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The SJS Team of the Week will be delayed one week while we pay tribute to three fine coaches whose lives have led them away from the Sac-Joaquin Section and - unfortunately - won’t be returning this season to lead their teams into battle. The coaches are Steve Barth of Granite Bay H.S., Ray Hausler of Vacaville H.S., and Jake Hardey of Del Oro H.S. We want to acknowledge Cecily Lemmon of Vacaville and Brianna Atkins, Nathan Spangler, and Merie Paddeck of Del Oro for contributing to this piece.

Steve Barth coached the Granite Bay girls to four straight Division 2 section titles from 2000 to 2003. Each during that time period, the Grizzlies were led by the legend Caitlin Chock who became only the second girl to ever win four cross country SJS section titles…the first being Jen Schindler of Ponderosa from 1993-1996. (By the way, Schindler, who ran at the University of Washington, also won the junior women’s title at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in 1997.) Barth was very popular among his runners and was responsible for the development of Megan Williams ‘04 (Chico State), Chris Fuller ’04 (UC Davis), Tim Bardet ’04 (Cal), Erin Schuyler ’05 (UC Santa Barbara), and current senior Cailtin Clark, just to name a few. Steve was dedicated to his team, always friendly to be around, a total class act, and there’s no question the section and most importantly – the Grizzlies - have lost a quality man. Steve has moved with his wife and family to South Carolina and we wish him the best of luck in the Palmetto State. Barth will be replaced by Angie Pozzi (Rocklin HS) and Katy Nelson.

Ray Hausler made the tough decision to relinquish his Vacaville post last spring. Ray was split between several important commitments and has decided to vigorously pursue his B.A. in Christian Leadership from Willam Jessup University. In addition, Ray feels strongly compelled to devote more time to his church youth group. Here’s an excerpt of his surprise announcement (used without his permission, but we don’t think he’ll mind) of some of Ray’s feelings of appreciation for those who made his stay at Vacaville enjoyable:

“I want to thank all of those that have supported me and the program over the years. Special thanks to Rob Stewart and Bob Raisner who have taken their time to run the Lagoon Valley Classic (WHICH ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE), Don Clancy for giving me a chance to learn from the best, Fred Jones, Bob Baclig, Joan Mumaugh, and Gail McNally for being the most patient and supportive athletic directors, Todd Grames, Krista Stafford, Chris Minner, Rachelle Nielson, Jeff Baker, and Kay Nekota for being the best assistants I could have had, Joyce Lemmon for Disneyland tickets, two wonderful daughters and all of the support and insight, all of the parents for your incredible support, each and every athlete for your dedication and trust, all of my coaching colleagues, and The Reporter for your outstanding cross country coverage. If I missed anyone it is not because you don't deserve it: anyone who helped in any way over the years... Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

While we don’t have all the details of the boys results, the Lady Bulldogs under Coach Hausler were three-time section runners-up to Steve Barth and the Granite Bay Grizzlies from 2000-2002. After missing the state meet in 2003, the Bulldogs finally won their second section title under Coach Ray in 2004 with a special group of Tamar Gruwell, Cecily Lemmon, Christina Lopez, Lindsey Dubs, and Annaliza Rizo. Ray has also coached two-time section champ Robyn Stevens – who was possibly better known for her race-walking exploits.

The Bulldogs are being left in the extremely capable hands of Kay Nekota, a phenomenal and unassuming talent who matriculated at both Woodbridge and Agoura high schools. You would never know from talking to her – and hopefully she won’t be too mad at this revelation – but Kay had no fewer than four top five finishes at the state XC meet from 1990-1993. She was 4th her freshman year as Woodbridge took second in the state in D2 and then at Agoura from 1991-93 she was 2nd, 5th, and 2nd again as Agoura claimed the D1 1991 and 1992 state titles the two years after Deena Drossin graduated.

While we could try to elaborate further on what Coach Hausler meant to Vacaville, no one can probably due it better than Cecily Lemmon, the recently graduated senior who is on her way, literally as we speak, to began her academic and running career at Brigham Young University.

TRIBUTE TO COACH RAY HAUSLER - VACAVILLE H.S.

"I feel as though I've been an 8 year member of the Vacaville High School Cross Country team, instead of a only 4. My sister, four years older than me, ran all through high school as well. It was the summer before my 8th grade year though, that Ray Hausler's coaching and friendship really began impacting my life. I was a devoted soccer playing seventh grader, and the only reason I ran cross country that first season was because I had a broken wrist, and it was the only sport that allowed me to compete with a cast. That summer, I began attending the high school practices to spend more time with my sister. Before long, I was running and working out too, and when I started suddenly winning races the next season, I decided running was definitely for me. Ray's coaching is mellow and effective. He's one of the kids, but when it's time to run, we stop fooling around and do the workout (well, most of the time.) As a freshman, he helped instill a sense of tradition, of Bulldog pride that I was meant to continue. (And his alma mater is WIll C. Wood!!!)

