“”””The Dowling Project

Dowling Catholic

X-Country

The Norwalk Invitational

October 7, 2013

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Dowling Catholic “”The Dowling Project”

The Norwalk Invitational October 7, 2013

Today’s  Preview    This   is   the   first   time   the  Maroons  have  participated   in   the  Norwalk   Invitational.    The  course  is  fast  and  fair.    Look  for  some  fast  times.    The  teams  that  will  be  participating  will  be  SE  Polk,  Grinnell,  Winterset,  Pella,  Ballard,  Newton,  Earlham,  Norwalk,  Carlisle  and  DM  Lincoln.  The  Maroons  will  face  some  of   the  best  runners  of   the  area  such  as  fourth   ranked   Grace   Coen   of   Newton,   Sierra   Mitchell   of   SE   Polk   and   Abby   Kohut  Jackson  of  Ballard.    We’ll  also  see  the  smiling   face  of   former  Maroon  Abbie  Vaughan,  now  running  for  Carlisle.    Junior  Varsity  Sophomore  Caroline  Warmuth,  Freshmen  Jillian  Jaeger  and  Allie  McLuen  will   lead  the  Maroons   in   the   Junior  Varsity  race.    They  are   fresh  off   of   their  great   performance  at  Griak.    Watch  Cate  Freeman  to  improve  significantly  as  she  continues  to  recover  from  a  nagging  injury.    Harriet  Hubbell  is  also  back  on  the  mend  and  will  be  someone  to  watch  in  only  her  second   race  of   the   season.    Also   looking   to   improve   today  will  be   Senior  Ashley  Vaughan,  juniors  Claire  Hartlieb  and  Shannon  Beh.      The  Varsity  Race  The  Girls  Varsity  Race  will  feature  the  Maroons,  anxious  to  get  back  at  it  after  their  excellent  showing  at  Griak.    While  Pleasant  Valley  edged  us  out  in  Minneapolis,  the  girls  are  primed  for  the  BIG  meets  leading  to  state.    “There’s  blood  in  the  water”  as  the  Maroons  are  hungry  for  their  championship  run.        Karissa  Schweizer  is  simply  En  Fuego  this  year.    She  is  fast,  fit  and  healthy.    I  can’t  wait  to  see  what  she  does  down  the  stretch  of  the  season.    C.  Vivian  Broderick  continues  to  improve  along  with  Hannah  Thomas.    Hannah  admittedly  did  not  have  her  best  race  at  Griak  she’s  ready  to  reclaim  her  spot  in  the  state’s  top  runners.    The  two  biggest  surprises  this  year  have  been  junior  Ellen  Sullivan  and  Sophomore  Erin  Cahalan.    Their  improvement  has  provided  us  the  depth  that  a  championship  team  needs.      The  stability  of  our  team  is  always  based  on  senior  leadership.    Along  with  Karissa,  Jenny  Luksan  and  Nicole  Svendsen  have  been  the  dependable  leaders  that  make  our  team  go.    What  is  generally  unnoticed  by  everyone  outside  of  our  team,  the  little  but  important  things  our  seniors  offer  is  vital  to  the  success  of  our  program.    

“"Find though she but little, she is fierce”

William Shakespeare

Kaliana Vila      

 My   XC   experience   began   in   8th   grade   when   my   best  friend  convinced  me  to  join  the  SEP  team.    When  I  joined  I  didn’t  really  know  what  XC  was,  or  the  amount  of  time,  and  energy  I  would  put  into  this  sport.    I  was  not  a  good  XC  runner,  but  neither  was  my  friend  and  I  had  so  much  fun  on  the  team  in  middle  school,  I  decided  I  would  try  it  in  high  school  as  well.      

 My  second  day  of  summer  practice  with  the  Dowling  XC  team,   I   sprained   my   ankle.     I   didn’t   return   to   practice  until   the   first   day   of   school   freshman   year,   and  when   I  finally   returned,   I   was   extremely   nervous   about   joining  the   team.    After   a   few  weeks   I   began   to   get   to   know  a  few  of  the  other  girls  on  the  team  and  began  having  fun.      

 I’ve   loved  my   team  ever   since.     Although   running   is   nice,   improving  my   time   is  only  a   small  part   of  why   I   joined  XC.     I   joined  the  Dowling  team  because  of   the  amazing  team  I  had  left.    I  wanted  to  find  an  environment  like  my  middle  school  team  in  high  school.    I  never  imagined  my  freshman  year  the  amount  of  friends  I  would   make   because   of   XC.     I’ve   strengthened   friendships   I   already   had,   and  made  a  ton  of  new  friends.    When  I  look  back  at  freshman  year,  I  thank  God  that  He  had  it  in  His  plan  for  me  to  join  Dowling  XC.        I   consider   the   JV   girls  my   second   family.     Some   of  my   favorite  memories   have  been   joking   and   laughing   during   runs,   after   practice,   and   at   pasta   dinners  with  these  girls.    The  JV  girls  are  my  sisters.    As  this  season  draws  to  close,  I  know  I  will  miss   them   so   much   next   year.     They   inspire  me   to   be   the   best   runner,   friend,  leader,   and  Catholic.     I   know   that  whatever   I   do,   they  will   support  me  and   love  me.    This   is  what  has  made  Dowling  Cross  Country  one  of  the  best  experiences   I  have  had.     It’s  the   love,  not   the  running  that  has  kept  me  on  the  DCHS  team  for  four  years.        Although   the   running   is   a   great   way  to  stay  in  shape,  nothing  can  compete  with   the   running   buddies,   the   best  friends,   the  pasta   dinners,   the   inside  jokes,   fitting   as  many   girls   in   the   ice  tubs  as  possible.    They  are  the  reason  I  run;  they  are  the  reason  I  never  quit;  they   are   the   reason   Cross   Country   is  so  much  more  than  just  a  sport.    They  make  Cross  Country  a  community.    Editors  Note:  It  has  been  a  pleasure  having  Kaliana  on  our  team.  She  has  been  a  great  role  model  for  our  kids  and  constantly  reminds  me  and  everyone  else  on  the  team  what  is  really  important  in  life  and  continues  to  show  us  the  life  lessons  that  running  teaches  all  of  us.    

