Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Gloucester Catholic 1985 Cross Country Teams

The 2009 Gloucester Catholic (NJ) Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams had their best season in years:
The girls finished 7-0 and won the Tri County Conference Diamond Division again while the boys were 8-1 finishing second in the conference.  To find the last time both cross country teams had comparably successful seasons in the same year you would probably have to go back to 1985.
In the 1985 season the boys had their first season with double digit victories since 1977, while the girls finished with a school record  11 wins and qualified for the NJSIAA meet of champions by finishing 3rd in the state. The girls team finished third in the state despite only having 8 girls.
While there have been seven indiduals qualify for the NJSIAA Cross Country Meet of Champions (Jack Heath, Ann Wodarczyk, Chris Callinan, Ted Callinan, Tabitha Francks, Damian Gallagher and Emily Ward), the 1985 girls team remains the only Gloucester Catholic team to qualify for the NJSIAA Cross Country Meet of Champs as a team.

 The 1985 Boys team consisted of: Chris Callinan, Ed McCarty, Dan Magee, Rich Piasecki, Nick Simila, Jim Delaney, Brian Aster, Dick Butwin, John Pardini, Andy Wodarczyk, Andy Currie, Ken Davis, Mike Hampton, Joe Falcone, Dave Townsend and Dan Hopkins.
The 1985 Girls team consisted of: Sue Steckel, Mary Sigmund, AnnMarie Wodarczyk, Melanie Mullins, Amy McKenna, Diane Sigmund, Maria Madson and Janine Nestore.
We recently caught up with some of the members of the 1985 team for an update on their current status and memories of that outstanding season:
Chris Callinan- presently a math teacher and track and cross country coach at Cherokee High School, school record holder at Cabrini College.
Ann Wodarczyk and Chris Callinan at Holmdel, NJ Meet of Champs"I remember the people that I ran with at GC. I enjoyed the times that we got to travel and run together. I remember the times that I got to run with my coach (Jack Heath). I also enjoyed meeting and spending time with Browning Ross. I still see some of the people that I ran with at Gloucester Catholic."
Andy Currie: Seved on active duty with the Marines from 1988 to 1993, graduated from Penn State with and electrical enginnering degree and works for Lockheed Martin in Virginia.
"I remember running and being on the team being a lot of fun. There was one time we ran a race (againtst Audubon, NJ) and finished on the track between the uprights on the football field during half time of their football game in front of packed stands."

Dan Magee
Dan Magee: Dan was one of the captains of the team and is presently an Active Living Recreation Director living in  Decatur, Georgia.
Tom Magee: Lives in Marlton, NJ with his wife and two sons. Tom is a police officer (12 years) and DARE officer for Evesham, NJ police Department. For exercise, Tom rides a bicyle over the Commodore Barry bridge  during the Police Unity Tour with 500 cops http://www.policeunitytour.com/. He is married and has two sons. "I enjoyed running over the Ben Franklin Bridge and stopping at the Bourse for a soft pretzel."
Joe Falcone: Joe lives in Bellmawr NJ, is married with 4 children and a  police officer for Bellmawr (20 years). Joe was  a varsity cross country runner, baseball player and bowler at GCHS.
He is a police officer in Bellmawr, NJ where he resides with his wife and four
children. During his career as an officer Joe has received 6 citations for life saving. He enjoys interacting with the community and making sure every resident feels safe. "Cross country taught me how to stay focused.
I really enjoyed practice. Coach Heath always motivated us no matter how tired we were."
The Butwin FamilyDick Butwin: Dick is married, and lives in Myrte Beach, South Carolina.  He and his wife recently welcomed a baby girl Helena. Dick is a Villanova grad who works as a mechanical engineer. "I remember the ways we would get around not having a track or cross country location of our own, and the unique and varied ways we still practiced as a team, from the Bridge runs to the runs to Audubon, to the Philadelphia Zoo 10k. Several years ago I was in South Korea for work, and went for a jog along the river bank. Most of the South Korean joggers had masks on to ward off swine flu and the smell of the river. It made me think that maybe not having a track at Gloucester Catholic was not so bad after all!"
Question: Why do you think the 1985 teams so successful?
Coach Jack Heath: "I had started coaching at Gloucester Catholic with my coach Browning Ross while still running for Rowan University (Glassboro, NJ). I visited some of the sending Catholic grade schools at that time that didn't have track programs to talk about cross country and put on some mini races with prizes and food-- Browning Ross style. When I graduated from Rowan I taught at Gloucester Catholic for two years, Browning Ross had temporarily retired and I coached both the track and cross country teams. A few of the kids that ran really in those grade school races, like Nick Simila (St Marys Gloucester NJ) came out for the team.  A few others like Chris Callinan and Ann Wodarczyk I saw in the halls and asked to come out.
You could tell they were going to be good runners. The 1985 teams were definitely among my favorite teams that I've coached, and everyone has gone on to do really well."
Andy Currie and Nick Simila1985 GCHS Yearbook

