Steve’s Cheers and Jeers

Arrowhead boys track coach Chris Herriot is a busy man these days, honing the skills of his powerful Classic 8 Conference champs for a run at the WIAA state championship.

And he knows he will get sturdy preparation in his chase for the gold ball when his team takes part in the withering crucible that will be the WIAA sectional meet at Homestead on Friday, May 29, the final qualifying test before state in La Crosse on June 5 and 6. The top three in each event, plus all those whose efforts are among the top eight of all sectionals statewide, will advance to La Crosse.

As has been the case for the better part of a decade, this particular sectional will likely be one of the dominant ones in the state.

Herriot verified that heated assertion, when over the cold of winter, he prepared a spread sheet comparing the strength of various sectionals statewide based on state meet results from 2004-2008. The results, which showed the point total of each division I team at state over that time period and then averaged them out, demonstrated that this northwest Milwaukee suburban sectional is a gold standard of undisputed proportions.

The results, based on the average point total has Milwaukee Vincent (2005 state champ) in first, with Arrowhead second (2004 champ), Germantown fourth (2006 champ) and Watertown fifth. Just for good measure, Menomonee Falls is 12th, Port Washington 14th and Whitefish Bay 16th.

The only other sectional that comes close to it is the Waukesha/Middle Surburban, which has five in the top 20 statewide, but none higher than sixth (Bradley Tech).

Herriot sent the list out to close friends in the coaching community, including Homestead's Dan Benson, and let them disseminate it at will. It's a tremendous testament to the prep talent pool in this corner of Wisconsin, Benson said.

"It's amazing to look at that and then remember all the incredible athletes who have come through these sectionals," he said. Homestead, a long time track power which spent the better part of the decade in Germantown's shadow before winning this season's North Shore triple crown, will host the sectional for the first time in several years.

It will try to match up to the heady and dazzling meets this group has contested at Arrowhead and Germantown in past years.

The number of indvidual state champions that have been produced is remarkable. In 2004, there were four, while in 2005, there were seven, including three of the four relays. That same number held form in 2006 too. In 2007, there were four and last season, there were five.

Further, a closer examination reveals no gerrymandering, so sudden transfer of powerful schools in and out of the sectional by the WIAA. All those institutions that were mentioned in the top 20 have been by and large in the same sectional grouping for many years. This year reveals only one change as Port Washington moves north to Beaver Dam, while Grafton, a long-time Division 2 power, has as a reward for its increase in enrollment a transfer to this extraordinary test of skill and will.

This caliber of meet is not a good thing for nervous coaches, but it is a grand thing for fans and followers of the sport, because they are in for a treat.

Heading into tonight's regional meets, the Homestead sectional is looking to be a sprint and hurdle powerhouse, as returning state 100 and 200 champ Centrell Minter of Vincent has overcome knee problems suffered in the indoor season to again own the top times in his two specialties (10.69 and 21.48, respectively).

But he will get pushed, as Washington Farrington of Falls is fourth in the 100 (10.83) and fifth in the 200 (22.02) while first-year track athlete, senior Gavin Robertson of Nicolet, has recorded a second-best in state 200 of 21.82 and Homestead senior Ian Thompson has moved up to ninth in the 100 (10.90).

Arrowhead itself will likely make a lot of hay in the distances, with the likes of well-rested Tim Hucke (800), John Simons (1,600 and 3,200) and Kevin Emmerich (3,200), all owning top 10 state honor roll times.

In the 110 high hurdles, Falls junior Matt Widule owns the state's top time at 14.33, but Germantown's Dexter Schleis, who has beaten Widule once at that distance already this season, is ninth (14.82). Both Widule (third) and Schleis (ninth) look to be in the mix of a highly contentious 300 intermediate hurdle competition, as there are 10 times in state Division I between 38.92 and 39.8.

But as difficult as that sounds, however, one look at the relays, and you realize why coaches in this sectional quaff Pepto-Bismol like its iced tea on a 95-degree day.

Four of the first six (Arrowhead, Vincent, Falls and Nicolet) in the 400 relay will likely be running hard on Friday, as will two of the top four in the 800 relay (Vincent and Oconomowoc). In the 1,600 race, Arrowhead (first), Homestead (fourth), Falls (sixth) and Oconomowoc (seventh) will all be vying  for one of the three coveted state slots.

