No complacency for Palatine

Usually if it's not broke, you don't fix it, but don't tell that to Palatine and boys cross country coach Chris Quick.

Palatine had finished in the top 10 at state for the past seven years, including three consecutive second-place finishes from 2003 to 2005.

But Quick felt a change was needed in order to continue the Pirates success, so he wrote a 40-page manifesto outlining every aspect of the program.

“We wanted to get rid of that sense of complacency and get a feeling of newness,” said Quick.

Now the Pirates are hoping it all comes together at the Class 3A state meet on Saturday at 2 p.m at Detweiller Park in Peoria.

The manifesto dealt with getting the Pirates at their peak physically, emotionally and mentally.

And it seemed to work as Palatine won its eighth consecutive Mid-Suburban League title on Oct. 16 with all seven Pirates runners earning all-conference status.

The Pirates continued their assault by taking first at the Wheeling regional, then finishing second at the Schaumburg sectional.

Now the Pirates are focused on state.

“The focus is definitely back,” said senior Reuben Frey of the Pirates' attack. “The sectionals were something we had to use to get to the state meet. We wanted to win and have a good race, but it allowed us to see the things we need to work on.”

One thing Palatine will be working on is its start. The Pirates started off slow at the sectionals and spent the majority of the race trying to catch Lake Zurich.

“Our coach told us that is easily something that can be corrected,” said junior Anthony Gregorio. “Unlike a lot of things like lacking heart, we know we all have the guts and desire to get out there.”

Senior A.J. Laskowske, junior Tim Johnson, junior Marcus Garcia, junior Tim Meincke and senior Ryan McGough have combined with Gregorio and Frey to give the Pirates a gritty and talented team.

And that was one of the main goals of the manifesto.

“I think the whole team atmosphere definitely improved,” said Frey. “We're definitely team-oriented and that helps us overcome all the physical and mental challenges.”

“We're all together in everything,” added Gregorio, “We realize that by ourselves we're nothing, but as a team we can do something great.”

That is the response Quick was looking for when he wrote the manifesto, now the Pirates are hoping to make a statement at the state race.

“The thing that is most important is that we run our best race,” added Quick, “The focus has to be on the race itself, that is what we've been working on.

“We think that we're ready to run that race, sometimes you have to have the courage to do it.”