Grafton Cross Country

On February 22, 1899, William Jennings Bryan gave one of the most renown speeches in America History. The presentation, given in Washington, DC, was entitled, "America's Mission." He spoke of purpose and direction and challenge, and proclaimed that "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice." While the substance of his speech focused on issues that are not perhaps relevant today, the fundemental principles he outlined certainly ring true in any era; Destiny is not a matter of chance, but a choice, for a nation, for a state, for a team, for a person. 

For further information or to report technical issues, e-mail to grafton.runners@gmail.com or alan.gunnerson@cox.net

The boys squad after the race share a photo pose for the parents.   From left to right, Paul Tyler, Eric Graves, Ian Vanderhoven, Michael Clark, David Gunnerson, Clark King, and Kyle King.

The day started out cold – in the mid-30’s with heavy rain the night before.  The outside temperature rose only slightly to 42 or 43 degrees by 1:00 in the afternoon.  Runners were bundled up but the times for all of the six races of the day were faster than previous years. As it has been all season long, the maneuvering at the 2nd and 3rd position on the boy’s squad continued.  Sophomores David Gunnerson and Ian Vanderhoven and freshman Kyle King continued their maneuvering within the state run.  David finished an overall 79th and 2nd on the team with a personal best time of 17:19.63.  Ian finished an overall 90th and 3rd on the team with a personal best time of 17:30.46.  Finishing a half-second behind Ian, Kyle finished 91st and 4th on the team with a personal best time of 17:31.08.  Rounding out the Grafton squad was Eric Graves and Paul Tyler, finishing 120th and 129th respectively with time of 18:14.73 and 18:45.46.  The Grafton boy’s team finished 14th overall with an overall average team time of 17:24.45, the best average time all season.  Coaches Sims and Pierce were very proud of the way each of these athletes represented Grafton all season long.  Attending the state meet were parents of each athlete.  They bared the cold and the wind and cheered on each of these athletes to the end.  I would like to say thanks to all of them, but especially to the Vanderhoven’s for being there each meet with shelter, food, and pictures.

Other Pictures at State ...

Lauren Clark, Coach Norma Sims, and Haley Kopczynski

Boy's Pre-Race Prayer

Abit of advice from Coach Pierce

Senior Haley Kopczynski

Senior Michael Clark coming down the stretch

Sophomore David Gunnerson at the stretch passing this runner

Sophomore David Gunnerson at the stretch seeing the finish line approaching

Sophomore David Gunnerson at the stretch seeing the finish line approaching - he's almost there

Sophomore Ian Vanderhoven and Freshman Kyle King at the stretch

Sophomore Ian Vanderhoven and Freshman Kyle King almost home

Lil K at the one mile marker

Senior Clark King around the 2nd mile

Junior Eric Graves coming down the stretch to home

Sophomore Paul Tyler finishing out for the Boys squad

Boy's Post Race Prayer and Thanks

All Bundled Up ... Who's under those blankets?

ON TO STATE ...

Photo Courtesy of Coach Norma Sims - The Grafton boys after the grueling 5K course ...

Today was a day that will be remembered.  The Grafton Boys Cross Country finishes third overall behind Jamestown and James Monroe to qualify as a team to participate in the November 10th Group AA State Cross Country Meet at Great Meadows. In a surprise finish and upset, winning the Region I race was Tabb's William Mulherin, followed by Jamestown's John Holt, Andrew Colley, Colin Mearns, and Russell Hornsby.  For Grafton, Michael Clark finished with All-Region honors, placing 8th with a time of 17:50.05, David Gunnerson finished 17th with a time of 18:06.04, Kyle King finished 21st with a time of 18:22.07, Clark King finished 29th with a time of 18:30.44, Ian Vanderhoven finished 34th with a time of 18:43.04, and Eric Graves finished 43rd with a time of 19:02.49.  Jamestown won the Region I Championship with a score of 20 points, James Monroe finished as Region I Runner-Up with 92 points, Grafton took 3rd place with 99 points, and Chancellor took 4th with 100 points.  Talking with Coach Pierce on the phone after the meet, he stated that the course was an extremely hard course and expected slower times by roughly 50 seconds.  James Monroe and Chancellor had an advantage over the rest of the Region I teams since the Battlefield District uses the Loriella Park Course for their District Championships.  For the Grafton Girls Cross Country Region qualifiers, Haley Kopczynski and Lauren Clark, it was a bitter-sweet ending.  Haley qualified to state and received All-Region Honors, finishing 8th with a time of 21:07.39. Lauren turned an ankle during the 2nd mile and did not finish the race.  Lauren was in 9th place after the first mile and may have kept pace with Haley if she had not injured herself.

