On November 21, 2023, the South Jersey Track Coaches Association sponsored their annual season-ending banquet honoring the top performers from all of South Jersey! Twelve of the best boys and girls from the SJ region were honored and, of those boys, three of Cherokee's best were recognized: Seniors Nick Kuenkel and Bobby Poplau, and Junior Liam Tindall!
Our website is a testament to their excellence and that of their teammates, and NJ.MileSplit provides a nice summary of that evening's details.
In addition, our photographer was there to capture some of the evening and, as usual, his pictures are posted on the District's Google Site.
On November 23rd, 2023, Thanksgiving Day, Marlton sponsored their annual Turkey Trot -- not a real Turkey in sight but there were a number of guys who are often referred to by the slang expression, Turkey -- where quite a few of our current runners and Alums trotted through the town on a 5K adventure!
Alum Jack Shea '17 dominated throughout, taking 1st while clocking 14:32 (4:41 pace), followed in 3rd by young Jack Tindall ('28) in 15:29 (5:00 pace), in 4th by Liam Tindall '25 in 15:31 (5:00 pace); in 5th by Mike Zurzolo '17 in 15:41 (5:04 pace); in 6th by Sean Sooy '28 in 17:02 (5:30 pace); in 7th by Silas Matteson '24 in 17:06 (5:33 pace); in 9th by Tom Bromley '23 in 17:33 (5:40 pace); in 10th by Liam Deimler '25 in 17:33 (5:40 pace); in 11th by Bobby Poplau '24 in 17:35) 5:40 pace); in 12th by Ben Realley '27 (5:42 pace); in 18th by Josh Pawlik '23 in 17:35 (5:40 pace); in 19th by Evan Pawlik '23) in 17:37 (6:02 pace); in 27th by Dylan Weiner '24 in 19:20 (6:14); in 28th by Ben Weiner '24 in 19:20 (6:14 pace); and in 32nd by Sam Wright '36 in 19:51 (6:28).
Details, including results and finish line video, at: Run.
Here are some pics from the race and these and others are available on the District's Google site.
Back in 1979 -- the same year NJ opened its championship course at Holmdel Park, the Foot Locker Corporation sponsored their first Cross Country National Championships and has been a major influence ever since! Mostly, the athletes advanced to the national championships by taking one of ten spots in one of six regional races around the country. For the last ten years, Northeast runners, including New Jersey boys, raced at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City but this year business interests interfered and the meet moved to Franklin Park in Boston, MA. on Thanksgiving weekend!
In the past, entire Cherokee teams raced, if not in the incredibly challenging championship race, in one of several races that allowed slower qualifying times. This year it wasn't the same.
Coach Shaklee described his trip and the race in his own words:
"Nick Kuenkel was the lone runner continuing on after the Meet of Champions. He had his sights set on the Footlocker Northeast Regional Meet in Boston on November 25th and he was going! Nick did a great job of training solo for two weeks (with occasional guest appearances by teammates for pre-workout warm-up runs or basic runs). On the Friday after Thanksgiving, the entire Kuenkel clan left bright and early for the long drive up to Boston. They got to Franklin Park in the early afternoon for packet pick-up and for Nick's pre-meet run on the course. From there they headed to the meet hotel where they met up with Coach Shaklee who arrived by train. An early pre-meet meal of pasta and pizza was followed by an early bed time to be rested for the big event.
"The morning of the race was a cold one (under 30 at race time) but, with the sun fully out and light wind, it felt fine. The field featured five of the top nine runners from last year's race as well as several other runners who were just out of the top 10 last year. Nick knew he would need a great race to advance. At the gun, Nick got off of the line well but by the 400 meter mark the field swallowed him up and, while he was not far behind the leader, he was about 40th. By the mile he had moved into about 25th place and by two miles he was in sixteenth! He was doing a great job of staying focused and moving forward but, the remaining runners in front of him were all exceptional athletes and catching six of them would require an incredible finish. When Nick exited the woods and hit the field about 600 meters from the finish, he was in fourteenth! Three runners were only two to three seconds ahead of him but the fourth runner he needed to get (in tenth place) was another 30 meter ahead and running strong. Nick gave it all he had over the final 600m and caught two runners to finish in twelfth place, only two spots out of qualifying!"
"Although he was slightly disappointed to come so close and just miss making nationals, he realized (as did his coach) that he had run his best race of the season and had to be happy with ending on such a positive note!
"Nick had a great season and a great cross country career at Cherokee! He will be running for Monmouth University next year where we expect his success to continue! But first, we are excited for the coming track season! Nick is healthy and ready to train at an even higher level. He will be a contender for a state title or two this year and we can't wait to see what he does! Congratulations, Nick, and thanks for all you have done for our program!"
As you might expect, several companies have an insane amount of information on the Regionals and the up-coming Nationals. Here's a feature with a local connection: NJ.MileSplit.
