Date: Fri 15-Sep-1995

Publication: Bee

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Pesce-Earns-100th-Win

Full Text:

Rich Pesce -- 100th Victory

BY SHERRI SMITH

To some people, winning and records are everything. To others, just being able to compete in a race, reach and surpass goals and cross the finish line is enough to feel satisfaction. Newtown High School cross country coach Rich Pesce doesn't always care about the wins and losses. He cares about the runners and what they can personally achieve for themselves, helping to make them better athletes and people.

Pesce reached a milestone at the beginning of the season which he wasn't even aware of. As coach of the boys' cross country team, Pesce hit the century mark, defeating St Joseph's in the opening non-conference meet of the season.

Collecting his 100th win, though, was not a big deal.

"I was surprised about reaching 100," said Pesce. "I was taken off guard. It was just one more win. It is nice to have reached that, but our focus is winning one at a time starting with a quad meet this week."

Thinking about the winning record, Pesce chuckled. "It says something about longevity. It takes a tremendous amount of energy. There are times when you don't think you'll be able to keep going, but I seem to get up for it. The kids generate energy and help get me ready."

The Beginning

Pesce took the helm of the cross country teams, girls and boys, in 1984, following the retirement of Newtown High teacher Roger Streeter.

"The team I inherited from Roger, or anyone for that matter, was not going to be my team. I think any first year coach realizes that going into an established program. "

In 1984, two freshmen, Joe Smith and Craig McCarthy, came out for the boys team. "The very first week both Craig and Joe wanted to quit. They said doing all this running was crazy."

Smith and McCarthy put in their time over the years knowing cross country was something they wanted to do. During their senior year, they brought home to Newtown the first ever Western Connecticut Conference championship title. It was a silent tribute to the runners and Coach Rich Pesce. Parents, friends, families, the athletes and coach learned together about hard work and determination. It earned them a title - the best for Newtown runners, and it didn't stop there. It continued.

"Joe Smith and Craig McCarthy were the foundation of cross country, " said Pesce. "It's phenomenal when I look at it and the records and the things those guys achieved. We were on a roll. When I think about what Smith and McCarthy set as a tone, it was accepted and the next year's team was going to continue the success."

Looking at the early years of the girls team, Pesce felt fortunate to have his runners, though very few in numbers.

"Talk about a foundation for the girls, one name comes to mind, Katie McGovern," he said. "She gave legitimacy to running. In many ways for whatever girls cross country is today, I look back and have to say her success and participation on the team really created a foundation for the girls team."

McGovern ran undefeated, 11-0, in 1987.

The Streak

The Newtown boys' cross country team became known for their winning. Beginning with the WCC championship title in 1986, Newtown runners compiled a seven year undefeated winning streak. The total came to 75-0 when the boys were finally stopped by Bethel. Newtown surpassed the standing record of 72-0 held by Staples of Westport.

"Honestly, the streak was not something I truly focused on, said Pesce. "There was a lot of talk about it from former captains and runners and that was talk that I didn't discourage. I felt it was alright to do, but at the same time, I didn't want our runners to focus on just the streak. It's not just winning, it's lowering times for every kid on the team. If you lower your times, everything else is going to take care of itself. It will all fall into place."

Pesce talked a lot about luck.

"I can't believe what has happened since and what goes into a streak like that. Besides the hard work, there is a tremendous amount of luck," he said. "I can't forget seeing Eric Zolner in the WCC championship meet down in the middle of the field, covered with blankets and Newtown still wins the championship without their number one runner. It is unusual to lose your number one during a race and pull off a title with six runners."

Motivational

The Newtown cross country program has earned respect from the conference level up through the state level. Pesce doesn't take much credit for the success and recognition which his runners have earned. "A lot of kids thank me for motivating them, yet I don't know whether or not I'm actually doing that. I feel whatever success we've had really comes from the kids.

"I think there is an inner voice," he added, "that tells the kid to just keep working at this, and certainly Randy [Pond] and I are there to encourage them, sometimes to holler and sometimes to scream. I've told the runners many times, and others too, it is really something that has to come from them. Maybe we can unlock whatever it is, but it comes from the individual. Anything worth anything is not going to come easy."

Pesce picks his captains carefully each year, looking for the runner that is going to carry on the tradition that started with Smith and McCarthy — hard work. "The kids that I have had as captains certainly have taken that role of making sure team members understand that cross country is important to them and to the coach," said Pesce, "and it should be important to themselves."

Pesce talked about the similarities of the years 1986-91 to this year's team.

"I am beginning to see a side that is reminiscent of the years past," said Pesce. "I am carrying over 30 boys and it seems we have our own feeder program. I run workouts in three different groups and we can see healthy competition within the groups. It generates this desire for everyone to succeed and do as well as the top runners. "

Buying The Program

"I believe if I put the program together, show what has to be done, you have to buy into it," said Pesce. "As a coach, we then have to guide them, but whatever is produced, has to come from the individual. You have to want to do it, pay the price."

Pesce sets his programs to breed success. "If you buy, you come to the practices, work hard, do all the workouts and reap the benefits. The attitude becomes pervasive. I can see it spreading already this year with Terry and Ward [Richardson]. They as captains realize that they have to take control. The boys' success can be laid to the fact that we've had captains who have always set a high tone."

The Girls

The McGovern name has become synonymous with running. Four children — two boys and two girls — all enjoy running and with the exception of Brian, attending eighth grade in Newtown, each McGovern has run under Coach Rich Pesce. Katie McGovern set a tone for the girls and once young Maureen McGovern joined the team, the tone was carried on and became pervasive throughout the runners.

Currently, Larabee and Zimmerman are blazing the trails in the new South-West Conference. Larabee has come back in top shape, while teammate Zimmerman is recovering from surgery and should be on Larabee's heels soon.

As with the boys, Pesce has fostered Larabee and Zimmerman. They were the only two freshman to join cross country and have grown to love the sport and developed a great friendship because of cross country. As senior co-captains, they will lead their team this season.

"Sarah and Marnie have begun a new cycle," said Pesce. "It ends this year, but again what has happened is their teammates see the success Marnie and Sarah generate and it begins to filter through to the others. We can build on this for the future."

Tradition

It has become a tradition for Coach Pesce, each year he designs a shirt for the cross country runners with a saying on it. A runner must earn the shirt by having a great race or drastically lowering their time. Last year the shirt said, You are what you take time to become.

This season, Pesce wants the runners to remember what they are there for.

Your persistence is your belief in yourself.

Newtown cross country runners will be sporting these shirts everywhere, proud to be a runner.

"I always encourage the kids," said coach Pesce. "You can set goals and have high expectations. It's not the most important thing to win something. Just getting there can be more fulfilling than actually winning the event. If you set a goal to come in first, that's wonderful, but don't ever lose sight of how you got there — by hard work with your teammates. "