UW-Parkside men

[Jeremy Stuckey]

http://www.parksiderangers.com/news/2010/9/26/MXC_0926105303.aspx

I know the UW-Parkside men have been the joke of the state for some time (racewalking school), but they recently finished 2nd place as a team at Griak D2 race. Last year at the same meet with relatively similar competition they placed 14th. I would not be surprised to see them keep improving over the next few years.

There are a few interesting elements to this team's success. First of all, they have a new coach this year. http://www.parksiderangers.com/news/2010/8/9/MXC_0809104111.aspx?path=mtrack He is a young guy and seems relatively untested--although he spent some time at UW-Madison in 2008. For a first-year coach--I'd say he's not doing too bad. 2/5 of their scoring runners at Griak are true freshman--the other 3 have been with the program for a few years now.

I'm not saying they are even a national team yet--but I'm impressed with the rate of improvement.

[Werewolf Bar Mitzva]

Mahmood is not a frosh, he graduated in '07. They'd still be around #6 in the WIAC. Definitely an improving program, but the real test will be if they are a good team, or Ben Orvald plus some decent guys.

[Zen Miler]

http://www.parksiderangers.com/news/2010/9/26/MXC_0926105303.aspx

I know the UW-Parkside men have been the joke of the state for some time (racewalking school), but they recently finished 2nd place as a team at Griak D2 race. Last year at the same meet with relatively similar competition they placed 14th. I would not be surprised to see them keep improving over the next few years.

There are a few interesting elements to this team's success. First of all, they have a new coach this year. http://www.parksiderangers.com/news/2010/8/9/MXC_0809104111.aspx?path=mtrack He is a young guy and seems relatively untested--although he spent some time at UW-Madison in 2008. For a first-year coach--I'd say he's not doing too bad. 2/5 of their scoring runners at Griak are true freshman--the other 3 have been with the program for a few years now.

I'm not saying they are even a national team yet--but I'm impressed with the rate of improvement.

I actually ran against this guy a few times in hs and my brief college career.

Micah was a very good runner at Glenbard South HS (IL) and was extremely competitive all four years while an Iowa Hawkeye. It would not surprise me one bit if he turned that UW-Parkside program around. He already seems to have made an immediate impact.

This is a great pick up for that program. I hope he stays at Parkside for at least few years.

[Jeremy Stuckey]

Mahmood is not a frosh, he graduated in '07. They'd still be around #6 in the WIAC. Definitely an improving program, but the real test will be if they are a good team, or Ben Orvald plus some decent guys.

I wasn't counting him. I was looking at Josh Malloy and Evan Lewandowski--both graduated H.S. last spring.

Right now they are definitely "Ben Orvald plus some decent guys." Even if they don't make nationals for a couple years, the team's overall rate of improvement is something to look at. I don't foresee them plateauing at the end of this cross country season if you know what I mean--even with their stud graduating after this year.

I also wanted to post this in case any senior high school runners are looking at colleges. UW-Parkside is always an option and a lot of kids don't go there. I don't think they have ever filled their roster or had tryouts.

But again, I haven't talked to anyone in the program for a few years now so I don't know how everything's working out. I probably shouldn't vouch for their program so much if I haven't stepped on campus or talked to anyone there in years.