Unavailable for the meet, our photographer copied most of these pics from MileSplit's MaineTrackXC photographer! Here are slightly larger versions on the District's Google site.
This picture is different from the race pics! Early in the morning, Nick and Shak waited for Santa Claus to arrive with an early Christmas gift?
On November 30th, 2023, the athletes, coaches, parents and friends met as a team for the last time this season at the annual Cherokee Cross Country Team Awards Banquet! There they reviewed an impressive number of team and individual championships and other accomplishments, recognized the achievements of the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman Teams, and honored several key individuals on the team! Finally, Coaches Shaklee and Thompson paid special attention to the graduating seniors, most of whom were four-year members of the team!
Several technical problems interferred with the planned operation of the evening so, before going on, let's look at how some of Cherokee's graduating seniors matured over the years by looking back at those we can find who raced in Middle School and earlier! Those and others are available at Cherokee's Google site.
The evening's activities were held in the cafeteria and began with an extensive meal provided by the parents . . . served by the parents, cleaned-up by the parents . . . You Go Parents! Then Coaches Shaklee and Thompson introduced the team members by class; reviewed the accomplishments of individuals and the team throughout the season; bid fairwell to the graduating Seniors; and presented the most-significant Coaches' Awards, including the Most Improved, Most Valuable, and the Unsung Hero!
Over the years, Coach Shaklee created and distributed a summary booklet of the team's history but, keeping with the times, he produced a digital Cherokee Booklet, 2023 . It is available at: District Google site.
While all of the accomplishments of the team are recognized in the Cherokee Booklet, 2023, the Coaches' Awards are a big deal and deserve mention here! That is because they are given by the people who really know the athletes and know the most-deserving of all! They were selected not simply because they were the fastest runners . . . the coaches also consider their dedication to the team and its values, their leadership, character, self-discipline and self-motivation, sportsmanship, competitiveness, and persistence. Congratulations to the following athletes who were selected to receive the Coaches' Awards:
Rookie of the Year: Ben Realley
Most Improved: Liam Tindall
Unsung Hero: Bobby Poplau
Most Valuable: Nick Kuenkel
Our photographer, who never misses a free meal, attended the dinner, and he and his new assistant, Finn Tindall, took a number of pictures. They posted some below and included them and a few others on the District's Google site.
The recognition/award portion of the program began when Coach Shaklee introduced Alum Tim Haggerty '96, attorney for the Cherokee XC and Track and Field Alumnai Association, who awarded $500 scholarships to Nick Kuenkel and Bobby Poplau for their achievements in Cross Country!
Following that, the Coach introduced and recognized the achievements of each class member and then some Special Awards:
The Freshmen: Colin McHale, Ben Cerutti, Gavin Danielewicz, Leo Vyvyan, Jack Finley, Bruce Novoa, Sean Sooy, Jonathan Merkel, Ben Realley. Missing - Luke Beretta and Lucas Zambon.
The Sophomores: Charlie Wasserott, Logan Bromley, Dom Pileri, Missing - Rory Carroll.
The Juniors: Ben Weiner, Sam Wright, Liam Tindall, Tate Midora, Enzo Corona, Josh Lowery, Tyler Newton; Liam Deimler and Anthony DiBattista
The Seniors: Coach Shaklee, Luke Reistle, Andrew Free, Myron Paes, Nimai Kumar, Matteo Evola, Silas Matteson, Nick Kuenkel and Bobby Poplau Coach Thompson
ALL-SOUTH JERSEY: Liam Tindall, Nick Kuenkel, Bobby Poplau
ALL-CONFERENCE: Liam Tindall (1st team), Ben Realley (2nd team), Ben Weiner (2nd team), Dom Pileri (2nd team), Nick Kuenkel (1st team), Bobby Poplau (1st team) and Logan Bromley (1st team)
ALL-BURLINGTON COUNTY, First Team Only: Nick Kuenkel, Ben Realley, Ben Weiner, Liam Tindall, Bobby Poplau and Logan Bromley
Our new assistant photographer, Finn T, already lined-up to move into the top position, took charge during some of the shooting at the banquet. Here he is seen in action and then four of his own pictures!
The evening ended with remarks from Seniors Bobby Poplau, Matteo Evola, Nick Kuenkel and Silas Matteson, and unique and well- deserved trophies awarded to "Head Coach" Thompson and his "Assistant Coach" Shaklee!
"Head Coach" Thompson_______________"Assistant Coach" Shaklee
~ ~ Congratulations to everyone for a great season, and thanks for all your efforts! ~ ~
GO CHEROKEE!
On December 4th, 2023, MileSplit selected the New Jersey All-State Cross Country Team and named Cherokee's Nick Kuenkler to the First Team! This honor is awarded to only the Top-7 Runners in the State! GO NICK!
All-XC pictures from 2023: Link.