http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4jgUcxMezM

Review of the year

Wow what a great year we had.  We pretty much equaled our best year which was 2010.  We did things this year we have never done in the history of our program.  First time we took home both individual boys and girls title at a Meet and take the girls team title.  First time we took a Sectional and beating Edgar in the process and finally placing 5th at State which puts us in the top tier of the state.  We beat Lourde who took the Iola Sectional.  Now looking at State for a moment several things are interesting.  2011 our ave. time was a 17:06 2012 16:38.  That is pretty significant because of the better times we had better placings by each runner.  Lets look at times and places.
  Name        place          2011          2012       place
Megan          16              15:49          15:33     12
Miranda        50             16:31           16:01    32
Alanna           113           17:54          16:56    74
Amanda         102          17:27           17:12     93
Catherine                                             17:26   105
Danielle          149          19:16           18:51    146
Teagen                                                 19:16   148

John   42 17:27

Everyone had better times and better places.  Alanna had the best race since last year.  Kind of interesting looking at Teagyns and Danielles time and placing.  Almost identical.

How about our seniors.  Our four young ladies Megan, Miranda, Alanna and Amanda(yes I know I forgot you at Laona's pep rally sorry which is why I hate talking at pep rallies)   who have carried our team these past four years.  These seniors have made it exciting and rewarding for our sport. The Tarlton twins are a great story for running and I hope they continue at my alma mater UW-Milwaukee.  The other set of  twins are  the shin splint sisters, Amanda and Alanna.  They have suffered with alot of icing with their shins after each race, but not once did they ever give up.  Catherine is our savior this year.  We needed someone to come in as the 5th runner in order to go for a 4th time.  Catherine was that person like Marissa P. did it for us 2 years ago as Marissa B. was injured.  She helped us win at Wittenburg and Sectionals.  Lets not forget Danielle who carried us when Catherine was not available.  We still pulled a top half at Smiley because of the hard work Danielle put in at the race.  It has been my sincere honor to have coached you these past four years.  Keep on running.

Finally, many coaches look at success by the hardware they take home or if they go to state.  Every year we plan on going to state and that is our goal.  BUT, I also look at the success of a program as to what happens after the season.  I started the cross country program because several students wanted a different sport, a lifetime sport and I have a passion for endurance sports.  Lets face it, when a high school student ends football or volleyball that is it, unless they do it as an intramural in college.  Cross country a person can continue until they die.  When I hear that our former athletes continue with the sport it warms my heart.  Like Elysia(Newtie) doing the Tough Mudder, others doing the Lakewood race, or a father starting to run because his daughter is doing it are great stories.  Even a former runner doing an ad for Vibram toe shoes.  Continue the success and continue running.

state informaton

2012 State Cross Country Championships
Saturday, Oct. 27
Ridges Golf Course, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

Competition Schedule

9 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. - Course Open for State Competitors to walk/run

11 a.m. - Division 3 Boys

11:40 a.m. - Division 2 Boys

12:20 p.m. - Division 1 Boys

1 p.m. - Division 3 Girls

1:40 p.m. - Division 2 Girls

2:20 p.m. - Division 1 Girls

Edgar Sectionals

Overall the Northern Lakes Conference has shined at the sectionals. With John and our girls team moving on to state. Then to have a Sectional champion with Natalie Miller. Jenny from Florence also making it. It shows we do not have a weak conference in cross country.

WOWW....Still in cloud nine as I am sure the girls are from winning sectionals....Lets say it Sectional Champions. It has been a great accomplishment for the seniors on the team. Coming second for the past 3 years to finally win it. Now off to state and to show how good we really are. I think Edgar got a big surprise..Not counting on us to be this good. All the girls had great races.

Parents and fans were really awesome yesterday. It was nice the football game was just down the road so our students were able to go to both games. It was great to see our former varsity runners Marissa Bartels, Hannah and Whitney. Seeing the Zimmers supporting us. Gary had to see the Tarlton twins run last time. Thank you everyone for coming, cheering and supporting the team.

 

John Mangold pushed himself into a 3rd place finish behind the twins from Marathon. What is it about twins running fast. By the way I am a twin too. We haven't had male runner earn a berth to state since JJ Aschinger. It is great to see it. The rest of the guys team ran gutsy races. Andrew had one of his best races this year and he didn't come out until school started. Austin had a fine finish with an injury in the beginning of the season. Good job guys.