Falls coach Mike Burling consoled a concerned Herriot at a recent meet about the likely intensity of the relay races at sectional.

"He said to me 'You figure you've got it all set and then something like this (a whole new set of fast times) happens,'" Burling said. "But I told him 'Look at it this way, you come out of this sectional (to state) and you're likely to be on the podium when it's all done'"

That's likely to be the case in the 3,200 relay too as Homestead has the groupings top time (8:05.96, good for fourth) while look for Arrowhead to drop an enormous amount of time from its current 12th place slot (8:12.73).

In the field events, top performers include Justin Barber of Homestead in the shot put (11th) and discus (17th); Chris Pendergast of Arrowhead (first) and Wes Heupel of Germantown (eighth) in the pole vault; returning state runner-up Danny Schiller of Homestead (fourth) as well as Nick Hughes of Milwaukee King (ninth) in the high jump; Rashad Morris of King (eighth), Widule of Falls (ninth) and Brad Pelisek of Homestead (15th) in the long jump; and Darius Feaster of Homestead in the triple jump (17th).

Benson, the host coach, said the Homestead facility has been upgraded and is ready to host a meet full of speed and thunderous applause.

"I think it's as good as anyone else's around here," he said, "and we can turn around the sprints (to get the favorable wind), even in the 200. We're looking to put on a good show."

Just like this sectional always does.

The same thing that was in the water at the girls North Shore Conference Outdoor track meet in 1988 must have been there on May 19 in Cedarburg, as a total of seven league marks, some of them as old as 21-years, were taken down at the eventful meet.

It was the same number of records that were set back in that pivotal year of 1988.

The names that were abruptly replaced on the books on that windy and warm day read like a who's who of Milwaukee area track legends

There was Joanna Cox of Homestead, whose 1988 marks in the 100 and 200 meters, previously so rock-solid and sacrosanct, were obliterated in a space of a couple of hours by Whitefish Bay senior Becca Schmidt, who soared up the state honor roll with times of 12.01 and 24.93, respectively. Carol Obi of Shorewood, who shared the old 200 mark with Cox at 25.6 (her version was set in 1990), must be shaking her head somewhere as Schmidt just sent the old standards scattering to the blustery breeze.

Schmidt, who is a humble, well-spoken but confident young woman, is pleased to be thought of as the best sprinter in North Shore history.

"I just felt strong," she said. "My form has been coming along and the coaches have been working very hard with me. This is just great (the records). It had been my plan since the start of the season but I didn't know if I would get them." Just for grins, she also won the long jump.

Then there was Grafton hurdle ace Julie Wojcik, whose clocking of 15.0 in the 100 high hurdles had also stood since 1988. Homestead sophomore Marissa Savitch, who attacks hurdles with a fury and strength more suited to a lioness chasing down a gazelle, not only crushed that mark with her 14.55 clocking, but also roared by the state record set by Jenni Evans of Waukesha South in that same fabled year of 1988 (14.60).

"For me, it's a mental thing every race," Savitch said. "I tend to take things very seriously every time out. I just focus on attacking and getting to the finish line as fast as I can." It was the second time this season that Savitch has gone under 15 seconds in the highs. Her 14.55 is a ridiculous .89 of a second ahead of the second-best performer on the state honor roll. That, in a race, where very tiny increments of time often decide the well-remembered state champions from the forgotten runners-up.

Savitch will have to wait for the actual state meet, June 5 and 6 in La Crosse, to see if she can better Evans in the ultimate arena (the only place official records can be set) and find a space alongside 1980s Highlander superstar and state hurdles champ Lynn Hidde in the hearts of area track fans.

"It's an honor to be thought of that way," she said.

Savitch also won the 300 low hurdles in a personal best of 46.34 seconds, which is third-best in state at the moment. Wojcik can take a deep breath for now, as her mark of 45.8 is still safe.

Liz Wendt of Germantown used teamwork in knocking down two record walls. She and fellow Warhawk Andrea Sielicki went back and forth in the 800, with the shorter Sielicki taking the lead in the beginning and the taller, longer-striding Wendt controlling the final 200 to bust the year-old mark of Whitefish Bay state champion Megan Palmer with a 2:17.83 clocking.

The two were a curious sight along the north fence at Cedarburg High School afterwards, as they discussed in a very animated fashion the tactics of the race and good-naturedly carped about whether one cut off the other (there were a lot of laughs involved in that conversation).

