Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Cross-Country-History

Full Text:

Cross Country History

Throughout the 1970s and into the early '80s, the Newtown High School boys'

cross country team never achieved a great measure of success, outside of an

11-2 record and second-place finish in 1973.

But the Indian harriers sloughed off the yoke of mediocrity in 1986 and became

one of the most dominant cross country teams in the state, crafting an

incredible 75-meet unbeaten streak and string of seven Western Connecticut

Conference championships over seven seasons.

The girls' cross country team might have gotten taken along for the ride early

on, but the lady harriers found success, too.

Boys' X-C

The first sign that the boys' cross country team was starting to take a hold

of the WCC pie was in 1972. Despite finishing 5-4-1, the boys just fell short

of the WCC title by losing to New Milford during the regular season. The

Indians avenged themselves, however, finishing second out of nine teams in the

conference meet - and ahead of New Milford - while qualifying for the state

meet for the first time ever.

The Indians followed up that success with an 11-2 record in 1973. Even though

the Indians won their first ever meet over Bethel, that old nemesis New

Milford kept them out of the championship chair yet again. Rich Bruhn, Dave

DeRosa and Steve LaCroce were the top runners of that year.

In 1974, the harriers finished second in the WCC to Bethel, riding the efforts

of runners like Ty Tessitore and Bob Bouclier.

One of the boys' final shots at true success - before The Streak - came in

1979 when Ben Jessup finished third in the WCC and helped guide the Indians to

a 6-1 record. But things started to slip after that. A a 7-4 record in 1983

was a parting gift for legendary coach Roger Streeter, who finished his career

with 117 wins.

It started after two sub-par seasons - the first two in coach Rich Pesce's

career. The Streak.

In 1986 the Indians were dubbed in The Bee as Carolina Black Magic, but it was

no voodoo - just talent - that led Newtown to a 12-0 record. The capper was

the Indians first-ever win over New Milford, which came in the final meet of

the regular season. Joe Smith truly began his reign as the best runner in the

WCC with a first-place finish in the league championship. He finished up his

season with a title in the CIAC Class L meet.

The Indians won the first of their three state championships in 1987, piling

on 10 more victories alongside another WCC title. Smith was third overall in

the league while Marcus Love, a transfer student, started to make himself

known.

With Smith gone in 1988, it was Love's turn to take charge. He helped lead the

Indians to a 10-0 record and third straight WCC title and second straight

state championship. Dave Urhlass started to make himself known, finishing

fifth in the state meet right behind Love.

In 1989, Love helped keep The Streak going by being undefeated and finishing

second in the state. Urhlass was second in the league while Eric Zollner

emerged as a strong No. 3. The Indians won their third straight state title

with the help of Paul Beddoe-Stephens, Scott Smith, John Andrews, and Chris

Ramsey.

The Indians ran their record to 56-0 in 1990. Zollner became the league's top

runner, breaking Love's previous WCC record set the year before. Dan Shea

emerged as a strong No. 2 as the Indians finished third in the state.

The Streak moved to 66-0 in 1991 as the Indians won their sixth consecutive

league title behind Jason Zimmerman, Kevin Bunt, Bob Snyder, Erik Johnson,

Dave Foss, Andy Bria and John Mazzariello. Newtown was third in the state.

It all came to an end in 1992. After winning their first nine meets, the

Indians lost 22-37 to Bethel in the final regular season competition. Terry

McGovern, TR Schwerin and Doug Bachman were part of the team that finished

second in the WCCs and ninth in Class L.

In 1993 and 1994, the Indians were quite at the pinnacle they were at during

The Streak, but 7-4 and 9-2 records did help coach Pesce push his career

coaching record to 99-20 as the 1995 fall season was about to get underway.

Girls Find Own Success

The girls didn't get their own cross-country team until 1979 amd were forced

to take their lumps for three years before they began to stretch their own

muscles around the WCC.

In 1982, with Anita Alonte, Deanna Salinitis, Jenny Long and Elizabeth

Douglass leading the way, the Lady Indians finished second int he WCC with an

8-2 record. Amy Trechler was a freshman sensation, getting named to the

All-WCC team.

That was their high point early and it had to do until 1987, when - with Katie

McGovern leading the way with a personal record of 11-0 - the Lady Indians

finished the regular season undefeated but claimed third in the WCC. Beth

Llodra and Jill Higham were strong.

The girls were fifth in the WCC in 1988, but recovered to finish second in

1989 behind freshman Maureen McGovern. Doree Makl, Julie Logan, and Rachel

Zierzow helped lead Newtown to a 5-2 record.

The girls were young and inexperienced in 1990 - with McGovern the No. 1

runner ahead of Zierzow and Kim Haggerty - but in 1991 they were third in the

WCC with the likes of freshman Micaela Hurley starting to emerge. McGovern and

Haggerty were All-WCC and helped lead the Lady Indians to a second place

finish in the CIAC Class L meet behind Amity. McGovern was fifth in the race

while Haggerty was 13th.

It was McGovern's year in 1992 as she helped lead the Lady Indians to a 6-1

record and second-place finish in the WCC and then earned for herself a Class

L state championship.

The girls kept up the pace, finishing 8-1 in 1993 and second in the WCC as

Marnie Larrabee and Sarah Zimmerman began to make themselves known among the

league competition. Larabee won a WCC title in 1994 and helped lead the Lady

Indians to a 6-3 record and second-place finish.

They didn't quite have the success of The Streak, but the girls didn't pretty

well anyway.