National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Week ending Dec. 14, 2013
Photos submitted by Coach Frohnapfel

When you have one of your teams winning a state title and the other finishing third – but also including an state champion individual that produces the highest Foot Locker finish ever by athlete from your state, well, then you have to say it’s a pretty good year.

And that’s just what it’s been for Coach Ed Frohnapfel and his Hawks’ cross-country teams at University High (Morgantown, W.Va.).  On Nov. 2, in the West Virginia AAA State Champs, the UHS boys claimed their first state title in seven years.  While the girls were in the bronze medal spot, their senior Amelia Paladino was claiming her second straight individual AAA crown.

In West Virginia, coaches are limited in post-season contact with athletes, so in training for her 2nd bid for Foot Locker Finals, Paladino worked for about a month with another coach, Jonathon Wright.  Building on the work she had already done during the season, the result was a runner-up finish at Foot Locker South and then an 11th-place finish in the Finals.  No West Virginia girl had qualified twice before and none has ever finished higher than Paladino.

Amelia has a twin brother, Andrew, who has played a huge role in the boys’ team’s success.  At state, he was the #2 man in 7th, a second behind top man Seth Edwards, in the Hawks’ championship effort.  Coach Frohnapfel will miss the Paladinos next fall, but given the championship traditions he has forged, it’s likely his teams will be reloading more than rebuilding.

A few thoughts from Coach Frohnapfel:

On what he thought seeing Amelia’s race and what she’s meant to the program:  I was not able to go to San Diego due to work commitments, but Millie's race at Foot Locker was about as good as I would have hoped.  She went out in sight of the lead early and was able to hold on to the top 10 for most of the race.  I wasn't able to see what happened for her the last 400m or so, but was pleased she got 11th.
Millie has been very beneficial to the program. Her primary impact has been to show the benefit of a consistent work ethic.  She has consistently trained at a high level and now is reaping the benefits.

On Amelia’s work with Coach Wright:  Jonathon and myself share a similar training philosophy, so the transition between us, I think, has been fairly seamless.  I am limited as to how much contact I can have with my athletes out of season, so it is fortunate for Millie to have a coach like Jonathon during West Virginia's off season.

On also having a state championship boys’ team this fall, led by Amelia’s twin brother:  It was a good year!  Andy is also a very focused runner and has a similar work ethic.  He has been our boys’ team leader for the last two years and he is looking to continue running at the D1 level in college.  Andy, I feel, does not get the recognition he deserves due to excellent teammates and extraordinary twin sister, but never seems to let that affect him.
The girls also won state titles in 2007, 2008 and 2010.  I'm happy both of the Paladinos got to experience a team title in their high school careers.

On his background in the sport and developing the University program:  I basically came into coaching when my sons started running at University High.  I felt I would be able to help runners on the team improve, so I then gained the proper state recognized certification, and volunteered for a couple of years.  I was made a full coach in 2006, and our boys team won the state XC championship that year. That was the first state championship won by any UHS team since the wrestling team won in 1956.
My background in running was primarily my own road racing career.  I have run consistently for the last 30 years and was self coached.  I use what worked for me with the team

On key principals in training, particularly what has helped Amelia get to the next level:  I stress consistency.  If you decide you are going to be a runner, then you need to plan on running every day.  There will be some days off, but running must become a year round endeavor.
Millie has bought into that and the results have followed.  She approaches any workout I give her with a positive attitude and normally accomplishes the tasks laid out for her.

On West Virginia’s national prep distance running profile growing with the accomplishments of Amelia and others, like Jacob Burcham and Maggie Drazba:  High school cross country in West Virginia still does not get the attention it deserves.  Hopefully, with the continuing success of Millie, Jacob, Maggie and others coming up through the state high school ranks now, the overall quality of runners and the level of participation in West Virginia will continue to improve.