National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Week ending Nov. 10, 2013

For so many teams in cross-country and other sports, a dream season is just that – a dream.  Even when new and returning talent clearly projects a rocket ride to a state title and more, the reality only occasionally matches up – often compromised by injuries, illness and other factors that can derail the highest hopes.  Then throw into this particular scenario a relative inexperience in achieving such goals, as in a team gunning for its first state title in 21 years.  A lot of things have to go right, and keep going right.

But for Coach Patrick Smith’s Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) boys’ squad, the dream has come to match the reality.  They triumphed in each and every meet, all season long, and their D1 state championship bout – their ultimate bid to take down defending champs Desert Vista – was realized even more perfectly than they could have hoped:  A historic 1-2-3 finish by Nathan Rodriguez, Ryan Normand and Marcus Wheeler at the top and then 4th and 5th runners who did exactly what was needed.

To hear Coach Smith talk about it, it’s almost as if he was just along for the ride, carried by the efforts of his charges.  But this has been 16 years in the making for him, too.  He had Corona a step away from the top four years ago and they are perennial contenders in the state’s biggest class.  He knew he had the talent and the pieces to make it happen as his powerful seniors came to maturity, and he balanced steady training progress with the necessary restraint to keep everyone healthy.

A few thoughts from Coach Smith:

On the things that had to happen on state championship race day to produce a title:  Our plan for Saturday was to do what we've been doing all year.  We knew our three guys up front would be in the top five overall, hopefully.  Our #4 and #5 needed to stay close to the #4 and #5 runners from our main rival, Desert Vista.  And those two guys were able to do that, finishing one place each ahead of their guys.

On how Nathan Rodriguez and Ryan Normand have led as seniors:  It was great to have these two runners as the top returnees this year.  Neither one is a very vocal leader, but they set the tone for our team and lead by example in practice and the races.  They are very hard workers and the others on the team follow their lead.

On the emergence of junior Marcus Wheeler and the rest of the team doing their jobs:  Marcus transferred to Corona after sitting out a year due to transfer rules here in Arizona.  He was the best freshman in the state two years ago, so we knew he was talented.  I think he improved this year by running with Nathan and Ryan.  He followed them in practice and the races.
Patrick Cullings, Blake Fischer, and Andrew Truswell are all guys that have been in our program for four years and each has steadily improved for all four years by increasing mileage.  Slade Sumners is a freshman that has run with us the past two summers, but has really jumped up being with us all of the time.

On his own history in the sport and with the Corona del Sol program:  I ran in high school in Morton, Illinois for my dad, who coached in Illinois for 37 years.  So maybe coaching was in my blood.  I ran at Eastern Illinois University and was greatly influenced there by my coach, Dr. Tom Woodall. 
I got started at Corona 16 years ago.  I was neighbors with the head track coach and they needed help, so my wife Teresa (who teaches at Corona) and I took over the boys’ team.  Corona was last state champion in cross country in 1992.  Ari Rodriguez, my co-coach, was part of that team and now 21 years later is part of THIS team – with his son Nathan leading us.  We also took second place in 2009.
It’s just been great to have this dream season after 16 years of working at it.  It’s been fun being able to share it with all the kids on the team, boys and girls.  We are one Corona Del Sol cross country program, not a girls team and a boys team.

On developing a group with clear talent in 2010 to champions in 2013:  Well, there is some luck involved.  Nathan went to another school as a freshman and there was a freshman race that year where Ryan and Nathan went 1-2.  Nathan moved to our district his sophomore year, but Ryan was hurt most of his sophomore year, so they didn't start running together until they were juniors.  All of the guys have improved by increasing their mileage and working hard at all aspects of training, including the weight room, plyometrics, and workouts.

On the dynamic with his state champion Nathan and Nathan’s dad (and co-coach), Ari, who led Corona to its last title 21 years ago:  I am so lucky to be able to work with Ari and Nathan.  Ari is a big part of our success.  We have a lot of fun comparing the 1992 team with the 2013 team.  They have a great relationship and it’s fun for me because I also ran for my dad in high school.

On this team's NXN Southwest aspirations:  Well, we would love to qualify for the Finals.  I think we have a shot.  We are ranked third in the region.  We may have the home course advantage.  The team loves to run at Toka Sicks Golf Course.  We just need to do what we've done all year.