Grafton Boys - 9-1 ....

Photos Courtesy of Mrs. Vanderhoven  

GRAFTON BOYS

BAY RIVERS DISTRICT CHAMPIONS / BAY RIVERS DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER-UP

It was a day when the Grafton Boys proved to many outside of the Grafton Cross Country community that they were a team to be reckoned with.  To this outside group, it was all about Jamestown, Lafayette, and Tabb with little or no mention of the Grafton Cross Country team in the press or sports websites.  The Grafton Boys proved today that they were Champions, going 9-1 in the Bay Rivers District, beating out Jamestown, Lafayette, and Tabb and winning in head-to-head competition against all Bay Rivers District teams except Jamestown.

The Grafton Boys won the Bay Rivers District and were the runner-up to Jamestown with their elite group of cross country runners for the Bay Rivers District Championship.  This young team of senior Michael Clark, sophomore David Gunnerson, freshman Kyle King, sophomore Paul Tyler, senior Clark King, sophomore Ryan Tyler, junior Eric Graves, sophomore Ian Vanderhoven, sophomore Matthew Lombardo, junior Sami Talibi, and sophomore Eric Sheldon qualifies to Regional competition set for November 1, 2007.

Today, with the falling rain, cool weather, and the muddy conditions at the Eastern State Hospital Cross Country course, Michael Clark, David Gunnerson, and Kyle King finished among the top 15 runners, earning all-district honors.  Michael Clark finished 7th with a time of 16:50, David Gunnerson finished 13th with a PR time of 17:16, and Kyle King finished 15th with a PR time of 17:23.  Finishing out the Grafton top five were Paul Tyler finishing 16th and Clark King finishing 29th.

GRAFTON GIRLS

The Grafton Girls team finished the Cross Country season today with an overall 5th place in the Championship meet, missing Regional qualification by 3 points.  Senior Haley Kopczynski and junior Lauren Clark qualified to Regional competition, finishing 2nd and 5th.  Haley finished with a time of 20:11.8 and Lauren finished with a PR time of 20:47.8.  More to follow …

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22 Sep 07 William & Mary Invitational

After a week of cooler temperatures, the heat and humidity returned to the peninsula.  Grafton took the varsity and junior varsity girls team, finishing 14th out of 19 teams in the girls Varsity B category and 19th out of 20 in the girls Junior Varsity category.  Senior Haley Kopczynski led the Grafton girls placing 27th out of 120 runners with a time of 21:31.  Senior Samantha Farris was 64th with a time of 23:35, and Sophomore Brianna Rahall was 80th with a time of 24:26.  Finishing out the varsity field was Stephanie Salvatore, 101st with a time of 25:19; Bobbie Cobb, 105th with a time of 25:41; and Victoria Howe with a time of 26:22.  For the Junior Varsity girls, Erika Kierlak finished 80th out of 161 runners with a time of 25:35, Kira Thibodeau finished 108th at 26:20, Justine Miller finished 125th at 27:39, K.C. Brashear finished 127th at 27:47, and Kelly Helmer finishing 142nd at 28:55.

