Warrior History
1984 State Championship Cross Country Team
2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the Walsh Jesuit High School cross country team’s first state championship. Here’s a look back with Coach Pat Ritchie on the epic 1984 victory.
Warrior History
1984 State Championship Cross Country Team
2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the Walsh Jesuit High School cross country team’s first state championship. Here’s a look back with Coach Pat Ritchie on the epic 1984 victory.
How was the XC season leading up to the 1984 State Meet?
Our 1983 team finished 2nd in the state, just 7 points out of first. It was a complete shock. I had no idea we were that good and I was determined not to make that mistake the following year, especially when we were only losing our 5th man.
After finishing 2nd in the state in ‘83, we opened the ‘84 season at a meet (Hudson) that was by invitation only. There were only six or seven boys and girls teams invited to compete in this very high power meet. We put four runners in front of Elder’s first man. Elder had been state champs in ’82 and at that time was The King. They were in the middle of putting together a string of state meet appearances will probably will never be matched. This first meet was one of the few times we ran our top five together.
Throughout the season, people would get sick or sustain an ouchy so I’d pull them. I didn’t want to screw things up. However, the worst injury was when Shannan sprained his ankle at Virginia Kendall. I mean, he really sprained it!! Not only did it turn black and blue, it turned a hideous color of yellow. We were not onto hydro training at that time, so I borrowed an old stationary bike from Patty’s dad. When the team got on the bus, Shannan would start pedaling. When we returned from practice, Shannan would stop pedaling, leaving a pool of sweat on the sidewalk. This went on for weeks and the team just kept winning. We even won Malone without him. We were even without one of our top five at the sectional meet. Then, during the week of the district meet, Rick Luby got sick and I was ready to hold him out. We would still be able to qualify without him, but we would not have won the meet. Against my better judgment, he talked me into letting him run. I told him to take it easy and just keep it close. Fat chance!! I believe he broke 17:00 on the Goodyear course and we remained undefeated!
What was the weather like on race day?
October 17, 1984 was an extremely warm day, much warmer than the year before.
Where was the State Meet held that year?
The race was at the North Facility on the OSU campus. None of it is there now. It’s all part of the present OSU athletic complex. The start was near where the Woody Hayes building now sits and they ran south. The first turn was at the corner of Olentangy and Lane, present site of the Schottenstein Center.
Were there any surprises in the race?
There were no real surprises during the race. We had three guys running in the top six or seven, number four was in the top 15 and number five was further back which was expected. Our number five runner was the key. His name was Keith Feaster. He ran XC, was a starter on the basketball team, ran the 800 in 1:57 and the long jumped over 22-ft. A hell of an athlete and a great kid!!
What were you’re thoughts during the race?
Somewhere in the first half of the race, Mike Luby made an aggressive move past a nearby runner. I got really nervous. What a way to have ended our season with a DQ of our number one runner?! Thankfully that didn’t happen and Mike ended up finishing 2nd overall.
Who were the other top teams?
Cincinnati Elder. And just like the first meet of the season, we put four guys in front of Elder’s first man.
How would you describe the team?
They were the most talented team in the history of the WJ and they were undefeated for the entire season. They were really, REALLY good! They’re the same kids that set a State of Ohio record in the 4 x 1600 relay that stood for about 20-years.
Did you try anything different in that year’s training program leading up the state championship?
Nothing new in training necessarily. My main goal was not to mess things up – seriously!
Which jersey (color) did the team race on that day?
That day they wore gold tops and maroon bottoms. In following years, when I asked the kids what uniforms they wanted to wear in the post season, these uniforms were referred to as The 1984’s!
Looking back, what is your fondest memory from that day?
My fondest memory that day was hugging my father after we won. There was little physical contact between us when I was growing up. It’s just the way it was. My seconded fondest memory was having dinner at the San Dar restaurant in Bellevue after the meet. The state meet trophy was our center piece. That was cool!
How was the XC season leading up to the 1984 State Meet?
Our 1983 team finished 2nd in the state, just 7 points out of first. It was a complete shock. I had no idea we were that good and I was determined not to make that mistake the following year, especially when we were only losing our 5th man.
After finishing 2nd in the state in ‘83, we opened the ‘84 season at a meet (Hudson) that was by invitation only. There were only six or seven boys and girls teams invited to compete in this very high power meet. We put four runners in front of Elder’s first man. Elder had been state champs in ’82 and at that time was The King. They were in the middle of putting together a string of state meet appearances will probably will never be matched. This first meet was one of the few times we ran our top five together.
Throughout the season, people would get sick or sustain an ouchy so I’d pull them. I didn’t want to screw things up. However, the worst injury was when Shannan sprained his ankle at Virginia Kendall. I mean, he really sprained it!! Not only did it turn black and blue, it turned a hideous color of yellow. We were not onto hydro training at that time, so I borrowed an old stationary bike from Patty’s dad. When the team got on the bus, Shannan would start pedaling. When we returned from practice, Shannan would stop pedaling, leaving a pool of sweat on the sidewalk. This went on for weeks and the team just kept winning. We even won Malone without him. We were even without one of our top five at the sectional meet. Then, during the week of the district meet, Rick Luby got sick and I was ready to hold him out. We would still be able to qualify without him, but we would not have won the meet. Against my better judgment, he talked me into letting him run. I told him to take it easy and just keep it close. Fat chance!! I believe he broke 17:00 on the Goodyear course and we remained undefeated!
What was the weather like on race day?
October 17, 1984 was an extremely warm day, much warmer than the year before.
Where was the State Meet held that year?
The race was at the North Facility on the OSU campus. None of it is there now. It’s all part of the present OSU athletic complex. The start was near where the Woody Hayes building now sits and they ran south. The first turn was at the corner of Olentangy and Lane, present site of the Schottenstein Center.
Were there any surprises in the race?
There were no real surprises during the race. We had three guys running in the top six or seven, number four was in the top 15 and number five was further back which was expected. Our number five runner was the key. His name was Keith Feaster. He ran XC, was a starter on the basketball team, ran the 800 in 1:57 and the long jumped over 22-ft. A hell of an athlete and a great kid!!
What were you’re thoughts during the race?
Somewhere in the first half of the race, Mike Luby made an aggressive move past a nearby runner. I got really nervous. What a way to have ended our season with a DQ of our number one runner?! Thankfully that didn’t happen and Mike ended up finishing 2nd overall.
Who were the other top teams?
Cincinnati Elder. And just like the first meet of the season, we put four guys in front of Elder’s first man.
How would you describe the team?
They were the most talented team in the history of the WJ and they were undefeated for the entire season. They were really, REALLY good! They’re the same kids that set a State of Ohio record in the 4 x 1600 relay that stood for about 20-years.
Did you try anything different in that year’s training program leading up the state championship?
Nothing new in training necessarily. My main goal was not to mess things up – seriously!
Which jersey (color) did the team race on that day?
That day they wore gold tops and maroon bottoms. In following years, when I asked the kids what uniforms they wanted to wear in the post season, these uniforms were referred to as The 1984’s!
Looking back, what is your fondest memory from that day?
My fondest memory that day was hugging my father after we won. There was little physical contact between us when I was growing up. It’s just the way it was. My seconded fondest memory was having dinner at the San Dar restaurant in Bellevue after the meet. The state meet trophy was our center piece. That was cool!