, here's the trailer for the movie High Noon.

Weightmen Hurl State to Victory!

5/25/80, Rutgers University

So said the headline in the only article from the Daily Collegian I seem to have saved from the days of yore. I stumbled upon it upon gazing upon my running log for the first time in years. What a treat it became, as time and again, Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfers were mentioned. (It's also funny to think of Weightmen "hurling"!) The truth is it's the only time I was mentioned in a track and field article.

First up in mentions is Mark Heckel, winning the hammer throw with a toss of 148' 9 1/2". Two members of our group helped PSU win the 1600 M Relay. Tom Walchuck and Mike McCahill helped in the 3:14.02 victory. Tom Walchuck also ran a 50.03 400 M individually for sixth place.

The distance runs saw many Alumni Golfers garnering points in the Coaches Championships (a "conference meet" before we were ever in a conference). The Coaches Conference later became the Atlantic Ten in the days when Joe Paterno was trying to unite colleges in the East. Tom Rapp and Alan Scharsu vied for the win in the 1500 M, with Alan stealing the win at the finish in 3:44.00. Gary Black came in 5th in 3:53.00.

The steeplechase was another 1-2 finish for PSU, with Larry Mangan running 8:51.2 and Rick Garcia 8:57.0. Jeff Adkins finished second in the 5000 M in 14:50.19 with Mark Haywood and Rob Whiteside placing 4th and 5th. In the 10000 M, yours truly finished 3rd in 31:18 and Jim Clelland placed fifth in 31:24. (Remember now, the temps. were 96 degrees and the NCAA had given the OK for the use of a hose to cool the runners in the 10K. You had to run in the 2nd lane to gets spritzed as I remember.)

The jumps saw several of us join in the scoring. Paul Souza won the high jump with a leap of 6' 8". Ed Roskiewicz placed second in the triple jump with a leap of 47' 3 1/4" (or is that three leaps?) Don Skerpon pole vaulted 14' 6" for second place.

The photo shows Asheville NC's Biltmore Estate and a blue wrist band courtesy of the Malchano's.