2007 Cross Country Season is upon us.  2007 brings forth 7 returning girls and 17 returning boys from the 2006 squads.  The 2007 girls squad includes 23 athletes - 2 seniors, 7 juniors, 5 sophomores, 3 freshmen, and 6 8th graders attending for conditioning and experience.  Returning seniors and lettermen Haley Kopczynski and Samantha Farris will lead the girls.  The 2007 boys squad includes a large contigent of 47 athletes - 7 seniors, 7 juniors, 14 sophomores, 12 freshmen, and 7 8th graders attending for conditioning and experience.  Returning seniors Michael Clark, Ryan Fukawa, Clark King, Robbie McCoy, and Eric Stortz will lead the boys.  The 2007 schedule is located at the following site:

2007 Cross Country Schedule

In addition to the schedule, check out this site for a "Cross Country" dictionary.  Find out what Cross Country is all about, how cross country is scored, how teams and individual runners qualify to the regional and State meets,  and "jargon" that one will hear around a cross country runner.

Cross_Country Dictionary

2007 Grafton Girls Cross Country Squad

First Row L-R: Justine Miller (9th), Katherine Maloney (8th), K.C. Brashear (10th), Samantha Farris* (12th), Haley Kopczynski*#$%(C) (12th), Brianna Rahall* (10th), Sara Angwin (8th).  Second Row L-R: Jennifer Do* (11th), Karina Nigro (10th), Caitlin Comer (8th), Ashley Bruce (8th), Leotie Fukawa (8th), Emily Marbas (8th), Taylor Crumbley (Training Manager - 7th).  Third Row L-R: Danielle Walker* (11th), Victoria Howe (11th), Lauren Clark #(11th), Kelly Helmer* (11th), Stephanie Salvatore* (11th), Erika Kieklak (11th), Kira Thibodeau (9th), Coach Norma Sims.

* Returning Grafton Cross Country Athlete

# 2007 All Bay Rivers District Athlete

$ 2007 All Region I Regional Athlete

% 2007 Group AA Girls State Cross Country Runner

(C) = Team Captain

2007 Grafton Boys Cross Country Squad

First Row L-R: Alan Evans (11th), Matthew Lombardo (10th), Paul Tyler*% (10th), Ian Vanderhoven*% (10th), Michael Clark*#$%(C) (12th), Ryan Tyler* (10th), Kyle King#% (9th), Eric Stortz* (12th), Clark King*%(C)  (12th), Sami Talibi (11th).  Second Row L-R: Ryan West (12th),  Brent Bass* (10th), Billy Mullen* (10th), Liam Byrne (10th), Brian Gorwitz* (10th), Parker Jones (10th), Russell Gibson (10th), Eric Sheldon* (10th), Derek Irons* (11th), Eric Graves% (11th), Dara Emani (9th), DJ Cooper* (11th), David Gunnerson*#% (10th), Danny Sitton (12th).  Third Row L-R: Matthew Garcia (9th), Matthew Roe (8th), Brandon McCoy* (10th), Michael Verhulst (9th), Benjamin Laing (9th), Sean Moore (8th), Brendan Gibson (8th), Brendan Dixon (8th), Matthew Esher (8th), Jordan Lawing (9th), Brendan Lewis* (9th).  Fourth Row L-R: Carl Fukawa* (10th), Robbie McCoy* (12th), Sungjo Kevin Lim (9th), Maruchi Kim (9th), Christopher Bradley (8th), Dale Card* (11th), Hampton Terry (11th), Michael Trujillo (9th), Coach Robert Pierce.  Not Pictured: Ryan Fukawa* (12th), James O'Neal (9th), Daniel Pollock (9th), Andrew Buchwald (8th).

* Returning Grafton Cross Country Athlete

# 2007 All Bay Rivers District Athlete

$ 2007 All Region I Regional Athlete

% 2007 Group AA Boys State Cross Country Runner

(C) = Team Captain