Information for Sectionals

Location is at Nine mile Recreation Area
Schedule:
Bus leaves Laona at 12:20
2:30 Course opens
3:20  Coaches meeting
4pm Boys race
4:30 pm Girls race
This a VARSITY only race. JV can come on the bus and help coaches at the meet as long as you are in good academic standing.  Meaning nothing less than C-

State qualifiers:  First 2 teams and 5 individual NOT on those teams

T-shirts need to be preordered $12 Need number by Friday Oct 12th
Any questions ask Coach Twardowski or Coach Sorenson

Parents

It was great to see all the parents and grandparents at the last several meets. Suffering through the wind and cold. Even the Aschingers and Zimmers came out to cheer on the teams. Thank you to all of our wonderful parents.

Conference meet information

Conference meet information
Is being hosted by 3-Lakes at Sugar camp
go North Hwy 17 in Rhinelander until you get to Sugar camp and then turn left onto Camp 4 road. 
Girls start 4:30 and Guys at 5pm
Bus leaves at 1:30pm
Top 7 will earn All-Conference medals and honors

Crandon Meet

Running Rebels swept the Crandon meet.  Took both team trophies, and individual titles.  Good job team

Directions to the Tomahawk Meet

Directions to the Tomahawk meet. It is at the Edgewater Golf Course.
Basically get on HWY8 and go west past Rhinelander

Merge onto US-51 S via the ramp on the left toward Merrill/Wausau.
3.2 mi
8.
Take the CR-A exit, EXIT 231, toward Tomahawk.
0.4 mi
9.
Turn left onto CR-A.
...

1.0 mi
10.
Turn right onto Echo Valley Rd.Echo Valley Rd is 0.6 miles past Erickson Ln
If you reach Red Oak Ln you've gone a little too far

Edgewater Country ClubN10369 Echo Valley Rd, Tomahawk, WI 54487

Crandon Meet Information

Crandon Meet
Bus time: 2:15 from Wabeno
JR High 4pm
Boys: 4:30
Girls: 5:00pm
Weather is iffy for the meet. If it does rain and it rains hard, bring crappy shoes for the race and a change for after. The mud at the course can be pretty nasty. Lets cross our fingers.

Meet is at the Brush Run

Tomahawk meet information

Tomahawk meet
Bus leaves Wabeno 6:45
JV boys: 10:00
Varsity boys 10:30
Varsity Girls: 11:00
JV girls: 11:30
Awards: JV top 10 Varsity top 15 and 1st Place Team Trophy

Place: Edgewater Golf Course North of Tomahawk just east of HWY 51 on county hwy A

3-Lake meet

Here some sites to go to nice pics from the meet of our athletes
http://www.vcnewsreview.com/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=394%3Athree-lakes-cross-country-invitational-sept-22-2011&Itemid=108&limitstart=10

http://www.rhinelanderdailynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=33&SubSectionID=467&TM=12398.34

Rosholt meet

Sorry been busy, but here is the information for Rosholt Meet at the HS

Bus leaves Laona 12:30pm
Jr. High 4pm
HS girls JV 4:30
HS girls Varsity 5pm
Boys Varsity 5:30
Boys JV 6pm
Awards: 6:30
Awards: Jr high medals top 20

JV top 3
Varsity top 30
Plague for winning team

3-Lakes meet information

Information for 3-Lakes meet
Bus leaves Wabeno 1:30
Girls race 4:30
Guys race 5:00

Team trophies 1st and 2nd
Medals to top 10
Location: Race is at Sugar camp so go to Rhinelander take Hwy 17 NORTH for 13 miles. take left on Camp Four Rd. then take left at the park

Smiley Invitational

The Running Rebels had another fine race at the Smiley Invitational which is one of the biggest races in the state.  Megan took 1st in the Division 3 race while Alanna earned her first medal ever at the Smiley Invitational.  The girls all improved their times to keep them in the top half for team place with our number 4 runner not racing today.  I have to share her with volleyball.  Guys did good as well.  John took 5 for Division 3 which is very competive this year.  All the guys have improved their times.  Austin and Jake are overcoming injuries to run competitivily.  Good job everyone.

