Rufus King boys featured - 2009 Cross Country Preview - Article from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Post date: Aug 26, 2009 1:30:14 AM

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