Stack, Peoria meet again

Four years ago, Stack shocked the Class AA cross country field by winning the state meet as a freshman at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

It's only fitting the senior will be running her last high school race at Saturday's Class 3A state meet on the same course.

For four years she hasn't been know simply as Amber Stack. Rather, for better or worse, she has carried the title 2004 state champion Amber Stack.

Talk about pressure. In every race since the 2004 state race, every eye has focused on Stack and every runner has gunned for the Wheeling runner.

So how has Stack handled that pressure?

"I definitely think it was harder," said Stack of the increased scrutiny since her freshman year title. "Freshman year I was the underdog. Once you've won everyone is looking at you, looking to see how you did. You're constantly under the microscope. It's harder. Even in track that affected me.

"Once you're at the top you're either going to stay up there or you are going to go down."

Wheeling coach Mike Burke agreed with his senior star.

"When you win it's a blessing," added Burke. "But from then on out it's a curse; everybody is hanging it over your head. It's very difficult."

It may have been difficult but Stack never cracked under the increased scrutiny, and the results speak for themselves.

Stack followed up her 2004 title by taking fourth at the state meet in 2005 and 25th with a bad hip at the state meet in 2006.

If she medals on Saturday, she will become only the 24th runner to make all-state all four years, joining former Wheeling stars Dana Miroballi, who won four consecutive state titles from 1984 through 1987, Alice Doyle ('83-'86), and Jessie Morgenthal (2001-'04).

Stack also won the 2005 Mid-Suburban League title and came back strong this year to capture a share of the MSL title with Prospect's Annette White.

Stack has won two state medals in track, finishing fifth in the 3,200 in 2005 and sixth in the 3,200 in 2006.

"You have to be able to do it every single year," said Burke of the increased expectations. "That's where I give Amber credit. She has been able to handle that pressure every single year, and never giving a single excuse for her performance. She is just mentally tough."

If the increased scrutiny wasn't enough, Stack has also had to adjust to three different head coaches during her four years.

"You can't underestimate how difficult it is," said Burke, who is ending his second year as Wheeling's coach. "There's no consistency or expectations; every coach has a different philosophy. Right now we're still getting to know each other. That type of inconsistency does hurt a kid."

But just as she shrugged off the increased expectations, Stack has also been flexible enough to adapt to each coach.

And now the senior has not only built on her individual running legacy, but she has been just as important as a role model for Wheeling's team.

This year, senior Jenny Giron (15th) and Rachel Stinebring (18th) joined Stack as all-conference runners.

Stack also adjusted her training over the summer, running a bit more conservatively and the move has paid dividends the latter part of this season.

Stack started her postseason by winning the MSL title, then took fifth at the Rolling Meadows regional and sixth at the Palatine sectional.

"I hadn't really won any big races this year. If I was going to win one I picked a good one to win," said Stack of her second MSL title.

Flashing back to 2004, Stack entered the state race having finished second to Palatine's Amy Laskowske at the MSL meet and Schaumburg sectional.

Stack switched gears shortly after the first mile of the state race to take the lead on Laskowske; she then found another gear and roared down the final stretch to secure the title in 17:16, becoming only the second MSL runner to win a state meet.

"For three weeks my freshman year it was tough, it was building up," said Stack of her competition with Laskowske. "I remember parts of it, but it was so long ago it's like a blur. I just remember thinking 'Oh my God, I'm leading the state race.' It was a great feeling."

Stack showed that same kick this year battling White for a share of the MSL title.

"I've always had a good kick," Stack said. "Even when I'm tired I feel like I have enough left to pick it up at the end."

In many ways Stack has been carrying that state race at Detweiller with her for four years through all the individual titles, all the post season awards, all the team accomplishments.

So what will the senior be thinking as she heads to line for one last time on Saturday?

"It's something that did change me," added Stack of her title. "Freshman year I was new and I didn't really know what to expect. There was no pressure.

"Now it's my last year and it motivates me, I think of all of my teammates past and present, Jessie (Morgenthal), Gada (Qafisheh), Valerie (Winkler), Alyssa (Havlir), Rachel (Stinebring), and Jenny (Giron). It was really fun, it's been awesome."