"Hey, whatever works," chuckled Wendt.

"I really wanted to stay with you, but I just couldn't," Sielicki said. "...I'm just so happy."

The only sad thing about that record erasure was that Palmer was not there to defend her title, as she has battled a variety of illnesses this spring and has only now just begun light running.

Other records included 2008 state runner-up Hannah Wallace of Whitefish Bay breaking teammate Camille Schwartz's year-old barrier in the pole vault by more than a foot (11-0) and the Milwaukee Lutheran 400 relay team (49.98).

It was then up to Wendt and Sielicki, along with teammates Caitlin Dillon and Meredith Humiston, to take down the final record of the evening and this one was the most important. The quartet not only cast aside Port Washington's year-old standard in the 1,600 relay by more than a second with a 4:03.93 effort as Wendt rallied on the anchor leg for the win, but it also partially ensured that the Warhawks would earn a share of their first conference title since 1990 with three-time league triple crown champ Homestead.

Germantown Coach Greg Siegert said the girls have placed a remarkable amount of trust in him and his assistant coach (and wife) Marin Siegert, and that, he said, led to both the new league marks and the title.

"They're comfortable enough to answer honestly to us when we ask 'Do you feel comfortable? Are you tired?'" he said. "That allows us to adjust the training and that's why we're here at the end of the year.'

Breaking a whole lot of records.

In a time of a crisis, when money is tight, jobs are uncertain and people are looking for any kind of ray of light, it's hard to find room for compassion sometimes.

But not when it concerns the Homestead and North Shore area girls track community. Just a sad two weeks past the funeral for Highlander distance coach Andy Edington, the kindness and the funds continue to flow in for his family.

Take what happened at Homestead's traditional powerhouse Lady Highlander Invitational.on May 9.

The t-shirts created for the event were customized to honor Edington and all proceeds, including specialized lettering, was to go to the family. Also consider the fact that it was a dreary, chilly day, with occasional rain and blustery, unseasonable winds.

"They were still printing and taking orders as people were leaving," coach John Krueger said. "We were thinking that we sold upwards of 150 shirts, and it didn't end there. People were coming up and just flat-out giving donations. There really was a statement being made today."

Then there was the meet program, which had a small inscription from one of the distance runners, whom Edington coached. It went very much like all the lovely sentiments that were written on a student-created poster that was on display at the funeral. The inscription talked about his passion for both sports and science, used a couple of his well-worn and beloved trademark statements and remarked about how everyone is missing him and will continue to go on missing him.

The writer wished to remain anonymous.

It was a carryover from the spirit that was generated when the Highlanders won the North Shore Conference Relays at Grafton on May 6. There was discussion there of the team creating wristbands, similar to the "Team Together" bands that became a staple in the area following the tragic death of beloved basketball coach John Chekouras three years ago.

People stopped for a moment to reflect on Edington's life and its purpose. He gave his all to his family, his children and then to the students and athletes in his charge. The best tribute, thought boys coach Dan Benson, would be to carry on serving those students as best as possible.

"The only thing I can see to do is to continue on teaching, coaching and working as hard as you can," he said. "Do your job to the best of your ability and do everything possible that you can do to be a credit to his spirit."

The students seemed to be taking that idea to heart at the Lady Highlander.

"At the chapel (the wake), kids were walking up to her (Edington's widow) and thanking her so much for "sharing him with us'," said Krueger's wife Heather, a long-time coach and educator herself. "That showed just so much depth on their part."

"I'm just so proud of the kids, because they really get it."

A fund for Edington's family has been set up through M and I Bank and can be contributed to through any branch in the area.

           "We are joined by sweat, bound by nothing. We are running friends. I wouldn't want it any other way."  ---Runner's credo----

There were bouquets from the Germantown girls track team, meet officials from near and far, classmates from graduate-level schooling, and literally hundreds of fellow teachers, students and athletes, some still in uniform from practices yet to be run or meets yet to be contested. Some were unable to hold back the tears no matter how many tissues were offered.

The line was an hour long at 3 p.m. and was still an hour long at 4:30 p.m.

No matter, people could read the cross country yearbooks, gaze at the large posters of well-worn and familiar phrases, linger over the thought-provoking montage of hand-written student messages or look at the array of heart-rendering hand-drawn children's cards to pass the time.

