Whether there are 30 runners or 300, Sam Romanoski shakes hands with every finisher after his cross-country races.
“My dad taught me that good sportsmanship is better than winning,” said Romanoski, a Lake Zurich senior. “We all start a race together. We all go through the same thing. We just finish in a different time.”
He won every regular-season race last season and always stood by to congratulate everyone else.
And after his biggest race, the Class AA state final, he did the same in defeat.
“It was the right thing to do,” he said. “It was everything I was taught to do, and it was everything I wanted to do.”
He nearly won the state-championship race, but Glenbard South senior Micah VanDenend, currently running for Iowa, had a superb finishing kick and won the 3-mile event in 14 minutes 19 seconds–four seconds ahead of Romanoski.
Romanoski didn’t walk away from the finish chute until he shook hands with the remaining 266 runners who filed in behind him. He never considered taking a moment for himself, not even when the stunning defeat began to sink in. He kept congratulating everyone because, win or lose, it’s what he has been doing since his freshman season.
Romanoski has been to the state championships twice. He ran 17th as a sophomore.
“Sam can’t go much higher, except to win state and finish with a strong 200 meters,” Lake Zurich coach B.J. Lange said.
Romanoski knows it won’t be easy. He points to the stellar track season Edwardsville senior Stephen Pifer had last spring when Pifer won the 1,600 meters, calling him “amazing.” Pifer finished third in the 2001 state cross-country final, and Andrew junior Matt Withrow followed in fourth. Withrow also was outstanding in track, finishing second to Glenbard South’s VanDenend in the 3,200. Romanoski ran a disappointing eighth in the 3,200.
“Romanoski and Pifer are still a notch ahead in cross country,” said Joe Mortimer, Withrow’s coach. “They have the credentials with their times at state cross country. Matt’s goal is to close the gap.”
To prepare for this cross-country season, Romanoski ran more than 800 miles over the summer. High school runners sometimes earn a measure of respect among their peers with their summer mileage.
“Football players talk about how much they can bench-press,” Romanoski said. “We talk about how much we run. In football, it’s not always the one who can bench the most who wins. It’s the one with more heart. It’s the same in cross country.”
He seems to regard cross country as a fraternity. The runners are linked by their passion for the sport.
“When people think of sports, they think football, basketball and baseball,” he said. “Cross-country runners, they’re not going to get the head cheerleader as their homecoming date. We do the sport because we want to run.”
He has earned as much respect for his sportsmanship as his success. Although he returns as a heavy favorite to win the Class AA state championship, he would prefer to be an underdog.
“When you’re already No. 1, you have to surprise people in another way, by time or margin of victory,” he said. “If I’m going to turn heads, that’s how I’m going to have to turn them.”
Top boys cross-country teams
1. York
The Dukes are looking for their 22nd state title under coach Joe Newton and their third in four seasons. They will be tough to beat with a strong pack of runners, including five that were members of last year’s fourth-place team. Seniors Mike Corry, 55th in the 2001 state final, Adam Manta (79th), Collin Bourdage (126th), Mike Palumbo (169th) and sophomore Jon Schroeder (157th) return, and at least 10 other runners are capable of making the lineup. Newton is in his third year of retirement from teaching physical education, but his program hasn’t been affected by his departure from the classroom. Ninety-six runners attended the first practice, with 40 to 50 freshmen expected to join by next week.
2. Glenbard South
To repeat as champions, the Raiders must compensate for the departure of 2001 state champion Micah VanDenend, now running at Iowa, and Kevin Kuhlman (23rd). The team’s lineup is full of juniors and will be led by Eric MacTaggart (24th) and John Mulrow (31st). “People will call John a surprise,” Glenbard South coach Andy Preuss said. “He’s no surprise to me. People don’t know about him because we’ve had Micah, Kevin and Eric.” Kyle Nugent (97th), Mike Adduci (255th), transfer Chris Honig of Naples, Fla., and Derek Nathan also will keep Glenbard South tough through 2003.
3. Schaumburg
The Saxons likely will move up significantly from last year’s 14th-place finish in the state final with Devin Anderson leading them. Anderson, a senior, ran 44th in the state meet and finished 10th in the 3,200 in track. Juniors Matt Czarny (78th) and Brian Lesiewicz (91st) and senior Ian Macnider (213th) give Anderson a solid supporting cast. Martin Aburto, a transfer from Conant, could break into the top five. “A top-five finish, that’s not unrealistic for our team,” coach Jim Macnider said. “I find it hard to believe we can’t run with almost anyone.”
4. Waubonsie Valley
Senior Erich Mousseau, 42nd in last year’s state meet, has recovered from a stress fracture. If he remains injury-free, Waubonsie will contend for its second straight top-five finish. Michael Huhtala (110th) also is a strong front-runner, and teammates Kevin Chow (108th) and Patrick Sweeney (152nd) give Waubonsie Valley balance among its top runners. The Warriors may not have a dominating No. 1 runner, and they may not need one. “We have 10 guys who will compete for the No. 7 spot,” coach David Severance said. “We are unusually strong.”
5. Wheaton Warrenville South
Junior Mike Popejoy could vie for a state title, a year after he finished 59th. He led the team Downstate for the first time last year and the Tigers finished 21st in their debut. Popejoy also had a breakthrough track season, in which he finished seventh in the 3,200. John McHale (109th), Gary Pfennig (144th), Pat Parish (161st) and Paul Fortunato (190th) are returning state finalists, and coach Greta Havey has at least seven more runners eager to break into the lineup. “We don’t have a York program,” Havey said. “I’m trying to be cautious so the kids aren’t overwhelmed.”
Best of the rest: Naperville North, Barrington, Neuqua Valley, Brother Rice, Wheeling.
Top runners
Devin Anderson, sr., Schaumburg
Larry Anzalone, sr., Fenton
Drake Ballew, sr., Crystal Lake Central
Mike Corry, sr., York
Brent Cunningham, sr., Brother Rice
Sean Hardy, sr., Naperville Central
Tim Kelly, sr., Sandburg
Jim Kestler, sr., Northridge Prep
Joe King, sr., Brother Rice
Spencer Kirk, sr., Oak Park
Eric MacTaggart, jr., Glenbard South
Alex Mahoney, jr., New Trier
Erich Mousseau, sr., Waubonsie V.
John Mulrow, jr., Glenbard South
Mike Popejoy, jr., Wheaton W. South
Christian Reid, sr., Thornton F. South
Sam Romanoski, sr., Lake Zurich
Michael Skinner, jr., Lockport
Sam Watson, sr., Oak Park
Matt Withrow, jr., Andrew
Marlen Garcia.
