Said Better Than I Ever Could

Director of Youth Development and newly minted Board Member Artie Gilkes released a missive to all our brethren (and sisters!) to attend our reunion.  And remember, we had to hound him to the ends of the earth to finally golf with us!

The golf outing reunion is a great time! It is a great time to meet up
with fellow Nittany Lions from many different eras. It also, gives us a
platform to help support the program. We need to get scholarships endowed and
we specifically need to get the Harry R. Groves scholarship endowed! The money
raised from the golf outing/reunion is a step in that direction.

On a more personal note I can honestly say the friendships I made while a member of
the Nittany Lions squad are as important to me as family. Furthermore, the
friendships I've developed with alums I would other wise not have met if not
for the reunion have become some of the most valued relationships in my life. I
would love nothing more than for as many of us  as possible to expirience the
same thing. It is more than comical the amount of cross over personalities
there are between eras. There is a lot of satisfaction an espri di corps when
members of different eras get together. I would rather be with you lot than the
finest people in the world... And I'm just going to throw this out there too,
the joy Coach gets from having everyone together is immeasurable!

We're closing in on the date and if possible I urge one and all to make it back. If
you can't make it this year, make it next year... Check out the attachment
below Clark put together. And if you're like me and not a golfer I can assure
that golf is the least of what goes into the weekend...
Rusty Boots...
-Artie

14th Annual Harry Groves Golf Outing / Track and Field Alumni
Gathering –
ONE WEEK AWAY!!
Greetings All, Here’s the Agenda for the Weekend
– please note the changes (mainly the Coach Horner service):
FRIDAY’S (MAY
15th) EVENTS:
- Meet and greet at Damons (Located in front of the Hampton Inn)
from 7-10pm (appetizers and soda’s will                        be provided –
Booze is on your own, sorry!).  Will be a bar crawl afterwards – destinations
TBD…
SATURDAY (MAY 16th) EVENTS:
- The Alumni run will start at the track at
9:oo am for anyone interested in a short jog or a loop around campus.  Coffee
and Donuts served at the track – Coach Groves will be the official starter…
-
There has been a memorial service scheduled for Coach Jackson Horner (State
College High Coach) that starts at 11:00 for those interested in attending
(Grace Lutheran Church in State College).
- The Golf outing will be held at the
Elks Club again this year with the putting contest taking place at 12:15
followed shortly thereafter with the outing beginning at 1pm.  There will be a
group gathering to hike Mt. Nittany or take a campus tour meeting in the lobby
of the Hampton Inn (also at 1pm) - for those not interested in golf (Leader of
that tour(s) will be named Friday Night).
- The dinner reception (after golf)
will take place at Damon’s – Banquet room yet to be determined (though we’re
trying to get the upstairs room for Coach) – beginning at 7pm – Cash Bar.
We
have a block of rooms reserved (under Penn State Track and Field alumni) at the
Hampton Inn with a reduced rate of $99 / night (1101 East College Avenue (814)
231-1590) – they will hold this block until Tuesday May 5th so jump on that now
as it jumps another $30/night otherwise .  All checks for golf and dinner will
need to be sent to me this year at 112 Coachlight Circle – Chalfont, PA 18914
(we’re not sophisticated enough to run this through any kind of a credit card
yet though we may explore Pay Pal in the future)…
The fees this year are the
same as last - $150 for those attending the outing and the receptions – the
“newbie’s” will again have a reduced rate of $100 (anyone graduating in the past
5 years).  Those of you “flying” in (by plane – need to clarify that for Black
since he thinks driving 90 mph should be considered flying) will enjoy the same
reduced rate (unless your name is Bill Malchano). If you choose to attend the
Friday night function alone, the fee will be $25 – Saturday alone, $50.  Costs
for those with children (under 18) attending the reception(s) - $5 on Friday
night and $10 on Saturday.
This event is open to both men and women (large hint
there) and friends of PSU alumni - the more the merrier!  Do not feel as if you
would embarrass yourself if you have no golf game (we’ve been embarrassing
ourselves for 13 years now and enjoy laughing about it…).
Dave, Harry and I are
happy to announce the inclusion of Brian Fuller, Artie Gilkes and Ken Brinker to
the golf committee – so feel free to yell at them for whatever reason you’d
like!  Did I mention contributions for both the endowment fund and golf outing
are gladly accepted!
If you should have any questions or comments, please let
me know – Hope to see you this year!            
CH

PSU Top Ten Mens Outdoor Performances All-Time: Throws and Decathlon (yeah, the Shot Put Isn't There!)

800M Madness And Other Highlights

It was a fine day for PSU's 800M runners yesterday.  In the land of Mike Sands (Bahamas), Casimir Loxsom blazed a 1:45.59 split for the USA 4 x 800M team (7:04.84) in becoming a World Champion for the first time.  He was teamed with Robby Andrews, Eric Sowinski and Duane Solomon.  The Americans were never really challenged after Sowinski's second leg.