Middle School XC Wrap!  

           

           Dowling  Middle  School  XC  is  fit,  fast,  and  excited  for  our  final  3  meets.   Ten   days   ago  we   ventured   to   the   Great  White   North  (Minneapolis)   to   race  at   the  Mustang   Invitational.  Both   races  were  shorter   than  our  normal  distance  of  2  miles   (girls  raced  2000m  and  boys  raced  2500m)  so  we  were  not  sure  to  expect.  We  raced  well;  winning  the  girls  title  and  finishing  3rd  on  the  boy’s  side.  Dowling  girls  took  the  first  8  spots  scoring  a  perfect  score   of  15  points.   Janey  Meilander   led   the  way  winning  her  third  race  of  the  season.    

 Last  week  was  a  tough  week  of  training  to  get  that  final  push  of  volume  before  our   meet   in   Ankeny   on   10/8,  Conference   on   10/15,   and   State   on  10/19.  

“The Dowling Project”

From  the  Other  side  of  the  Ropes      Mike  and  Carol  Luksan  

I   am   the   proud   parent   of   two   cross-­‐country   runners,   so  when   Fr.   Kirby   asked  me   to   write   a   few   paragraphs   about  our  cross-­‐country  experience   I  quickly  said  yes.    How  tough  can  that  be?    The   tough  part   is  actually  keeping   it  to  a   few  paragraphs.    Our  cross-­‐country  adventure  began   in   seventh  grade,  as  Jenny  took  up  yet  another  sport.    She  added  cross-­‐country   to   soccer,   basketball,   volleyball,   and   track.     I   still  recall   one   day   in   which   she   had   practices   in   three   sports.    Jenny  was  a  quick  study,  and  enjoyed  early  success.      

 Jenny  won   the  state   XC  championship   in   seventh   grade,   and  more   importantly  was   part   of   the  team  champion  as  well.    Cross  country  and  running  success  seemed  to  come  easily,  and  in  some  ways  we  all  took  that  success  for  granted.    What  followed,  however,  were  some  more  challenging  times.    Stress  fractures  and  other  maladies  gave  us  perspective.    We  learned  to  appreciate  good  health.    We  no  longer  took  winning  for  granted.            As   Jenny’s   Dowling   running   days   advanced,   there   continued   to   be  highs   and   lows.     Jenny   persevered   with   the   aid   of   her   Dowling  support  system.    It  wasn’t  just  mom  and  dad  helping  her  through  the  rough  spots.    We  learned  to  ask  for  help.    We  are  thankful  for  Jenny’s  coaches  and  teammates.        Two  years  ago  Jenny’s  twin  brother  Jake…the  shy  and  quiet  one…quit  football  and  joined  the  boys’  cross-­‐country  team.    Jake  attacks  XC  like  he  attacks  life,  with  zest  and  energy.    Jake  allowed  us    To  see  the  sport  from  yet  another  perspective.    We  saw  the  joy  that  comes  from  working  hard  and  playing  hard  with  a  great  group  of  young  people.    Cross  county  success  could  now  be  measured  not  only  in  individual  and  team  success,  but  in  PRs  and  more  importantly  in  the  long-­‐term  positive  relationships  gained  and  nurtured.    And  who  can  forget  the  loss  that  hit  the  Merry  family,  the  Bott  family  and  the  Dowling  community  last  year.    We  were  all  reminded  of  how  precious  and  fleeting  life  itself  can  be.    We  found  comfort  in  our  faith  and  in  our  XC  community.  

 From   my   perspective,   our   cross-­‐country  experience  has  been  a  journey.     I   liken  it  to  the  first  time  we  went  to  an  XC  meet.    The   spectator   experience   was   all   about  the   running   and   seeing   who   would   win  on   that   course   on   that   particular   day.    There  was  a   lot  of   running  around,  a   lot  of   confusion,   and   some   frustration   as  well.    Now  that  I  am  a  seasoned  veteran,  I   realize   that   while   the   winning   is   still  pretty  darn  fun,  it   is  more  about  how  we  navigate  a  much  bigger  course  each  and  every  day.                

     

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NOT AN OFFICIAL COURSE MAP!!!

THIS IS A VERY GENERAL LOOK AT THE COURSE TO GIVE YOU A