Racine Case Eagles Preseason Practice

Tuesday, March 8, 2008 at Racine Case High School
Racine Case High School

Division: 1
Enrollment: 1999
Coach: Nick Sturycz
Conference: Southeast
Conference Schools: Franklin, Kenosha Bradford, Kenosha Tremper, Muskego, Oak Creek, Racine Case, Racine Horlick, and Racine Park

Maya Carter [left] is a senior who is one of the top 300m hurdlers in Wisconsin. She is currently #5 on the All-Time 300m list compiled by Mark Rongstad and Mike Krugel.

As a sophomore Carter finished second to Kettle Moraine's Samantha Berg in the D1 300m LH finals.

In last years WIAA State Finals Carter and Greenfield's Michelle Garner gave track fans one of the all time great finishes in the 300m with Garner edging Carter 43.77 to 43.81. The All-Division State Record in the 300m LH is 43.46.
The Racine Case Eagles have an athlete who inspires from the way she attacks challenges put in her path to success. Senior Emily Nielson [far left in the 4x8 relay] is much shorter than most other runners. She must make up the stride advantage that taller runners have by increasing her speed in a race that is already demanding on the mind and body. In addition Emily cannot speak and is deaf. Thus she must work extra hard at communicating with teammates and coaches.

The Case 4x8 relay team which Emily runs on made great improvement in 2010 and just missed qualifying for State when they finished 4th at the Mukwonago Sectional. Emily's 2010 teammates were: Below L-R- Paula Kuiper, Dominique Lambright, and Stephanie Nielson. Emily and Stephanie are not related. In the regional and sectional Rebecca DeMatthew [12] also was a member of the Eagle's 4x8 relay team.

4x8 Relay runners L-R: Emily Nielson, Stephanie Nielson, Dominique Lambright, and Paula Kuiper

CASE EAGLES

In most sports it is traditional to wish your opponent 'Good Luck' before the competition begins. Below is an equivalent of the 'Good Luck' phrase many athletes and coaches use prior to the start of an event. 'Click' on the words below to learn the 'signing' equivalent to 'Good Luck!' In American Sign Language the phrase would be signed as LUCK, WISH, YOU. Special thanks to the Signing Savy website.



Interpreter Sarah Tebelius [above left] signs the talk that Coach Nick Sturycz is giving to the girls team. Emily Nielsen watches Tebelius as Sturycz instructs the team. Emily wrote the following answers to a few questions that were submitted to her via paper:

Who got you interested in running?

I became interested in running when I saw my grandmother exercising. She was walking and running. I was in first grade.

What mental strategies do you use to keep running fast when fatique begins to take over?

I watch the runner in front of me and I think "I can do it!. I can beat her."

What is the hardest thing for you to communicate when interacting with teammates and coaches?

It's not really hard. The interpreter is usually there when coach talks. Sometimes I text when there is no interpreter.

Are there current high school runners who influence your style of running?

There was one girl when I was a freshman. I watched her when she ran. I wanted to look like her.

What is your favorite pre-meet meal?

Pasta

How do you handle the classroom when teachers lecture or videos are presented?

Well, I have an interpreter when teachers are talking and sometimes there are captions on videos.

Do you have plans after you graduate from Case?

I am checking into attending Gateway Technical College.



Jatoya Woods [11, Above left]: Dash, relays and Tyra Carter [10, Above center and right]: Dash and jumps athlete

Above left and below: Warmup laps. Above right: Racine Case head Girls Coach Nick Sturycz

Coach Otha Frazier [above and below] and his Case Eagle distance runners

Coach Courtney Kazanecki [above far right] worked with the throwers.

Below: A major emphasis in Tuesdays practice for the dash athletes was how to run the tight turns of an indoor track.



Some of the key track performers for Case were not at practice because they are members of the 5th ranked D1 Case Girls Basketball team. Maya Carter [above] and Jatoya Woods [below] were practicing for their Regional Tournament game on Saturday.


The 2010 track season saw 12 State Records broken in D1, D2, and D3. Many of those record breaking athletes return for 2011. Track fans will again be treated to some great matchups as athletes continue their assault on the record books. The rivalry between the 300m LH athletes pictured below will be fun to watch as all athletes work toward tournament action and the chance to participate in the State Meet at La Crosse.






Greenfield junior Michelle Garner and Racine Case senior Maya Carter.

Waukesha Catholic Memorial Crusader Invite, April 10, 2010