DC Everest meet

Good going for the girls and boys teams.  Once again Megan and John have shown they are very strong.  Team wise the girls broke the 3rd place curse and the guys beat our conference rivals.  Smiley should be interesting.  It will show how strong we really are.

Smiley Meet

Smiley is at the American Legion Golf Course,
Times: Bus leaves Laona 5am(in the morning)
Boys JV 8:30
Boys varsity 9am
Girls Varsity 9:25
Girls JV 9:55
Awards: Top 20 

Looking forward in seeing you there.

DC Everest Meet

Tuesday Sept 11th
Bus leaves 12:30pm

Jr. High girls  4:25
JV girls          4:45
Varsity girls   5:45
Varsity boys  6:15

Awards:  Team is Trophy 1st and 2nd place for each division
Medals to winning teams.  Individual:  1-20th place varsity and 1-5 JV

Meet is at Nine Mile Rec Area in Wausau

Forest Republican article

I thought the write up on our team was very good.  Check it out.

Wittenburg Information

Wittenburg Meet Information

Bus leaves at 1:45
Jr. High 4:15
Varsity/JV girls 4:45
Varsity/JV boys 5:15
Awards: 1st and 2nd Place Trophies by Division
JV medals to 10th place
Varsity medals to 20th place
We are lane 8
Looking at the teams we lost to one team in our division, Amherst. Lets beat them this time. Need good results from all of our ladies.

Newspaper article about the Hodag meet

Here is an article from the Hodag meet.

http://www.rivernewsonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=33&SubSectionID=447

Rhinelander meet

We had a great day on Saturday.  Girls took home 3rd place against some pretty impressive Div. 1 schools.  Megan took 2nd against Miller a 3-Lakes girl.  It shows how tough our conference really is in cross country.  John took 8th for the guys with a great push at the end because he was down at 15th at one point.  Everyone had a great race while battling pretty brutal heat.  Now we have Iola which will be lots fun.  Cool weather, flat course nice day to run. LOL(sinister laugh) Yeah right.

Long sleeve T-shirts

T-shirt money is $18 or with names it is $5 more so $23. This year the shirts are long sleeve black with reflective writing. Like to wrap up and send in the order on Wednesday of 29th. Anyone can order a shirt

Iola information

Bus leaves at 1pm from Laona
Jr. High 4:15
Girls:  4:50
Boys:  5:25

Awards:  Jr. high top 10, Varsity top 15 medals and 1st place team trophies

Directions:  Get down to Hwy 29 go west to Hwy 49 take left (South).  Go on Hwy 49 until you hit Cty MM turn right.  go about a mile on MM and it will be on the right side. 

Leaving with Parents

Rhinelander is one of those races that parents take their kids and do shopping and so on.  PLEASE look at your rule books for Laona and Wabeno schools as to what you need to do.  For Laona it is page 24 in the online handbook.

For Laona:  You need a note a head of time from your parents and this is important, you must leave with your parents or legal guardian.  Not your  aunt or uncle, brother or sister, nor boyfriend/girlfriend.  This is a liabilty issue for the schools and must be adhered to.  I would rather if the runners came back on the bus, but I understand about the Rhinelander race.  Make the proper arrangements with the schools. 

Rhinelander Information

Bus leaves Wabeno at 7AM
Varsity boys race:  10am
Varsity girls race 10:45
Awards at 11:45

Race is at the Rhinelander HS.  Go to Rhinelander take Hwy 17 north off of Hwy 8(take right on Hwy 17).  Take left on Timber Dr. take Timber Dr. to Coolidge Ave and take right on Coolidge go to the HS. 
Awards:  Team plaque for meet champion and runner up.  Medals for top 10 boys and girls

Typical practice

Typical cross country practice with rain. It was nice and refreshing as they ran. As we were doing our speed workout, a big black bear came out of the woods onto the ATV trail. Took one look at our muscles and left. Kids did 5 miles today in speed work

Update on 2nd week of Practice

Wabeno: Monday's you will be doing a mixture of things from speed work to hills and anything else Coach T. can come up with. Tuesday is timed Tuesday. Wednesday will be at Ed's Lake and that will include Laona. Van leaves Laona at7:30AM. Thursday: Speed and Friday will be easy
Laona: Monday's is speed. Tuesday will be Varsity loop. Wednesday with Wabeno at Ed's Lake. Thursday is speed and Friday off Saturday is Rhinelander
ONce again you may come to both practices or one or the other.

