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Week of September 17th-22nd,
2007 There is a great young squad continuing to build in the North Coast Section at Petaluma High School under Coach Jim Lynch. The Boys team for the Trojans of Petaluma seems to be a team of destiny that is still developing to eventually become one of Northern California's all-time great units. They have achieved so much so far with almost all the team members still of the underclass variety. In the Fall of 2005 Senior Jason Grubb led the squad that had four frosh finish in the top twenty of the NCS Division II Finals to a runner-up finish there, and they went on to finish thirteenth at the State Meet. The end of the 2006 harrier campaign with an all underclass squad and four sophs in the top five had Coach Lynch's charges as the NCS Champs at their Division II level and finishing fifth at the State competition. Their 2007 Fall season has had a super start, with six in the top ten in dominating the late August Panther Preview locally, a forty-two point win in the big De la Salle/Carondelet Invitational, and most recently a Team Time record of 79:16 while putting five in the top seven at the Super Septo Meet at Spring Lake Park which took down a twenty year old record set by a Section Large School Championship squad from Santa Rosa HS. Coach Lynch took out time from his busy schedule to answer some questions for us, with his squad looking very capable of continuing their successful run into area and state history this season and next. DyeStatCal - Briefly describe how the season has gone for your team so far this Fall? Coach Lynch - I am extremely pleased with our progress this season. We have had our share of illnesses in the first few weeks but seem to be getting through it all and progressing nicely. The boys have really showed some maturity and character in the early weeks. The last week winning the Nike Invite and then breaking the 20 year old course record at Spring Lake was terrific. All this and we have not been at full strength. DSC - What sense did you have about what this team could accomplish at the end of the summer? CL - I really felt we could accomplish some real good things this season. Our goal finishing summer was to repeat as North Coast Section Champs and to place ourselves in the top 3 at State this season. The boys really grew this summer and have made a commitment to achieve those goals. DSC - Briefly describe what you guys did for a summer program? CL - Summer training begins soon after school ends. The kids meet weeknights at the high school and run. We also have some weekend travel runs. We went to Tahoe Donner in late July for our camp. Building a mileage base and strides makes up most of the summer until the final couple of weeks where we start to incorporate workouts. DSC - There is a special chemistry to a strong team, what are the special characteristics to the current Petaluma Boys squad? CL - One is that the boys have run for three years together. Because of the abilities of these guys they have had time to train and grow as a group over a longer period of time. Secondly, they are like brothers. They are very competitive but support and encourage each other to be their best. Lastly and most important to me is the maturity of the boys and that the TEAM is always first and foremost. This season we have kids who can be front runners at the highest level however the team will be the most important aspect for them. I think they truly believe that if the teams does not meet their goals then personal glory really will not amount to much. DSC - What is your personal athletic and education background, and how long have you been involved in coaching at Petaluma? CL - I am a high school graduate who went into the Fire Service after finishing paramedic training at Stanford. I grew up in the 70's and played a multitude of sports. Running became a part of my life in the late 70's when high school ended. I became a competitive runner in the early 90's and began to become a student of the sport. I began coaching adults and when my oldest daughter entered high school in the late 90's started coaching high school kids. This is my fourth cross country season at Petaluma and I have coached four seasons of track. Three as distance coach and last season took over as head coach. DSC - What are the circumstances for running in your area? Do you have any special training areas for cross-country close by or is it the concrete jungle? CL - I believe we have adequate area to train. The school is located in a residential area. Our only trail and regional park is 10 minutes from the school. It has around four miles of trails but in that four miles you get all you need to train. We find ourselves running over the same soil but the repetition develops mental toughness. Training is mixed between roads and trails. DSC - What big meets are coming up for your squad? CL - This weekend is Stanford!! The team is excited about that. After Stanford we have a couple of weeks before our league meets begin. We will run the Mariner Invitational in October. After that it is all about the home stretch toward League, NCS, and State. DSC - Who has influenced you most in your coaching and why? CL - I would say as far as training goes Jack Daniels has made a huge impact. I am a firefighter/ Paramedic. My professional training has incorporated a good working knowledge of physiology. His theories based on science have influenced me greatly. In regards to coaching the total athlete and dealing with kids I would say I was strongly influenced by Joe Newton. Reading his book made a huge impact on me. I also believe a couple of coaches I had in high school taught me more than sports. They gave me life lessons such as failure is only attained at a personal level when one is not being the best they can be at anything one takes on. I have carried that attitude in all I have done in life and in my coaching. DSC - What advice would you offer to a beginning coach in our sport? CL - First, learn all you can about the sport and training athletes. Secondly, if you have a vision of what you want to see happen with your program do not veer off course. Third, believe in our kids and what they can accomplish. I think that we are afraid to test their limits. Kids crave boundaries and discipline. They also want to be loved. If a kid feels those things coming from a coach you can get them to do about anything. Raise the bar high and have the kids meet those expectations, stay firm with your principles. I am convinced that the success I have had at the last two schools I coached came as a direct result of never wavering from my beliefs and expectations. Remember first and foremost that high school athletics is the ultimate life lesson. It teaches the most important character traits for life. What a gift and opportunity it is to make an impact in a young life!! Thanks Coach Lynch - |
