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| Joseph Jensen (l) and Elijah Poppe (r) |
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| Team 2020 l to r: Zoe Nelson, Elliana Bayer, Lana Blumer, Emily Holmbeck, Amy York and Natalie Poppe |
30 years. That's how long it's been since the last time Chetek sent a girls' Cross Country team to the Big Dance, the State Cross Country meet. In 1990, Bush "41" - George H.W. Bush - was President, "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips was at the top of the charts, and gas was $1.16/gallon. One of the biggest news stories of the year was what was going on in the Middle East in the run up to what became Operation Desert Storm. While I didn't live here yet (we moved to town the following year), I'm sure the biggest news story of that week for Chetekians was the seven girls and the one guy heading to State that year. Then as now it's a big deal.
The 2020 team finished 4th at the Heart O' North conference meet on October 13, second at the Webster sub-Sectional race in the driving snow on October 20 and then won the Cameron Sectional a week ago on October 24. That's what you call finishing strong! Tomorrow - on Halloween - they'll be running in West Salem in the Division 3 Championship race (run in three separate heats). Given the day they're running on the girls are hoping their candy bag will be full of treats at the end of the day!
I reached out to the members of the 1990 team and asked them if they had anything to say to the girls of 2020 and here's what they had to say:
(Note: In 1990, the girls ran 2 miles while the boys ran 3.1 miles. Today, both boys and girls run 5000 meters. After each member's name is their home today, what kind of work they are in and their finish time in 1990 with a 5K equivalent factored in.)
Jenny (Anderson) Cryder
Anchorage, Alaska
Elementary Special Ed para
Finish time: 12:45/19:50 5K equivalent (6:23 pace)
Hello Chetek-Weyerhaeuser HS Cross Country Team!
I hear that a huge congratulations is in order. My buttons are bursting all the way from my home in Alaska. I was part of the team in 1990. That feels like a long time ago yet these kinds of memories stick with you. Your team is headed to the Varsity State race and, though I don't know each of you, I know you have each worked so hard to get to this level of competition. Each member of your team is powdered by different amounts of determination, natural ability, and skills imparted from your coach and others. You are tough.
That is good because State will be the toughest running competition to date so don't hold anything back. Give it your all and, when you pick yourselves up on the other side of the finish line-walk away proud of all that you were created to do. Regardless of the outcome, it will likely be an event you will feel well deserved pride in for the rest of your life. You are discovering that you are capable of more than you thought. This isn't the top, no way, but this is definitely part of the foundation for greater success in your life.
I'm really proud of each of you. This is a big deal because it represents huge amounts of hard work. I look forward to hearing how this season wraps up. Run Hard!
With lots of cheers of encouragement,
Jennifer (Anderson) Cryder
Chetek High School Class of 1992
“I started running CC my freshman year and had the incredible privilege to run in the state meet all four years I went to high school - 3 of those with an amazing team. CC running was probably the single greatest confidence builder in HS for a shy quiet girl. I ran 1 year of college at Northwestern University St Paul. Also great, but city running was hard on my body. I now live in Anchorage, Alaska and work as an elementary school special-Ed TA. My 2 youngest kids also have dedicated themselves to CC but have put their own spin on it and are really dedicated CC Nordic skiers.”
Elissa (Christenson) Cella
Long Island, New York
Co-owner of a restaurant supply company
Finish time: 12:46/19:50 5K equivalent (6:23 pace)
Congratulations!! A lot of hard work went into your team heading to the State Championship Cross Country meet. I can't believe 30 years has passed since I ran that same State Cross Country meet. My sister Billie was also on the team. That was my senior year in high school
Just hearing about your team making it to the State Championship has brought back so many memories for me. Our coach Dan Conway deserves a lot of credit for coaching us and encouraging our team the way he always did, just as I'm sure your coach has done for your team. Go out there and give it all you have. Run like you've never run before. Get plenty of sleep the night before and try not to be too nervous - although I know having been in your shoes, that's easier said than done. Good luck girls in State Championship Cross Country race!! Have fun and make lots of memories.
Elissa (Christianson) Cella
Chetek High School Class of 1991
“I have lived for the past 25 years out in New York on long Island about 30 miles away from Manhattan. My husband and I run a restaurant supply company out here and I spend every summer back in Chetek. We bought a lake house there 6 years ago.”
Jodi (Erb) Kiffmeyer:
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Archivist/Librarian at the Chippewa Valley Museum in Eau Claire
Finish time: 12:50/19:56 5K equivalent (6:25 pace)
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Girls Cross Country Team--
I heard about your stellar performance at Sectionals, which earned you the opportunity to run at the State meet. First of all, let me say how proud I am of all of you! Exactly 30 years ago, I was where you're at, so Coach asked me if I'd write a few words of encouragement to you as you prepare for this exciting event.
What I want to do is ask you for a favor: Would you be willing to keep two runners from Chetek in mind as you train for and compete in the big race?
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| Coach Dan Conway |
"There ain't no free lunch." Coach was among the best runners in the world. He was also one of the most humble men I've ever known. He won national and world championships and probably could have coached at any university in the country. But after every big race, he came back to Chetek to work with a tiny high school cross country team. We had some great runners in Chetek back then, but Coach was never much impressed with the ones who got by on talent. He respected hard work, and he was prouder of the hard-working last place kid than he was of his first place runners who found winning easy. So he'd tell us "There ain't no free lunch" to remind us that every one of us needed to put in the hours of hard work that would make us the best athletes (and people) that we could be. No exceptions.
