Warrior History

2002 State Championship Cross Country Team

Walsh Jesuit High School cross country team captures 2nd state championship in school history. Here’s a look back with Coach Pat Ritchie on the remarkable ’02 win.

Warrior History

2002 State Championship Cross Country Team

Walsh Jesuit High School cross country team captures 2nd state championship in school history. Here’s a look back with Coach Pat Ritchie on the remarkable ’02 win.

How was the XC season leading up to the 2002 State Meet?

In 2002 we were Division II, but I felt we’d be better served if we ran in only Division I races. We didn’t win our first meet of the season until the district meet. It was also a good way to hide. We were barely ranked in the state because it was hard for people to figure out how we were doing. We also had an ace up our sleeve.

OHSAA Division 2 Boys

Mike Spittler, a junior, was a solid 1600-runner in track, but he was also a good golfer who played on the school golf team. Mike’s dad is my family physician. He asked if Mike could really help us on the cross country team. I told him with Mike running on the team, we can win state. So, we shared him with the golf team. He would run on his own and then I would meet him at the Tow Path on Sunday afternoon. He would mimic the quality workout of the week while I followed along behind him on a bike giving him splits. We also determined when he would race on Saturday and when he would compete in a golf match. Note: This only works if the kid is a special individual and really wants to do this. Mike ran in the district meet and we won. However, we planned on him missing the regional meet because of golf. I told the team, don’t be seventh man at regionals, because when we qualify to state, Spitt is running. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the golf team stumbled and did not qualify, so we had Mike for the regionals. However, we only finished third at regionals! On the bus ride home from Boardman, I remember calling our captain, Scott Hoffmann, up to the front of the bus to talk to him as to what happened. A third place regional team usually does not win state. We were both confused.

What was the weather like on race day?

I don’t specifically remember the weather. By that time in my coaching career, I had come up with the phrase, “IT’S WARRIOR WEATHER” which meant it doesn’t matter what the weather is. We’re all running under the same conditions. Embrace the weather and use it to your advantage.

Where was the State Meet held that year?

The meet was held at Scioto Downs, probably the nicest site that the OHSAA has used in the past 60-years or so.

Were there any surprises in the race?

A state championship XC race is usually very difficult to watch because it’s hard to determine which team is winning. However, when our guys ran by the stands the first time, I could tell we were in pretty good shape. That was a very pleasant surprise.

What were you’re thoughts during the race?

After they ran by the stands the first time, I just remember thinking that I hope that they can run the north side of the course as well as they did the south side. We were definitely in the hunt.

Who were the other top teams?

As it turned out, our Boardman Regional Meet swept the top five places in Columbus. In order after us it was Ashtabula Edgewood (1st at Boardman), Jefferson Area (5th at Boardman), Canton Central Catholic (2nd at Boardman), and University School (4th at Boardman). Third place at regionals didn’t seem so bad now.

How would you describe the team?

Opportunistic – They all picked the perfect time to run their best race of the season.

Did you try anything different in that year’s training program leading up the state championship?

Over the years, our training had continued to evolve. By 2002, the kids wore heart rate monitors. All their training was based on their maximum heart rate. They also spent one day per week in the pool. Cross-training had definitely cut down on overuse type injuries.

Which jersey (color) did the team race on that day?

We drove down on Friday as usual and ran the course. That night, after dinner, we were getting ready for our visualization routine. During this routine, I would talk them through the race – the jostling at the start, the different race surfaces, the sounds, the colors, the racing tangents, the excitement, the PAIN, the finish, etc. I always wanted them to be on the lookout for our colors, someone to run with and share the responsibility of competing. They had already picked out their uniforms before we left on Friday. But, before we started the visualization, I told them to forget about the original uniform tops and bottoms and I pulled out these black tops and black bottoms and told them, tomorrow you are going to wear these “BAD ASS BLACK” uniforms. Their reaction was priceless. I sincerely believe at that very moment, we won state!

Looking back, what is your fondest memory from that day?

I have several fond memories. While we’re standing on the infield in front of the stands, after the race, the PA announcer was reading off the results, starting with 16th place and working his way up the list. When he got to the runner-up team’s name and announced them, the kids started going crazy. I never heard him announce Walsh Jesuit as first place finishers. It was so cool! Then, when we got to the bus after having won, the kids immediately turned on their boom box and out played Queen’s, “We are the Champions.” My last memory is driving the bus home on I-70. It’s about a two hour drive, but it felt more like 15-minutes. I don’t believe that the wheels of the bus ever touched the road!