One of those cards, which featured a green field, a winding cross country trail set through a vast brown field and a large multi-colored sun, was a particular favorite. No doubt it had tear stains on it by the time the visitiation was over at 7 p.m. because the artist, probably a well-intentioned, thoughtful and gracious child, had put the name "Mr. Edington" on the sun.

"Mr. Edington" refers to the late Homestead science teacher and track and cross country coach Andy Edington, whose productive and thoughtful life was being remembered at First Alliance Curch in Germantown this April 29 afternoon.

There, the Homestead High School community was accepting condolences for another strong ray of light, another family man cut down in his prime by life's vagaries. It gave many in the community pause, as they also recalled the tragic death of reknown Homestead figure and basketball coach John Chekouras not quite three years ago.

Both men had been running at the time. Edington, 47, the head girls cross country coach and assistant track coach, was out with the distance group of the track team on April 25, when he collapsed of a seizure and eventually died.

"It's not fair to reflect on John," said boys track coach Dan Benson, who has known Edington since 1987 and was also a friend of Chekouras', "but here we are with two very fit, health-conscious individuals. ...It's hard not to draw parallels. You just throw up your hands because you can't quite make any sense of it."

And yet people tried with both humor and heart.

They remembered the man who told his runners not to tote too heavy of back-packs or not to wear high heel shoes to dances because those things could adversely affect performance. And even if they did attend the dances wearing flats, they were absolutely, positively supposed to ice their shins afterwards.

          "If you relax your tongue, your whole body will relax." (Mildly sarcastic saying from Edington, no doubt uttered during a noisy and less than successful practice).

People also took a long look at the three photo boards that dotted the visitation route. The first two were dominated by shots of him with his wife Sue and his three children (Sam, 14; Abby, 13; and Bethany, 11). There were pictures of him with them at Christmas, out on a water slide, even riding a camel. These were the important things to him. The highest priority along with his faith.

         "Thank you Mr. Edington so much! You were always there with a welcome smile and would sit next to us sometimes during meets. In my mind, you will forever be at the third turn of the track. Thank you to the Edington family for sharing him with Homestead."  Megan (student message on a long piece of poster board in the hallway at First Alliance).

The priorities right below those, the teaching of science and coaching, were frequently mixed together. He was constantly creating graphs and charts trying to scientifically and analytically figure out ways to make his runners perform better.

"He was an incredibly bright individual," Athletic Director Charlie Gross said. "His knowledge of sports was always intertwined wirth his knowledge of technology. ..He could speak to the kids with great confidence and get them to buy into the idea that what he was telling them was going to work. His vision and determination would really pay dividends." 

But sometimes his love of science got in the way of simple communication, said girls track head coach John Kruger.

"I was talking to his neighbors the other day," Krueger said, "and they spoke to me about how he would start talking about running and science and they would be blown away by his knowledge, but eventually at some point, they'd have to ask him to slow down and say ''In English Andy, in English.'" (laughs)

-         "Mr. Edington, Thank you for being so passionate about your job and loving what you did. Your enthusiasm is inspirational. You will be missed." Cristina Soto.

Competitors as well as colleagues were heartbroken.

"My kids (runners) are friends with his and that's how I found out," said Bay head cross country and assistant track coach Mike Miller. "..All barriers are gone in a situation like this. This is just devastating. My heart goes out to his wife and those three kids, all still in grade school. This is just so wrong, so unexpected. He brought that program back and he had such a wonderful rapport with his kids (runners). He had such a calming effect on them."

Krueger spoke of the endless number of competing coaches, runners and officials who came up to him and his now short-handed staff  and echoed those thoughts during a junior varsity meet on April 28.

"He was always prepared, making sure to give his best to his athletes," Krueger said.

          "Dear Mr. Edington, Practice isn't the same without you, but we can all feel you around us. You can still be our coach in the sky. Thank you for giving us more than we could ask for, more than we deserve. ..I know you're racing with me, making me stronger, pushing me further." Love, Keali

Krueger said that the rest of the season, the rest of the school year, will be difficult.

"As a staff, we'll try to figure out how to fill that large a void," he said. "We'll try to keep things as consistent as possible with his girls (the distance group). Try to continue to do what he'd have wanted them to do."

          "Mr. Edington, You helped make my transformation to HHS so much easier and I learned more from you in this short amount of time than from any other teacher in my life." Anna Kolbeck