"Weather is not a factor." This might come in especially handy this year, as you've already had to battle cold and snow to get where you're at today. Coach always reminded us that every person in the race was facing the same weather, so our performance in the competition didn't depend on how cold, rainy, snowy, or windy it was. He didn't allow us to complain about the weather and expected us to train and compete, if we could safely do so, regardless of conditions. Believe me, I know how hard it can be to run in the snow and cold, but remember that it doesn't stop you from doing your best work on whatever day you're racing.
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| Marnie |
From what I've seen of you at the races I've attended the past few years, I believe that your team already practices these three values. So as you continue the decades-long C-W cross country tradition, please do so in memory of Coach Conway and Marnie Rykal. They would have been proud of you, too.
Good luck and GO BULLDOGS! I'll be cheering for you.
Jodi Erb Kiffmeyer
Chetek High School Class of 1993 (also Natalie and Elijah Poppe's very proud auntie)
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Teachers Assistant/Auto parts assembler
Finish time: 13:42/21:19 5K equivalent (6:51 pace)
Congratulations! I can say I honestly know how hard you all have worked to get where you are right now. Definitely something to be proud of! I was a freshman 30 years ago when we went to the state championship meet. I wish you all good luck! Run hard but still enjoy the honor and have fun. And remember it’s not how fast you run, but how long you run fast! Best of luck to all of you!
Billie (Christianson) Kurtzhals
Chetek High School Class of 1994
Lennette (Avery) Erickson
Cameron, Wisconsin
Custodian at UWECBC and attending school for Administrative Professional
Finish time: 13:44/21:20 5K equivalent (6:52 pace)
Congratulations! This is a big achievement for all of you. When the team I was on ran made it state we were excited as you all are. Enjoy the moments, and take them in. This is something not everyone gets to experience but you do. Go out strong, find your pace, focus on passing one person at a time and finish strong in the end. This is what you worked hard for. Congratulations again! Go Bulldogs!
Best of luck!
Lennette (Avery) Erickson
Chetek High School Class of 1994
Amy (Anderson) Francois:
Neenah, Wisconsin
Sales clerk at Target
Finish time: 14:13/22:04 5K equivalent (7:06 pace)
I was on that team and it is one of my proudest moments of high school!
I was just a freshman and my brother Chris also went to State that year. It was something special for the both of us to share. As you know, Cross Country is more than running. The camaraderie and friendships that are built among teammates can last a lifetime. I have always cherished the important lessons I learned from the legendary Coach Dan Conway.
Congratulations to these Lady Bulldogs! All their hard work and passion for running is paying off and I wish them the best of luck! Enjoy this moment, girls and EMPTY IT OUT!!!!!!
Amy Anderson-Francois
Chetek High School Class of 1994
Sharon (Dahlman) Adleman was also a member of the 1990 team but the day before the race she was diagnosed with mono and missed out on the trip to Wisconsin Rapids. I reached out to her and to Sirena (Seever) Tanke but neither responded to my inquiries.
Chetek had one guy qualifier in 1990: Chris Anderson. Chris was Amy's older brother. I coached his sons, Chris and Greg, a few years back. He told me back in 2012 that he didn't come out for Cross until late in the season and ended up Top Ten in the HON. To finish Top Ten in the State is not bad for a short season! Via his sister, Amy, he sent a note to pass on to the guys and to all the girls.
5K finish time 16:56 (5:27 pace)/10th place finish
You've already put in the work. All summer, 2 a day workouts, intense workouts, and meets have lead each of you to this point. Stay determined to the finish. To do your best. Never, especially now, don't hold back! This next meet is 90% mental, 10% physical. Visualize the night before, how the race outcome will be. The warm up, the start, when to lay back for just a sec, find your pace, then go for it all! Lean into the hills and stride it out. Let gravity throw you down the hill with incredible speed, yet staying determined to your goal, without exhausting yourself. Then you must WANT it. Thrive, drive yourself to the breaking point. Never give up, and you will achieve personal greatness. You will remember this moment forever. A very wise, coach of mine once told me this phrase and I have never, ever forgotten it: At the end of this meet don't ever tell or believe yourself this,"I wish, or I should have." Let it all out. Or it will stick with you forever in you thoughts. Just try your damnedest to achieve the goal. Remember that you don't just represent you. You represent, your parents, family, friends, your town, and all who supported you and also us veterans, who miss our glory days. You are all doing so well! When you get to the meet site, visualize everything, and I mean everything. Every detail! And most important: eat spaghetti or pasta the night before. And unplug the phone line. And turn your fan cell phones off. Just concentrate, visualize, believe in yourself and team!
Chris Anderson
Chetek High School Class of 1991
On account of Covid, the State meet is being held in three different sites. Division 3 will be held at Maple Grove Venues, West Salem, Wisconsin. There will be three different heats. The C-W girls team will compete in Session B held at 12:30 pm. They will be racing against Auburndale, Assumption, and Cameron. Joseph Jensen and Elijah Poppe will be running in Session B of the Individual Qualifiers race held at 1:10 p.m. There are three heats with four teams competing in each heat. The results are later combined to determine overall place. Unfortunately, unlike other sports, there is no way to watch these races on-line. PT Timing will be responsible for timing the race. Look for results there.
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| Team 1990 Front row (l to r): Sirena Seever, Sharon Dahlman, Jodi Erb, Jenny Anderson, Elissa Christianson Back row (l to r): Coach Conway, Theresa _____, Mel Rockwood, Lennette Avery, Amy Anderson and Billie Jo Christianson |
