posted Aug 25, 2009 6:30 PM by dylan quesada
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updated Aug 25, 2009 6:42 PM
]
King moves toward top of the deck
Juniors will lead way for Generals runners
In 1999, Keith Zeise's first year as head cross country coach at Milwaukee King, the program had just 13 runners.
That's 13 boys and girls. Not an encouraging sign for the enthusiastic young teacher and former running standout at Bay View.
But
Zeise recruited. He got kids in his chemistry class to try the sport,
he snagged track athletes during the spring and he turned the Generals
into one of the top teams in the area.
Participation
is no longer a problem. The boys squad now has at least 30 runners. The
interest isn't surprising considering the Generals' consistent success.
In
2007, the King boys became the first City Conference team since 1988
(Milwaukee South) to qualify for the state meet, where the Generals
placed fifth. In 2008, despite graduating standouts Joe Stilin and Joe
Dixon, the Generals placed fourth, King's best finish since it won a
state title in 1942. The Generals have also won eight of the last nine
City Conference titles.
This
year the team returns a strong nucleus led by juniors Sebastian
VanOudenallen, Joe Morgan and Eric Anderson. Each ran at state last
year.
"I
always wanted to teach in MPS, and I landed at a great school
obviously," said Zeise. "But when I started, if you'd have told me that
we'd make it to state, I'd have checked what you were drinking."
Commitment to the team, dedication to the sport and pressure to keep the program at a high level drive King runners.
"Over time, standards were raised," explained VanOudenallen.
Added
Morgan: "We're trying to get as many kids out for cross country as
possible. Some of my friends have even started calling it a cult
because it's pretty much a family. We just motivate each other."
It
takes at least some peer pressure to convince runners to log 65 miles a
week in the summer, and run over miles of icy concrete during the
winter "off-season."
"Even
during winter, we're out here in the freezing cold, in our
short-shorts, running in sub 20-degree weather," said senior Alex
Loomis. "If you've got (dedication) you'll stick with (cross country)
and you'll take the hurt."
King
has benefited greatly from runners sticking with the program. More than
half of the Generals have at least two years of experience, and
four-year runners aren't the novelty they were when Zeise began
coaching.
"The
No. 1 thing I tried to focus on was keeping runners out," said Zeise.
"What's plagued MPS and cross country isn't poor coaching or poor
dedication. It's that runners aren't staying out for all sports."
Assistant
coach David Cullen, whose son Eddie was a four-year runner at King,
isn't surprised by the dedication shown by the head coach and King
runners.
"Keith
cares about the kids as kids first and as runners second," said Cullen.
"Just watching the camaraderie between (Zeise) and the kids has been
amazing. It's been fun to be a part of for me and a lot of parents,
watching the kids grow with his leadership." By DAN MURPHY
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posted Nov 2, 2008 5:58 PM by RKCC Website Janitor
The Rufus King cross country team rounded out another very successful season yesterday at the state finals yesterday. Hope Marshall competed in the girls' race, and the boys' team took fourth place.
Throughout the season, the boys' team had never been ranked above ninth in the state. The boys' squad proved the predictions wrong, however, taking the fourth team spot in the WIAA Division I State Championship race, and giving a performance that would have won Division II or III. David Stilin led the guys with his 16:13 18th place finish. Nathaniel Sullivan came next in 39th place with a time of 16:38. Josh Gilly finished his last race as a General in 16:54, earning 69th place. Sebastian Van Oudenallen was able to PR on this grueling course, running an amazing time of 16:58 and taking 77th. Eric Anderson was close behind in 90th, covering the five kilometers in 17:03. Joe Morgan solidified his comeback with an incredible time of 17:09, a fourteen second PR. Paul Bolanowski, who just missed earning a spot at the state meet last year, took 122nd, finishing in 17:19. The boys' score came to 171 points, earning them fourth place, one spot better than last year's finish.
Unfortunately, Hope was not able to finish her race. She was elbowed in the stomach by a competitor shortly after the mile mark. She continued until almost the two mile mark before she had to stop. Although she didn't cross the finish line, Hope gave an amazing performance at the state meet.
This meet concludes the 2008 cross country season. Winter training now begins for the Generals already looking forward to the 2009 season and, hopefully, to another state meet. |
posted Oct 25, 2008 3:19 PM by RKCC Website Janitor
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updated Oct 25, 2008 3:46 PM
]
For the first time ever, the Rufus King cross country boys team won its sectional, and, for the first time, a Rufus King girl qualified for the state meet as an individual.