The top of the podium.

But Cas's performance was equaled by Brannon Kidder on the Left Coast at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto.  Brannon snagged the #1 time in the NCAA this year in the 800M with his 1:45.58, making him the #2  PSU performer of the event all-time, passing #3 Randy Moore (1:45.96) and just behind the aforementioned #1 Cas Loxsom (1:45.28).

Premiere middle distance coach John Gondak greets Brannon Kidder after the race.

That wasn't all in the PSU performance category for 5/2/2015 either!  Robby Creese just happened to run the #2 performance in the NCAA this year with his 3:39.02 1500M placing him at #3 all-time at PSU with the familiar names of  #1 Brannon Kidder (3:38.82), #2 Steve Balkey (3:38.99) and #4 Larry Mangan (3:39.25).

And Tori Gerlach became only the 2nd PSU Woman under 10:00 for the 3000M Steeplechase with her 9:57.47!  #6 in the NCAA this year.

#2 Tori Gerlach and #1 Bridget Franek.

The Full Schedule Of Events At The 14th Annual Track Alumni Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tourney

 There is still time to plan to attend.  Heck, we welcome last minute attendees as the proverbial prodigal son (and daughter)!

Friday May 15th:

• 7:00PM - 10:00PM:  Alumni Reunion at LettermanS (formerly Damon's) Soft drinks and appetizers are covered.  Cash bar. Video of the 1980 US Olympic Trials will be shown! The Cup will be on display!
• 10:00 - ?:  Roaming State College and raising heck with your old and new friends.  Be careful out there!

Saturday May 16th:

• 9:00 AM  - Alumni "Run" at the Outdoor Track.  Activities can include standing around with others who managed to awake in time to an actual campus loop with the hardiest among us.  The "Run" starts with a lap of the track started by Coach Groves himself.  Coffee, stickies and donuts are available courtesy of your Herder of Cats.
• 11:00AM - Memorial Service for former PSU XC Captain and State College High School Coach Jackson Horner at Grace Lutheran Church.  There is a luncheon to follow.
• 12:00 (Noon) - Putting Contest for those golfing at the Mountain View Country Club.  This is a 50/50 raffle.  Come see someone sink a 40-footer for a bunch of cash!  One year,  our  Le faucon d'orange actually just missed a second 40 footer!
• 12:00 (Noon) - There is an annual Climb of Mt. Nittany for those not golfing with the better half of the Herder of Cats in charge.  This meets at the Hampton Inn lobby before heading over to the mountain trails.  It usually ends with a trip to the Berkey Creamery where you may even purchase the newest of Recovery Drinks!
• 1:00PM - The Coach Harry Groves Golf Tourney at the Mountain View Country Club (formerly the Elks Club)  The premiere event of the weekend where you can get your name on The Cup.  This is a best ball scramble event that even the worst duffer will enjoy.  Veterans of the event will badger and harrass those who are too shy to sign up during the Reunion evening.  You'll be glad you finally relented!
• 7:00PM-10:00PM - The Awards Banquet is the penultimate event of the weekend.  Founder Clark Haley will hand out the awards, we'll make fun of everyone (mostly me) and have a nice meal at the new LettermanS (formerly Damon's).

LettermanS Replaces Damon's As Reunion Headquarters

The location of the 14th Annual Penn State Track and Field Alumni Reunion and post Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament Awards Dinner stays the same, but the name is different.  Damon's is no more and has been replaced by LettermanS, owned by locals.

Renovations and alterations to the menu will probably be complete by the time our Group graces its banquet rooms.

Big Ten Athlete Of The Week... Again!

That's twice this season for Darrell Hill.  And you know I love the Big Guys now that I are one!

Darrell won the Penn Relays Shot Put for the second year in a row, and had four of the top 8 throws in the nation last week.

TOP 10 MEN’S PERFORMANCES WEEK OF 4/19/15-4/25/15
Rank	Athlete	Year	School	Mark
1	Darrell Hill	SR	Penn State	20.79m/68-2½
2	Stipe Zunic	SR	Florida	20.38m/66-10½
3	Stipe Zunic	SR	Florida	19.97m/65-6¼
4	Darrell Hill	SR	Penn State	19.94m/65-5
5	Stipe Zunic	SR	Florida	19.92m/65-4¼
6	Darrell Hill	SR	Penn State	19.87m/65-2¼
7	Jonathan Jones	SR	Buffalo	19.81m/65-0
8	Darrell Hill	SR	Penn State	19.76m/64-10

Here's Darrell in action in the Ashenfelter complex setting the school indoor record:

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.