How was the XC season leading up to the 2002 State Meet?

In 2002 we were Division II, but I felt we’d be better served if we ran in only Division I races. We didn’t win our first meet of the season until the district meet. It was also a good way to hide. We were barely ranked in the state because it was hard for people to figure out how we were doing. We also had an ace up our sleeve.

OHSAA Division 2 Boys

Mike Spittler, a junior, was a solid 1600-runner in track, but he was also a good golfer who played on the school golf team. Mike’s dad is my family physician. He asked if Mike could really help us on the cross country team. I told him with Mike running on the team, we can win state. So, we shared him with the golf team. He would run on his own and then I would meet him at the Tow Path on Sunday afternoon. He would mimic the quality workout of the week while I followed along behind him on a bike giving him splits. We also determined when he would race on Saturday and when he would compete in a golf match. Note: This only works if the kid is a special individual and really wants to do this. Mike ran in the district meet and we won. However, we planned on him missing the regional meet because of golf. I told the team, don’t be seventh man at regionals, because when we qualify to state, Spitt is running. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the golf team stumbled and did not qualify, so we had Mike for the regionals. However, we only finished third at regionals! On the bus ride home from Boardman, I remember calling our captain, Scott Hoffmann, up to the front of the bus to talk to him as to what happened. A third place regional team usually does not win state. We were both confused.

What was the weather like on race day?

I don’t specifically remember the weather. By that time in my coaching career, I had come up with the phrase, “IT’S WARRIOR WEATHER” which meant it doesn’t matter what the weather is. We’re all running under the same conditions. Embrace the weather and use it to your advantage.

Where was the State Meet held that year?

The meet was held at Scioto Downs, probably the nicest site that the OHSAA has used in the past 60-years or so.

Were there any surprises in the race?

A state championship XC race is usually very difficult to watch because it’s hard to determine which team is winning. However, when our guys ran by the stands the first time, I could tell we were in pretty good shape. That was a very pleasant surprise.

What were you’re thoughts during the race?

After they ran by the stands the first time, I just remember thinking that I hope that they can run the north side of the course as well as they did the south side. We were definitely in the hunt.

Who were the other top teams?

As it turned out, our Boardman Regional Meet swept the top five places in Columbus. In order after us it was Ashtabula Edgewood (1st at Boardman), Jefferson Area (5th at Boardman), Canton Central Catholic (2nd at Boardman), and University School (4th at Boardman). Third place at regionals didn’t seem so bad now.

How would you describe the team?

Opportunistic – They all picked the perfect time to run their best race of the season.

Did you try anything different in that year’s training program leading up the state championship?

Over the years, our training had continued to evolve. By 2002, the kids wore heart rate monitors. All their training was based on their maximum heart rate. They also spent one day per week in the pool. Cross-training had definitely cut down on overuse type injuries.

Which jersey (color) did the team race on that day?

We drove down on Friday as usual and ran the course. That night, after dinner, we were getting ready for our visualization routine. During this routine, I would talk them through the race – the jostling at the start, the different race surfaces, the sounds, the colors, the racing tangents, the excitement, the PAIN, the finish, etc. I always wanted them to be on the lookout for our colors, someone to run with and share the responsibility of competing. They had already picked out their uniforms before we left on Friday. But, before we started the visualization, I told them to forget about the original uniform tops and bottoms and I pulled out these black tops and black bottoms and told them, tomorrow you are going to wear these “BAD ASS BLACK” uniforms. Their reaction was priceless. I sincerely believe at that very moment, we won state!

Looking back, what is your fondest memory from that day?

I have several fond memories. While we’re standing on the infield in front of the stands, after the race, the PA announcer was reading off the results, starting with 16th place and working his way up the list. When he got to the runner-up team’s name and announced them, the kids started going crazy. I never heard him announce Walsh Jesuit as first place finishers. It was so cool! Then, when we got to the bus after having won, the kids immediately turned on their boom box and out played Queen’s, “We are the Champions.” My last memory is driving the bus home on I-70. It’s about a two hour drive, but it felt more like 15-minutes. I don’t believe that the wheels of the bus ever touched the road!