Week 11 (State Meet!)

The Hale Boys Cross Country Team has qualified for the WIAA State meet to be held this weekend at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids!!  #ForTheTeam

Watching the boys celebrate and embrace each other was the coolest moment in my coaching career thus far.  This has been such a memorable season, and this moment was incredible for these boys and the program. 

Coach Dewitt said it best, "Consistency wins!".  The 7 boys competing this weekend were some of our top mileage and most consistent summer runners!  Consistency is what creates confidence, and the boys Saturday went out so confident in their training and abilities, and ran to an awesome race!  They didn't let any conditions or external factors get in their way of their objective.  They were on task and ready to compete for what we set out for in the beginning of the summer.  It hasn't always been perfect.  We have had many setbacks and tough moments through our journey, but we get stronger and learn through every experience.  The journey continues every day.  Win or lose, we are extremely proud of the efforts and positive commitment being made by this team.

As happy as we are, our focus now turns to the state meet where we know we are ready to run our best yet this season!  Let's make it a great week and embrace each day with each other!

Race Recap and Beyond!!
Every person in this program was important in the team qualifying for the state meet!  Every runner on the roster, the parents, and supporters helped promote the positive and hard working culture necessary to create moments like we had Saturday.  For returners next season, realize the opportunity you and the TEAM have if you commit to being your best.  We will look at how much consistency created improvement, and give you guys the option of where you want to take our program these coming years.  But first things first, it's state time!

​Our senior captain Brad Glisczinski was instrumental these final weeks in keeping the team having fun and motivated to achieve at the highest level.  He proudly held the plaque after the race, and is a huge reason for our success and shift in culture.  Watching him grow as a person has been incredible, and we are excited for him to finish his high school cross country career with his best race at the state meet!

In some awesome and windy conditions, the boys got out and after it this week.  We didn't let anything limit us, and put ourselves up front from the start.  Even a bit aggressive for my liking early, but I had confidence we would find our rhythm and race great, and that's exactly what happened.  Our top 3 once again just finished very nicely, and now our 4 and 5 guys have closed the gap which gave us the 2nd place finish Saturday!  Ethan, who we know can be right with Matthew, fell back Saturday and freshman Cole Konczal really stepped up and scored for us!  It is a total TEAM effort, and watching boys step up and run for the team is great.  Ethan Fisher now gets his chance to run great at the Rapids.  These guys practice together and push each other each day, so come race day, they know how to respond.  Very cool to see.

Joshua led our crew again, and raced a very competitive race against Aidan of South Milwaukee.  You have to tip your cap to Aidan who ran a very awesome race and has been all year.  Joshua was right with him and will get an opportunity to race him again this weekend!  It's fun to have that competition.  Liam Kelley and Matthew Kees were our other two scorers, finishing up front as well for us.  Matthew and Cole actually both ran personal bests on a 'tougher' condition day where times were likely a bit slower than usual.  It's not times that matter, but it just shows how well we competed and performed as a team!!  We will be challenged at the state meet again, and are excited for the challenge and opportunity it brings for us to perform at our best!

Our state team is comprised of Joshua Truchon (So.), Liam Kelley (Jr.), Brad Glisczinski (Sr.), Matthew Kees (So.), Cole Konczal (Fr.), Brennan Kompas (So.), Ethan Fisher (Jr.), and alternate Collin Raschka (Fr.).

Our JV boys also competed in their final races Thursday at Grant Park!  They set a great tone for our varsity, competing like animals and running in packs!  We had a 17 second spread in the 'faster' race, and our top 4 in the 'fast' race were very close as well.  Sam Walder ran up front the entire race, en route to a personal best and momentum going into the off season!  Collin Raschka led the JV crew with a personal best and more aggressive race.  He helped the pack he was with all race their best yet this season and has really come on the last few weeks.  We had ten total PR's at the JV meet!!  Again, it was how we competed that led to positive outcomes for many.  For those that didn't have their best race, no fear.  Use it as fuel in how you train and commit over the coming months!  

We hope to see all of our guys putting in consistent miles with the team over the winter, and then competing in track and field!  It was a great week again for Hale Cross, and we can keep building and doing more with focusing our goals not on outcomes, but rather on what we can control and what we would like to do each day to become better.

Cross country is an amazing sport.  Watching athletes transform not only as runners, but as people.  Keep loving each other, being there for each other and acting with class.  A positive and respectful team can accomplish a lot!

Congratulations Hale Boys!  Let's make it a great state meet!  Keep sticking to our standards and showing good character with everything we do.  Take care of school work and be kind.

This Week!

Monday, October 22nd - Mandatory practice for ALL athletes.  We will do a normal team meeting to recap our successful weekend and talk about the state meet ahead.  
We will have all of our JV boys go to Irving for their run to help and cheer on 6th-8th grade runners!  Our varsity boys will be stopping by too but will have normal practice to take care of.
Please bring you Hale Sweats (Jackets) and be positive and proud cheering for kids.  Let them know what it means to be a part of this program and be supportive of their efforts!!

Tuesday - Thursday - Varsity will practice as normal, but ALL athletes are encouraged to run and keep attending this week!!  Workouts will be created for our varsity, but any guys are encouraged to keep running and being a part of this.

Friday, October 26th - 10:00 a.m. vans are packed and ready to depart for Stevens Point.  We will be taking ONLY the 7 boys from sectionals plus our alternate.  Please read our fan section to learn more about getting up to watch on Saturday!  We highly encourage all of our guys to come watch Saturday as they will all be returning in the coming year(s).  See what it's all about and why you want to continue being there as a team!!

Saturday, October 27th - ​Boys race at 12:00 p.m. at the Ridges! Fan Information click here!

The 8 boys coming on the trip as a team will have everything paid for.  Our hotel and food are covered by the school and team.  If they want to bring any HEALTHY snacks that is okay.  We are not bringing candy, chips and soda.  As much fun as we will have, we are here to compete well and continue a strong tradition.

Monday, October 29th - Team Meeting / State Recap.  Uniform turn in for everyone!

Tuesday, October 30th - Team Banquet 6:00 p.m.!!  I will send out information on food etc. mid week.  Focus is on details of state trip this week first!