Forms

Get your forms in this week.  Monday!!!!! No excuses.  This should have been done last week.

2nd week of Practices

I had a nice 9 mile this morning.  Love my Sundays.  Monday practices will be 8am Wabeno HS, 5pm at Laona HS and we will be doing some speed work.  Tuesday practice 8am at Wabeno and 5pm at Laona.  Wednesday I will get back to you on that.  Thursday will be at Wabeno 8am and Laona at 5pm.  Friday is off and Saturday will be the Rhinelander race

Practices

Until school starts, we will have practice in the morning at Wabeno at 8am. Laona at 5pm. Places will be announced at practice, on here or the blogg. Coach Twardowski will try to let me know if the place changes for Wabeno. Yes, you can go to both. 

Laona practices are 5pm:  Thursday at the HS and Friday at my home.  Ask me at practice how to get to my house  or ask Mr. Twardowski.  It will not be posted for obvious reasons. 

1st Week workouts

This week(1st week) practice schedule.  Tuesday at Laona HS for both schools 5pm this is a hard practice with speed, Wednesday at Ed's Lake on County  Hwy W. at 5pm this is a long practice with some hill repeats to prepare for Iola.  Thursday easy day at Laona HS 5pm. or at Wabeno HS not sure of time probally 8am.  Friday at my house 5pm yes popsicles.  All practices will have ab workouts each day

One more day

One more day until cross country season starts.  I am really looking forward to this season like I do all seasons. 

Souper Run

What a beautiful day for a race.  The family and I did the Laona Souper Race this morning.  Nice local race which best of all is FREE.  It is good to see all the families participate.  I was able to see some of our runners like the Tarlton Twins who took 1st and 3rd. Tommy  and Catherine had good runs as well.  Catherine running after having her wisdom teeth pulled now that is tough. I wish I had more time to talk to more people but I also work at the race so sometimes duty calls.  It was nice to Gary Zimmer, Dick Popp, Mason's grandpa and catching up with Dean the Freedom coach. 

Olympics

Watching the Olympic track and field which starts today.  What great motivation to see some of our best athletes compete for gold.

Required Meeting

All student-athletes have a required meeting Wednesday July 25th at 6pm in the cafeteria.  Please enter through Door E, that is the door by the soda machines in the back.  You will also meet our new Business teacher and AD, Mr. Blodgett.  Continue enjoying your summer and make sure you run.

Running with friends

Nothing better than running with friends.  My family went to Minnesota to see an old friend.  We started our run at 6am.  Chatted the whole 7 miles just catching up.  Although miles 5-6 was a bit faster, trying to escape deer flies.


Call friend on the team and go for a run.

Muddy Bugger and Hodag

I ran the Hodag and Muddy Bugger in the last several weeks.  Both were great races raising money to help encourage active lifestyles.  Alanna took a 2nd at Hodag in her age group and 4th overall girl.


Muddy Bugger was an awesome all terrain race that you go up a steep 8th of a mile hill, through a swamp, under ropes in the mud and through some creek crossings.  All natural obstacles.  Saw the Tarlton twins and Mindy(former Rebel runner) at the race.  Twins took 2nd and 3rd.  


I hope others are racing as well good fun way of staying in shape.

Congrats to Megan Tarlton

Congrats to Megan on going to state in the 1600m.  I watched it on the WIAA website live in my classroom.  It is a big accomplishment to say you have gone to state in two different sports.

2012 Summer

If you are looking at finding something to motivate you into running.  Read Runningtimes.com or get the magazine from the library(Laona Library has the issue) or bookstore about Running Kenyan.  It is geared for high school cross country runners.  Here is the link:  http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=26243

Schedule for 2012

The 2012 Cross country schedule has now been finalized.  There are two changes from previous years.   We are doing the Tomahawk and Wittenburg meets and left SPASH and Merrill.  If you haven't started running, you might want to start to get in shape.  I am planning to do Lakewood, Rhinelander, Polish days and the Soup Run this year.  Looking forward to seeing you at some of the local races.