The boys team took first with only 49 points, qualifying for the state meet. The team beat Marquette (ranked number four in the state) by 17 points, earning the first victory over Marquette in school history. David Stilin won the race with a time of 16:16, finishing six seconds ahead of Marquette's Jake Erschen. Nathaniel Sullivan took fifth in 16:37, and Josh Gilly ran a 16:54 to place 11th. Thirteenth place went to Eric Anderson, who ran 16:54. Sebastian Van Oudenallen stepped up to the fifth spot on the team, placing 19th and running 17:06 (a PR of 34 seconds). Paul Bolanowski ran 17:09 to place 21st, and Joe Morgan took 33rd, running a time of 17:37.
The girls team placed eighth with a score of 200 points. Hope Marshall led the girls team, finishing seventh with a time of 15:45. Hope qualified for the state meet, becoming the first girl in Rufus King cross county history to do so. Monica Elwood-Lowe took 33rd, finishing in 17:03. Dayleen Flores ran a time of 17:38, taking 46th. Next was Nina Fricano in 56th, running a time of 18:25, and Caroline Froh in 58th, running 18:41. Julia Straszewski, the only King freshman to run in the meet, finished in 60th with a time of 18:49.
Congratulations to all who ran, and good luck to Hope Marshall and the boys team.
OOH-RAH!! We goin' upstate!! |
posted Oct 6, 2008 6:30 PM by RKCC Website Janitor
Congrats to the boys and girls cross country teams for phenomenal efforts at the Eagle Invitational on Saturday. The meet included 7 of the top 15 teams in the State of Wisconsin! Running on a top 5 course in the entire country, the girls team finished 13th out of 16 invitation only teams. Hope Marshall led the girls with an outstanding 8th place finish to break the SCHOOL RECORD! Her amazing record setting time, 15 minutes, 13 seconds for 2 and 1/2 miles. Monica Elwood-Lowe had a huge PR to break 17 minutes, and Maya Matabele also PR'd with her 17:38 performance. A special congrats to the PR efforts of Carloine Froh and Madeline Green who once again led our JV squad. The boys team finished 5th of 16 in the powerhouse field. Our boys beat the current #9 team and the current #15 team in the state en route to their finish. David Stilin led the way with a 5th place finish of 15 minutes and 57 seconds for 3 and 1/8 miles....a blazing time. His teammates were not far behind.....Josh Gilly finished in 25th place with a new lifetime best of 16:45 (afterwads he was carted away from the finish line by an ambulance for complications with his bronchitis that he has been running through). Nathaniel Sullivan also PR'd with a 16:48 and Eric Anderson and Paul Bolanowski demolished their Personal bests....Eric running 16:48 (a time that ranks 8th in the state among sophomores) and Paul running 17:06, a 32 second PR. Kudos to Freshman Logan Eggert for his huge PR of 18:13! The JV boys finished 8th at the meet and were led by the return of Sebastian Van Oudenallen who is recovering well from an MCL injury and Alex Loomis who broke 19 minutes for the first time! Way to go guys...the PR's are too numerous to mention, but we're proud of each and everyone of you. Way to go King! |
posted Oct 5, 2008 3:18 PM by RKCC Website Janitor
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updated Oct 5, 2008 3:39 PM
]
On October 5th, the Rufus King boys cross country team is ranked: - Thirteenth in D1 by the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association for week five.
- Ninth in D1 by WisconsinXC for week six.
Also, - David Stilin is ranked 15th in D1 by WisconsinXC, 12th on the D1 honor roll and 13th on the state honor roll by WI-Track for his performance at Eagle.
- Hope Marshall is ranked 25th on the D1 honor roll and 41st on the state honor roll by WI-Track for her performance at Eagle.
- Eric Anderson is ranked 8th on the D1 honor roll for sophomores and 10th on the state honor roll for sophomores by WI-Track for his performance at Eagle.
- Joe Morgan is ranked 50th on the state honor roll for sophomores by WI-Track for his performance at Arrowhead.