1985 GCHS Yearbook
Click here for the top songs of 1985: http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id215.htm

Friday, April 23, 2010

A Conversation with Jim Eisenreich

Jim Eisenreich was born with Tourettes,  a neurological disorder that shows itself by physical and verbal tics. Despite having Tourettes, and having to bear taunting from opposing fans when he broke into Professional Baseball, Eisenriech managed to overcome, to become a major league ballplayer and then to have a great major league career playing for 15 years and compiling a .290 life time batting average. He hit over .300 for six years, and helped lead the Phillies to the 1993 pennant and the Marlins to the 1997 World Series Championship. While playing for the Phillies from 1993 to 1996 he was arguably the fans favorite player on a team with a number of colorful characters. After ending his major league baseball career, Eisenreich continued his work with Tourettes awareness and founded the Jim Eisenreich Foundation for Children with Tourettes http://www.tourettes.org/index.php?id=609
The foundation comforts and offers support to children with Tourettes as well as educating the public about Tourettes.
This interview was conducted with Jim just as his major league career was winding down with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jim, who was the biggest infuence on your career?
Jim: My dad had the biggest influence on my career.
Where did you go to school?
Jim: I went to St Cloud State University in St. Cloud Minnesota.
How many years have yo played pro ball?
Jim: I've played for 19 years, 15 years in the Major Leagues with the Twins, Royals, Phillies, Marlins and Dodgers. (Note: Eisenriech batted over .600 against the Dodgers in his career as a player.)
Do you have any hobbies besides playing baseball?
Jim: I like to hunt and fish and play a little golf.
How many children do you have?
Jim: My wife Leann and I have 4 children and we live in Kansas City Missouri.
Do you miss anything about Philadelphia?
Jim: I miss the fans. It was a great place for me to play.
How did you like playing for the Marlins and Dodgers?
Jim: I had a fun year playing with the Marlins (1997 World Champions), but the weather was a little too hot for a nothern kid. LA was ok but I didnt play much or I thought very well.
Will you ever coach?
Jim: No, the only coaching I think I'll do is for my kids.
What was your biggest accomplishment in baseball, and what was the toughest thing you had to do?
Jim: Winning the World Series in 1997 was my biggest accomplishment. Baseball is still fun for me but I miss my growing family more and more (being on the road).
Any comments about your faith?
Jim: My faith remains the same (Roman Catholic). I've had the privilege, given by the Lord to continue playing for his purpose. I do attend Mass during the season whenever I can.
What do you think about the Phillies fans after having played in Philadelphia for 3 years?
Jim: I thought the Phillies fans were great.
How do you manage to stay in shape as a veteran player?
Jim: As I get older I need to do more and more to keep up with the kids!
What is your greatest thrill/proudest moment?
Jim:  It's been when each of my children have been born.
What is your philosophy?
Jim: Everything happens for a reason.
Any final comments?
Jim: I've been very blessed to have my dreams come true and I hope I can honor the Lord the way he wants me to.

For more information on a possible new treatment for Tourettes: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703322204575226580319129398.html?mod=WSJ_article_MoreIn

Wednesday, April 14, 2010