"He himself is an amazing and dedicated man. He put his life on hold for the team, and we knew it. Working long and late hours, with virtually no sleep, he couldn't be kept from showing up to practice. Even if he was late. Even if we ran to his house and woke him up. :) One of my favorite pieces of "Race Time Advice" (advice while I'm running the race, not before) goes something like, "Make the decision. Make it now". Running is such a mental battle as well as physical. I'm not the best of the best runners, not even close, but the ability to make the mental decision to win, or to catch that girl, or even just to finish the race is what makes us the runners we are. Ray knew this, and he knew, even more than I did, what I was capable of. Through League Titles, to Section Titles, to State berths, and high rankings, he knew. Every successful race I've completed has come from making the decision to do well. Like I said, he's mellow. There were no conferences of strategic planning with the team. No complicated race plans. Just Ray. Him, his Bulldog shirt, khaki shorts, clipboard, and steady voice from the side. I loved laughing with him (lots of strongbad email quotes, and of course, Napoleon Dynamite!), trying to negotiate workouts, taking wild Disneyland trips to Mt. SAC.

"Ray has done more for Vaca High Cross Country than anyone else. He's done more for me as a runner than anyone else. Ray is MY coach. Ray is THE coach, and he always will be. He will be missed by the team, but we wish him luck in his endeavors to focus on other important parts of his life. So, to Ray Hausler, Vacaville High School Cross Country Coach, we love you, and hope to see you back coaching the sport you love someday!" -- Cecily Lemmon - Brigham Young University, Vacaville '06 (2nd place, Div. 2, Sac-Joaquin Section finals and four-time state XC qualifier)

JAKE HARDEY, DEL ORO HS

While Jake Hardey wasn’t around nearly as long as Coach Barth or Coach Hausler, there is no question he continued the excellent running tradition at Del Oro, a high school that has a whopping eleven first-place or second-place finishes at the section meet since 1991 and has never finished lower than fourth in that time span. Jake took control of the program, and his teams during keys races exuded the confidence that he himself had as demonstrated by their willingness to let other teams get ahead and run themselves out. To me anyhow, the Eagles were always notorious for being a “third-mile” team, and usually picked up dozens of points in the final kilometer. The boys program were state qualifiers and section runners-up both years during Hardey’s tenure and claimed an individual section titleist as well – Shawn Boyte in 2005. In 2005, Del Oro was one of only four SJS schools to qualify both their boys and girls teams to state. The girls’ team was led by then-sophomore Brianna Atkins who won the ladies’ D3 section title in 2005. Only time will tell what the Eagles will be like in 2006, but look for another strong squad as Hardey turns his runners over to the capable hands of Kevin Ostenberg who is coming in from Half Moon Bay.

Once again, the impact of Jake Hardey on the Del Oro program is best described by the runners themselves:

TRIBUTE TO COACH JAKE HARDEY - DEL ORO H.S.

"Coach Hardey has contributed so much to the Del Oro cross country program and he and his family are going to be greatly missed. Coach Hardey has taken both the boys and girls to state championships two years in a row both in 2004 and in 2005. He has coached 2 Sac- Joaquin champions and 1 Sac-Joaquin runner-up in 2005. He has coached the girl’s team to be the SFL champions in 2005. He has done so much in his two years at Del Oro that his coaching abilities and personality are going to be greatly missed in the years to come. His family has also had a great impact on the team. His wife Kristi was the "mental" part of our team. She was the one to help us calm our nerves before big races and she was also the one to always motivate you when you were down. She was an awesome part of the team and is also going to be greatly missed. Their daughter Elie was one of our assistant coaches. She is three years old and when any of us had a bad race she would come up to us and tell us that everything is going to be OK and to stop crying. She always put a smile on your face when you were having a bad day. The entire Hardey family will be greatly missed and we all wish them the best of luck as they move their family. They will be moving to Idaho in the summer and will start a new life there. They will be greatly missed and they will be hard to replace but we know that the move is for the best. (But that doesn't make it any easier to say good-bye!) So from all of us at Del Oro we wish the Hardeys the best of luck in Idaho!!" -- Merie Paddeck, junior (9th place, Div. 3, 2005 Sac-Joaquin Section finals)

"Mr. Hardey is a great coach and friend, he takes everyone under his wing and helps us all be the best we can be. I can't imagine high school without him!" -- - Brianna Atkins, junior (2005 Champion, Div. 3, Sac-Joaquin Section)

"Coach Hardey has had a magnificent impact on my life. I first met him freshman year when he decided to take on the track distance coaching after the departure of Joan Lewis. He quickly showed us all that we were capable and all the members of the distances' dropped their times (in my case by more then 3 minutes in the 2 mile). His quirky coaching led us all to question his sanity at times but the results were there. He is one of the few people I know that will drop everything that they are doing and help you on the drop of a hat. He was always their caring for his athletes and never faltered in his compassion for us. I have also had the privilege of running under him for cross country and all I can say is, wherever he is going next is going to become the next Idaho powerhouse because they will begin to dominate in under a season and have a shot for their state title. It is sad seeing such a great coach leave us all and he will be deeply missed by all that have had the privilege of running under him. After all you have to growl like a cat to get your foot strike right: isn't that right Hardey?"-- Nathan "Mincus" Spangler, senior (2nd place, Div. 3, 2005 Sac-Joaquin Section finals)

Good work Cecily, Merie, Brianna, and Nathan. Did we miss anyone? Input welcome at [email protected]. The next Sac-Joaquin Section Team of the Week will be Davis High School, coming soon.