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With heavy hearts, L-Way East runs to title
Updated: October 22, 2011 10:12PM
The Lincoln-Way East boys cross country team was running for more than a sectional qualifying mark at the Andrew Regional on Saturday at Turtlehead Lake in Orland Park.
The Griffins, as they have been doing all season long, were paying homage to a lost comrade.
Freshman Patrick Mizwicki, an East runner, died last month when he was struck by a car during a cross country practice. Inspired by its fallen teammate, East claimed the regional title Saturday, with five runners finishing in the top 20 on the 3-mile course.
“We’ve run this season with heavy hearts. I think they wanted to do well in his memory, and they did,” East coach Ross Widinski said. “Regardless of what happens the next few weeks, and whether or not we make it out of sectionals, as a team we’ve really grown up and matured. I’m proud of them.”
East had the top team score with 51 points, followed by Lincoln-Way Central (71) and Thornwood (80). Andrew (111), Homewood-Flossmoor (114), Lincoln-Way North (152) and T.F. South (155) also earned spots in Saturday’s Quincy Sectional.
Senior Tom Rotondi keyed the Griffins with a second-place finish (16 minutes, 11 seconds). Junior teammates Ben Hedges (16:27) and Luke Johnston (16:37) also finished in the top 10.
Several Griffins runners wore T-shirts with Mizwicki’s picture on the front. His older brother, John, ran in the race, finishing in 18:36.
“Running through the races you get to parts where it’s hard to push, but you think about him and it gets you through those hard parts,” John Mizwicki said.
Andrew’s Mike Keller (16:02) had no trouble earning the top spot, finishing nearly 10 seconds ahead of the next competitor.
On the girls side, Lincoln-Way North’s Dena Waldier (19:16) outkicked Lincoln-Way Central’s Alena Pacheco (19:18) to earn top individual honors.
“I just wanted to win for my team. I didn’t want to let them down,” Waldier said. “And I just wanted to prove to myself that I’m not going to give up since it’s my senior year.”
Lincoln-Way Central took team honors with 44 points. Taylor Martinez (19:26) and Mallory Johnson (19:55) finished fifth and ninth, respectively, for the Knights.
Lincoln-Way East (50), Andrew (60), Lincoln-Way North (89), H-F (105), Marian (207) and Thornton (212) rounded out the sectional qualifiers.
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