Still Another First Hand Account Of "The Race"

We have had previous remembrances of The Race before, from Randy Moore and Steve Shisler. Here's another remembrance of that specific race from David Zeiters, who had just finished his Sprint Medley race and was with Coach Groves along the wall.  Dave even managed to take some pics of the aftermath with one of those old-fashioned film cameras the kids today know nothing about!  Thanks for letting me steal all of this to make the blog with it all more complete!

Vance Watson, Steve Shisler and Chris Mills.

I'm actually in this pic in the first row near the orange guy!

Vance Watson and Randy Moore. "Give me that baton!"

"Thirty years ago today, I saw one of the greatest track events in my life when the Penn State men’s 4x 800m relay team won at the 1985 Penn Relays with the best time in the world that year! A smoking 7:11.17!I had just finished my 200m leg in the Sprint Medley relay race, grabbed my sweats, and rushed back out to the track to watch the highly anticipated men’s 4x800m relay race. We all knew we had great 800m runners and it would be a good race. I ended up standing on top of the back of a bench leaning up against the north brick wall next to Coach Groves. I remember Coach with his Spiked Shoe ball cap on had his notebook and stop watch ready to call out the splits. Vance Watson was our first leg and started the race. I remember Coach yelling, “let’s go Vance!” After a great first leg, Vance handed the baton off to Steve Shisler in first place. As Steve rounded the first turn in front of us Coach yelled “beat’m to the curve Steve!” Steve ran a blazing second leg and handed off the baton still in first place to our young freshman stud, Chris Mills. All the while Coach is barking out split times for Judy or Joe to write down. Chris just went out and ran probably his best 800m split of the year. Chris finished a strong leg and handed off to our All-American 800m runner, Randy Moore. Then it happened. It was one of those perfect runs you maybe see a few times in your lifetime. Randy busted out an unbelievable 800! As he fought off the Georgetown runner on the last lap down the straight a way we were screaming our lungs out until he crossed the finish line in first place. I looked over to Coach and he had this elated amazed look on his face and said, “my God he ran a 1:45.”As the four guys started their victory lap, I grabbed my camera and snapped some pictures as they jogged past us. I was standing by Coach and remember Vance yelling over to him, “Coach we did it!” I saw Coach have a tear in his eyes and a smile from ear to ear. I have never seen Coach happier. Thirty years ago today."

 
-David Zeiters.

A Shout Out To Another PSU Track Alumni Golfer

Owen Dawson is on The Cup with his recent victory in the 2014 Coach Groves Tourney.  But he was also in the mix of an exciting finish of the Olympic Development Mile at the Penn Relays Saturday.   Well done!  I hope he is golfing with us again this year! 

Owen Dawson (left) with Doug Kent, Artie Gilkes and Curt Allison.

1		Reed Connor	NJ/NYTC	4:01.02 (3:44.65)
2		Owen Dawson	Bryn Mawr RC	4:01.08 (3:45.07)
3		Shawn Roberts	NJ/NYTC	4:01.16 (3:44.94)
4		John Nick Happe	Speed Factory Athletics	4:01.20 (3:45.55)

Just When You Thought You Were Finally Safe From The Steeplechase Pit

More steeplechase goodness!  Our friend on the Left Coast Mike Fanelli found another gem in his garage to share with us.  Here's the program from the 1952 Olympic Steeplechase.  I swear they spell the USSR's entry differently every time I see it.

Just a Foot Away From Contending

The foot just happened to be injured!

The 2015 PSU quartet finished 10th in the 4 x 800 Championship of America on the 30th anniversary of the record run by Chris Mills, Randy Moore, Steve Shisler and Vance Watson.

It was a disappointing end to a otherwise very good appearance at the Penn Relays Carnival for the Program.  It all came down to the lead-off leg, where Western Australia's Jordan Makins injured his foot and still managed to finish in 1:55 and change.  Those precious seconds meant the difference in such a competitive field.  Heal up, Jordan, there are plenty of great days ahead!

10

Penn State

7:26.54

Jordan Makins (1:55.01), Robby Creese (1:49.01), Robert Rhodes (1:52.75), Brannon Kidder (1:49.78)

But there was some good news on the Javelin Field.  Michael Shuey placed 2nd in the Championship event with a toss of 241 feet, 9 inches.

Michael Shuey with Coach Patrick Ebel.

Watches And Wheels! Good Start To Penn Relays Carnival

Elizabeth Chikotas, 5000M Champion. 16:05.46

Darrel Hill, repeat Shot Put Champion, third longest mark ever. 68' 2.5"

Sprint Medley Relay Championship of America, Alex Shisler, Xavier Smith, Sancho Barrett and Brannon Kidder.

2 Generations of Wheel Winners, Stephen Shisler, Alex Shisler and Beth Shisler. (Photo from Larry Mangan and Mark Hawkins.)

 

Michael Gross, Wheel and watch from 1997 Corporate DMR!

Stephen Shisler brings us the video of the Sprint Medley!