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posted Sep 27, 2008 11:50 AM by RKCC Website Janitor
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updated Sep 27, 2008 3:44 PM
]
On September 27th, the boys Rufus King cross country team is ranked: - Fifth in the area by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. Link
- Ninth in D1 by the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association for week four. Link
- Eleventh in D1 by WisconsinXC for week five. Link
Also, - David Stilin was chosen as runner of the week by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, is ranked 9th in D1 and was selected for the number one PR of the week by WisconsinXC for his 28.35 second PR at Angel, and is ranked 10th on the D1 honor roll and 11th on the state honor roll by WI-Track, also for his performance at Angel. Links: JS WIXC: Individual PR WI-Track: D1 State
- Hope Marshall is ranked 31st on the D1 honor roll and 48th on the state honor roll by WI-Track for her performance at Palmyra-Eagle. Links: D1 State
- Josh Gilly is ranked 88th on the state honor roll by WI-Track for his performance at Arrowhead. Link
- Nathaniel Sullivan was selected for the number four PR of the week by WisconsinXC for his 9.12 second PR at Angel, is ranked 93rd on the state honor roll by WI-Track, also for his performance at Angel. Links: WI-Track WIXC
- Joe Morgan is ranked 19th on the D1 sophomore honor roll and 29th on the state sophomore honor roll by WI-Track for his performance at Arrowhead. Links: D1 State
- Eric Anderson is ranked 18th on the D1 sophomore honor roll and 26th on state sophomore honor roll by WI-Track for his performance at Angel. Links: D1 State
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posted Sep 20, 2008 4:30 PM by RKCC Website Janitor
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updated Sep 20, 2008 4:56 PM
]
On September 20, the Rufus King boy's cross country team is ranked: - Sixth in the area by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. Link
- Fourteenth in D1 by the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association for week three. Link
- Thirteenth in D1 by WisconsinXC for week four. Link
Also, - David Stilin is ranked 37th on the D1 honor roll and 47th on the state honor roll by WI-Track for his performance at Arrowhead. Links: D1 State
- Hope Marshall is ranked 31st on the D1 honor roll and 46th on the state honor roll by WI-Track for her performance at Palmyra-Eagle. Links: D1 State
- Josh Gilly is ranked 81st on the state honor roll by WI-Track for his performance at Arrowhead. Link
- Joe Morgan is ranked 17th on the D1 sophomore honor roll and 25th on the state sophomore honor roll by WI-Track for his performance at Arrowhead. Links: D1 State
- Eric Anderson is ranked 23rd on the D1 sophomore honor roll and 36th on the state sophomore honor roll by WI-Track for his performance at Arrowhead. Links: D1 State
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posted Sep 13, 2008 12:02 PM by RKCC Website Janitor
On September 13th, the Rufus King boys' team is ranked: - Sixth in the area by the Journal Sentinal. Link
- Tenth in the state by the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association. Link
- Not in the top 15 in the state by WisconsinXC.com. Link
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posted Aug 29, 2008 7:07 PM by RKCC Website Janitor
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updated Aug 30, 2008 8:41 PM
]
On August 29th, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal published its cross country preview and had some nice things to say about Rufus King. Highlights;- The boys' team was ranked fifth. "A healthy David Stilin could mean good things for the City Conference powerhouse." Link
- David Stilin was mentioned as a runner to watch. "Stilin missed several weeks after suffering a stress fracture in the third week of last season, but is healthy this year and leads the defending City Conference champions." Link
- The boys' team was mentioned as a strong contender for the City Conference Championship. "King has finished on top of the league seven of the last eight seasons. Senior David Stilin struggled with an ankle injury last year but still finished 85th at the state meet. Seniors Josh Gilly and Nathaniel Sullivan also return from the team that finished fifth at the WIAA Division 1 state meet, and Paul Bolanowski rounds out a talented senior bunch. School of the Arts/Pulaski/Reagan will look to senior captain Joe Redemann." Link
- The girls' team was also mentioned as a strong contender for the City Conference Championship. "King has won four straight conference championships. Senior Hope Marshall was the individual league champion last year. Junior Dayleen Flores was a second-team all-conference runner, and junior Olivia Welk joins the varsity after a strong 2008 track season. School of the Arts/Pulaski/Reagan is led by juniors Rose Namajunas, who is also an accomplished martial arts competitor, and Sarah Eucalano, both first-team all-league selections last season." Link
Also, WisconsinXC.com ranks the boys' team as 15th in the state for Division 1. |
posted Aug 21, 2008 6:32 PM by RKCC Website Janitor
| Today is Coach Zeise's birthday. He celebrated the occasion with Zebra Cakes and hill repeats. |
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