Girls Cross Country: Despite injuries, Valpo coach led team to third-place finish

Updated: November 28, 2011 10:11PM

Valparaiso girls cross country coach Karen DeVries was becoming more antsy and apprehensive with each passing day.

DeVries was experiencing a myriad of emotions concerning the health of her three senior runners.

Her daughter, Katelyn, along with teammates Lauren Bigger, and Tricia Joll, were recovering from stress fractures that had sidelined them since the start of summer.

Joll was released by her doctor first, while DeVries and Bigger weren’t given the green light until the third week in August.

With summer the most important training time for runners, DeVries knew those three girls were way behind.

Yet, even with all the adversity they faced, the season culminated with a Duneland Athletic Conference title and a No. 3 team finish at state.

“That was a very special day — very rewarding, very satisfying,” said DeVries, the Post-Tribune’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. “Even though we finished third, I felt like we had won. It was a very long process bringing them back, because when the season began, nobody knew if we’d have any of them. It was very frustrating for them, and for me.”

While injured, the three seniors came to practice and did what they could — swimming, elliptical, stationary bike and weight lifting.

The extra work was something they needed to catch-up with the rest of the team.

Some days there were breakthroughs. Other days, steps backwards. There were also days when it became too much for the coach to deal with.

“It was a roller coaster of emotions for months and it was very, very difficult at times,” DeVries said. “I was carrying their burden and their weight on my shoulders. All the frustrations and emotions of everything that was happening — I was just really struggling with that.

“All of them had breakthroughs and setbacks throughout the summer. My trust and belief in God helped a lot.”

She also had a lot of support from assistant coach Adam Nellessen and her husband, Robert.

By the time the DAC meet rolled around, all three athletes were fairly healthy and competing again.

The results were incredible. Valpo won the meet and built momentum for the impending postseason.

“When the season started, we didn’t think we’d ever make it all the way to state, because none of us were running,” Bigger said.

“The DAC was our first race back. We didn’t know if we were going to hurt ourselves, or do really well. I think it gave us a big boost of confidence.”

Katelyn DeVries said when the team won DAC, everyone firmly believed a deep postseason run was possible.

In fact, Valpo was primed for a big finish.

“We were all standing in a circle and our hearts were beating so fast, while waiting for the team names to be called out,” said DeVries, who finished 17th.

When Valparaiso was announced No. 3, all the girls screamed.

“We knew that if we worked together, we could accomplish the goals we set at the beginning — to make it to state and get top five,” DeVries said. “I think we always trusted (my mom) with everything she told us to do. We knew she was definitely leading us in the right direction.”

Joll said she’ll never forget this season.

“Out of all of my years, this was my favorite year,” she said. “Our coach did a good job of bringing us together, whether it was inside or outside of running. When we couldn’t run, she provided alternate workouts for us. She was a good role model.

“She didn’t push us to run before we were ready — even though the doctor said we could. She was really cautious with us. She helped ease us back into it. I think she did a good job.”

first team

Becca Conley

Andrean junior

By the numbers: 14th at state, 6th at semistate, 1st at regional, 1st at sectional

Raves: She came into her own this year by winning sectional and regional titles and earning state medalist honors. And she has one more season to get even better.

Katelyn Devries

Valparaiso seniorBy the numbers:

17th at state, 4th at semistate, 1st at regional, 1st at sectional

Raves: She finished her career by taking home a pair of postseason first-place honors, and then helping lead the Vikings to third at state.

Elena Lancioni

LaPorte sophomore

By the numbers: 21st at state, 3rd at semistate, 2nd at regional, 3rd at sectional

Raves: So far so good with the young runner’s development as she improved upon her state effort as a freshman and still has two years left to improve it even more.

Taylor Austin

Griffith junior

By the numbers: 24th at state, 7th at semistate, 2nd at regional, 1st at sectional

Raves: Like her friendly rival at Andrean (Conley), Austin also came into her own this season with a sectional title and runner-up at regional, to Conley of course.

Lauren McCarroll

Crown Point senior

By the numbers: 44th at state, 5th at semistate, 3rd at regional, 2nd at sectional

Raves: She posted three top-five postseason finishes individually, then helped the Bulldogs finish 16th at state.

SECOND team

Shelby Carroll

Lake Central senior

By the numbers: 28th at state, 8th at semistate, 4th at regional, 2nd at sectional

Raves: She finished her career with another trip to state individually, while helping the Indians win sectional and regional titles.

Tiffany Fortney

Valparaiso juniorBy the numbers:

43rd at state, 12th at semistate, 5th at regional, 6th at sectional

Raves: She could be the Vikings’ No. 1 runner next season as a senior after a great postseason in helping lead Valparaiso to third at state.

Allison Mundell

Valparaiso freshman

By the numbers: 83rd at state, 10th at semistate, 3rd at regional, 2nd at sectional

Raves: Fortney will be challenged for that No. 1 spot by Mundell, who burst onto the area running scene with a stellar postseason.

Lyndie Pierce

Crown Point sophomore

By the numbers: 82nd at state, 15th at semistate, 7th at regional, 4th at sectional

Raves: She’s posting finishes that will remind you of her older sister. But Lyndie still has plenty of time to develop her own CP legacy.

Megan Zajac

Lake Central freshman

By the numbers: 19th at semistate, 6th at regional, 4th at sectional

Raves: She just missed reaching state, but still was able to help the Indians win sectional and regional titles and was second-best on the team for most of her first season.

Honorable mention

Andrean: Kellyn Vale; Boone Grove: Mariah Rodriguez, Sarah Steinhilber, Gabriela Salas; Calumet: Andrea DeGard; Chesterton: Haley Cushway, Melanie Buckmaster, Kassidy Scott; Crown Point: Allison Wortel, Allison Carpenter, Alex St. Amour; Gavit: Stephanie Maman; Griffith: Brittany Burbridge, Samantha Aguilar; Hanover Central: Taylor Hillegonds; Hebron: Abigail Getautas, Elizabeth Fox, Natalie Kaczmarski, Lexie Schatz; Highland: Fanny Davalos; Hobart: Celena Guerrero, Mindy Whidden; Kankakee Valley: Allison Rockley, Kaylin Orsburn, Brittany Stepp, Michelle Kent; Kouts: Tara Hamstra; Lake Central: Tatiana Lazic, Tara Zlotkowski, Amanda Onest, Sarah Hudi, Jill Tharp; Lowell: Sarah Edwards, Sarah Wieser; Merrillville: Victoria Collins, Kara Phillips; Michigan City: Christine Brennan; Morgan Twp.: Ellen Turman; Munster: Emily McNicholas, Colleen Ogren; North Judson: Kendall Gardner; Portage: Terra Norman, Paige Pizer, Megan Cassidy; South Central: Kyleigh Werner; Valparaiso: Lauren Bigger, Patricia Joll; West Side: DeAushania Wheeler: Kelly O‚Shea; Whiting: Citali Lopez

— By correspondent John O’Malley

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