All NorCal History

by Howard Willman edited by Hank Lawson

circa 1982

As mentioned in the brief history of CCS, then-Hillsdale coach and now
Menlo-Atherton coach (retired, ed.) Plato Yanicks began selecting all-NorCal
teams in 1962.  With the support of the Northern California Track & Field Association,
this became a very important source of publicity for the sport.  One of the first
things Plato did was to research past years to assemble all-NorCal teams since
the start of the sport.  By 1965, Citizen Savings had joined in sponsorship and
Plato led a panel of coaches and a reporter here and there (the meetings were open
to anyone with an interest in selecting the team) that selected the all-NorCal teams.

There are 22 members on each all-NorCal team (save most of the pre-1962 teams,
which have from 14-21 members) with a Runner Of The Year award also given.  Since
1962, the top class runner (senior, junior, sophomore, freshman) has been selected
each year.  It should be noted that the all Nor-Cal team had its most significant
years before the Northern California Championships (begun in 1978).  It is the 
opinion of many coaches today that there is no need for an all-NorCal team since
there is now a means of selecting the top runners by how they finish in a race
against each other (in 1987 a State meet with divisions was started so that all
runners no longer competed against each other in head-to-head competition, a good
reason for re-instigating the all-NorCal team selections, ed).  Yanicks let the
selection panel for the last time in 1980, and in 1981 the Goldent West Track
Association selected the first 22 runners to finish the NorCal race to the
all-NorCal team.

circa 2011 (more history added by Hank Lawson)

and a little more history on the All-NorCal teams and selection methodology. Prior to 1962 
it was based on finish at the NCS meet. In 1962 it was based on 2 mile Postal time, Stanford 
course time and NCS Finals. In '63 it was the same but used CSM course and not Stanford and 
consistency throughout season and coaches recommendations was also added. In '65 Group and 
League meets (finish place, not time) was added. Athletes selected were given awards by 
Track & Field News and were invited to a NorCal banquet for College, JC & HS athletes for 
recognition purposes. Plato Yanicks (M-A) started the selection process in '62 and received 
input on athletes prior to selecting the team. In '65 the All-NorCal team was selected by a 
panel of coaches that physically met one night to select the team. To even be considered for 
the team, you had to have a 2 mile time run on the track (this was their main comparison). 
Anyone could send in nominations for the selection committee to review. About 100 athletes 
were consistently considered for the 22 original spots on the team. By the 70's, multiple 
teams were selected (22 per team) as well as Honorable Mention. By this time as well, 
athletes no longer received awards or a banquet, just the recognition. And letters were sent 
to Plato expressing displeasure that an athlete wasn't selected for the team or for the 
selection method that was used. By the 70's head to head competition was considered as well. 
By the late 70's there was an All-NorCal meet held so that did away with the need for a 
selection committee for they just used the finish from the single NorCal meet that existed. 
The All-NorCal team ceased to exist. Then came the State meet but this had multiple divisions 
so head to head competition didn't exist except for Invites & Leagues. In 1995, with the help 
of Dan Cruz (coach at Del Mar, then Logan, then DVC) we started up the All-NorCal team again. 
With the help of other committee members we selected our first team since 1986 (last year of 
NorCals). I also went back and collected data for State, Sections & League from 1987-1994 and 
with a small committee of members we retroactively selected All-NorCal teams for those missing 
years. Since the guidelines had changed throughout the years, I thought the fairest way to choose 
the teams was to have no guidelines and let the members vote as they wish, using their own guidelines. 
We also switched to the 3 team format (7 per team) and the 20 honorable mention along with the 
All-Frosh team. We have come a long way since 1962 but one thing stays the same, the passion that 
the athletes and coaches show for our sport is, and always will be, there.