Cheers and Jeers

Talent abundant among state track seniors--So is character, heart and humility

Posted by Steven L. Tietz on June 16, 2010 | 3 comments

Menomonee Falls, Homestead, Germantown and Whitefish Bay track

There were close to 20 new records set at the WIAA State Track meet June 4 and 5 in La Crosse, many of them by a deep, talented and motivated senior class.

In a couple of instances (the boys DI 800 relay for example), more than one person or relay exceeded the old barrier.

To put that number in perspective, any time there are 10 or more records set in a state meet, it is time for giddy excitement in the track community.

"The quality of track, the depth of it has just gone up a notch, maybe several notches," said Dan Benson, the coach of D1 state boys champ Homestead.

And so has the caliber and character of the individuals participating in it and participating at an extremely high-level.

Gabe Genovesi was the beating heart and competitive soul of that Homestead's boys' squad, not only taking down Joe Kapheim's 29-year old record in the 800, but also carefully measuring his opponents and then bursting by them with the fierceness of a lion to anchor two victorious relays that were at the center of the Highlanders' title.

He also likes to organize sock drives for children, raise money for needy organizations and also play a little high-level soccer (he will attend NCAA Division I runner-up Akron next fall on scholarship).

And he loves competition. Just days after setting his state record, he traveled to Illinois to take part in a distance gala. In an e-mail he sent out a few days before he left on the trip, he indicated that his ambitions were still high.

"I'd like to take some time off my 800," he wrote.

He did, losing in what must have been a highly entertaining race to an Indiana runner by just .18 of a second.

Genovesi is a heavy favorite for Wisconsin's Gatorade Male State Track of the Year to be announced later this summer.

But it's not like the 2009 recipient of the award, Matt Widule of Menomonee Falls, went away quietly or anything like that.

All Widule did was repeat as state champion in the 110 high hurdles and lead off the 800 relay team that set that aforementioned brand-new standard. Then, just for good measure, he almost stole what was arguably the most thrilling race of the meet from Lechein Neblett of Madison Memorial in the 300 intermediate hurdles.

Neblett had to tie the old state record of .37.49 to beat Widule by the barest of margins (.01) as five runners, all but one of them a senior, went under 38 seconds in the 300 race, something that has never been done before in Wisconsin history.

Widule did all this while exuding a charming combination of confidence and humility that was downright ingratiating. He said he wanted that relay title more than any individual race he could ever run and you believed him.

He could praise opponents and coaches equally and feel genuine sadness when mishaps befell rivals (the disaster that happened to long-time friend Dexter Schleis of Germantown in the 110 high hurdle trials was shocking to him), making you believe that he felt it all and more. 

Then, a week after his state triumphs, he made his way out to Platteville on the morning of his graduation for a major regional all-star meet. There he won the highs in a wicked-fast time and then made it back in time to smile and wave in the procession at the graduation ceremonies later that afternoon.

No wonder his coach Mike Burling answered with a sarcastic "You think?" when asked "You're going to miss him more than you know, aren't you?"

Meanwhile, Whitefish Bay's Megan Palmer didn't set any records in the distances at state, but still left an indelible impression.

Since a storied start to her career some four years ago that began with a sectional cross country championship in which she showed more maturity and savvy than any freshman had a right too and a sophomore year state 800 crown in track, there have been a few bumps in the road.

Illness, and the pressure of being the top runner at a school famed for women so fleet of foot that the quickest autumn breeze seems slow in comparison, took its toll from time-to-time.

But the spring of 2010 brought her rewards in abundance--North Shore Conference track titles both indoor and out and more importantly, a coveted WIAA Scholar/Athlete award that was earned not only for her unique combination of brains and ability, but also for a personality that Blue Duke Athletic Director John Gustavson  said made her the most popular person in the school.

"She's friends with everybody in the building," he said.

Palmer was more than pleased that her final state prep medal was as part of the Blue Dukes' placewinning 1,600-meter relay team, celebrating that honor with her teammates as they indulged in a pie a track mother had brought.

And there were other seniors of note too. They included Germantown's middle-distance aces Liz Wendt and Andrea Sielicki who carried on the newly-built Warhawk tradition of success in this area begun some years ago by school recordholder Kate Lydy.

Wendt had the overarching skill (five top six state track medals in the last two years), the character (running a hard 800 race at state in a driving rain) and the heart, serving as the unofficial welcoming committee and den mother to freshmen members of the cross country and track teams. Sielicki, meanwhile, was the soul of the distance unit, with an intensity and a desire that carried over to younger members of the crew.

And then there was Schleis, who could have been bitter when his state meet turned out to be a disappointment (only one relatively low-level medal when he was expecting two high honors). He was happy for his friend Widule and was still determined to see if later this summer, he could get the Germantown record in the high hurdles that is held by his 2005 state champion older brother Adam.

"It's all good, I'm happy," he said with a wry smile on his face.

And people were happy to know all these kids, happy to be a part of the state throng of close to 19,000 who over the course of that early June weekend, witnessed a unique group doing truly special things at a state meet that few will forget soon.

The athletes knew that too.

"I think it has been a great year for Wisconsin track athletes," said Genovesi, "and I'm glad I could contribute."