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Cross Country

2009 Ursuline Cross Country Schedule

Head Coach: Mr. George Stroia

* Meet where GIRLS run first and BOYS run second.

The History of Cross Country

During the 1960's, the Cross Country Team maintained a "club status" as there was no organized league in which to compete.

In the early 1970's, Ursuline had joined the Steel Valley conference. At this time, Cross Country became an official sport of the school, and Mr. Tony Costarella became the first official coach. Both young men and young women competed for the Irish in their respective divisions. In 1976, Bob Jenkins took over the helm and coached the team through the 1985 season. In 1986, Miss Karen Lane took over the program. The 1987 team was coached by Mr. Bill Hess. In 1988, Mrs. Karen (Lane) Pavlansky returned as coach. She held the position through the 1993 season. In 1994, George Stroia became the coach of the team.

1989 was the first year in which Ursuline won a team championship. The 1989 Girls team won its first Steel Valley Championship. They were also the first girls team t advance to the Regional Meet. The 2004 Girls' team also won the Steel Valley Championship. In 1990, the boys team was the District Runner-up.

Miss Wilma DePiore has proven to be the most consistent runner to date. She was the State Runner-up in both 1983 and 1984. Wilma was named to the All Ohio Cross Country Team in each of her four years at Ursuline (1983-1986). In 1992, she became the first Cross Country athlete to be inducted into the Ursuline High School Hall of Fame. In 2006, Geoff Hulme was also inducted.

In 2005, the Academic Excellence Award given to the senior boy and senior girl with the highest Grade Point Average was renamed the Geoff Hulme Award for Academic Excellence. Geoff Hulme is a 1983 graduate who excelled in both Cross Country and Track. He has made significant contributions to both programs since his graduation.

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