Coach’s Notes: Upcoming 2009 Season

The guys are at camp so I can talk about them now. Less than three weeks out from our first official race and all our PVI Eagles are raring to go. This season, however, many in South Jersey will know who they are. In 2007, we endured a season that saw a streak end and a new challenge begin in earnest. That challenge was to build – in a matter that was sustainable – a program that would once again test, week-in, week-out, the best in South Jersey and eventually New Jersey. In 2008, we were well on our way.

To recap, returning this season is captain Mike Rankin for his senior season that should cap off a great Paul VI cross country career. He started poised and patient last season and made his charge in November blowing his – but not his coach’s – expectations out of the water. Mike finished as South Jersey Parochial champ, All-State Parochial A, and Third Team All-State. He returns as a contender for a Parochial A title and, simply put, he is excited for the challenge.

His support this season is plenty capable  of pushing Mike on the course in 2009. Newly appointed captain Tom Hoban and senior Brian Walter have taken significant strides during the spring and summer respectively and return as All-Conference performers. Both, however, along with fellow senior Rich McKean (All-Conference as well) will be looking to accomplish much, much more this season. And if the work put in and passion they have exuded is any indication, all three might be poised to accomplish just that.

Junior Paul Catrino (All-Conference) and sophomores Joe Nuccio and Pete Gallagher lead a deep and talented roster of fellow harriers, all of which are more than capable of earning their varsity spots. Many times this season, that depth will be tested and it will be these guys – along with juniors Eric Hubbs and Nick Vadino and sophomores Chris Booth and Stefano Mastrando (All-Conference last season) – that will have to withstand the pressure. Many of these guys have set new mileage records for the summer and could turn some heads in the top five.  

We have had the great privilege of watching almost 8-10 newcomers suffer through dramatic improvement this summer as they approach their first full-season of high school cross country. Senior Tim Smith and junior Nick Lamberto lead the way and both could take a definite stab at varsity status this season. The freshmen are numerous and extremely talented and many have approached their first XC summer with the vigor and dedication of an experienced veteran. The three Mikes – Patterson, Boldurian, and Pezzano – join Adam Verna, Alex Munns, and Dan Marino as one of the best freshmen classes to join during my time – albeit short – here. All six have endured Belmont Plateau, numerous Wissahickon long runs, and countless cruise miles and it’s only a matter time before we find out what they’re made of! Their leaders? Sophomores John Madden and Tim Bretschneider, both of which have ramped up their training this summer and will be ready to fight for huge PR’s come September.

First race on the schedule? A 2-mile jaunt through the trails of Cherokee HS. The Challenge keeps growing each year and it always provides a nice run down of what we have done so far and how much more there needs to be done. That takes place September 12th. Other key races – ones that we hope we can get some alumni out to as well as family and friends – are Sept 19th, the Briarwood Invite held at the storied Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park. On October 18th – a week after Coach Bonnette tries his luck at the Chicago Marathon – PVI will head up to Providence, RI to hopefully challenge for the Brown Invite title. And in November, the true championship season begins as PVIXC will look to repeat their SJ Parochial crown and fight for a way out of a very talented group of Parochial A contenders.

Another date to look out for will be the 2nd Annual Blue and White, a two-mile intrasquad meet that will take place this season on October 31st. Last year, it was a one-point affair with the White team (Coach Rankin’s) – led by Rankin, Walter, and Mastrando – prevailing. Their spoils? A free lunch at Villari’s in Sicklerville. Not bad. This season, we encourage any parents, alumni, friends to come on out and challenge the current squad. It’s flat, it’s fast, and it’s fun. Plus, there are prizes.

As we await the new season with great anticipation, we know that a lot of the work has already been done. It continues though and intensifies throughout the season but – as the coaches see it – we have the right ingredients to prosper in 2009 and hopefully, like 2008, surprise a few people.

A final disclaimer – none of what is about to happen this season would be possible without the unwavering and incredible support of our booster club. A huge pre-emptive thank you to president, Jerry Hubbs.

Let the games begin…