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Hit the ground running
By TERRY JONES
© St. Petersburg Times, PEBBLE CREEK -- Make no mistake: This is not a year of rebuilding for Wharton High School's boys' cross country team. Though the team lost five runners in the spring graduation, coach Wes Newton insists they are capable of competing in what could be a tougher class. "We simply must work harder and quicker to continue the winning tradition," he says. That tradition got the Wildcat seniors to 10th place last year in the Class 3A state championship run. Newton nicknamed the boys in their blue uniforms the "fine blue line," taking inspiration from Leto High School's "long red row." This year that fine blue line will be led by seniors Bo Leslie and Tampa Bay Tech transfer student Greg Mcarthy, as well as sophomore speedster Zack Sanchez. After last fall's state meet, Newton appointed Leslie and Sanchez captains. Then he divided everyone into two squads to work with the two captains in the off season. "Bo and Zack made contact with their squads every day, either by phone or e-mail," Newton said. "They selected a place to meet and train every day and it shows already, early in the season. . . . Our team is working hard seven days a week." Newton also oversees the girls' cross country team. His strategy is to teach athletes to use their minds to help push their bodies past the pain. He also sets goals for each runner and helps his runners attain them. Unlike coaches in most other sports, Newton doesn't recruit cross country runners with large bodies or a lot of sprinter speed. He looks for scholars with high academic achievements. Sanchez weighs only 106 pounds and Leslie only 122; both are honor scholars. "They don't have to be big like basketball and football players or powerful like baseball players and wrestlers," Newton said. "They simply need to be willing to work as hard running cross country as they do to make all A's." Last year, the Wharton boys track team was selected as the top academic team of Hillsborough County. Newton, who also teaches chemistry at Wharton, runs with his athletes, although he cannot always keep up. He, too, was a high academic achiever in high school and college. "Scholar athletes -- sometimes but not always -- with smaller body frames have a strong sense of pride," Newton said. "Cross country is a sport they can project their determination and pride into." This year the Wildcats have been moved up to Class 4A and perhaps a tougher set of opponents. The move puts the Wildcats in the same district as Leto, Sarasota, Manatee and Bloomingdale, ranked No. 2 in the state. Newton is sure they can meet the challenge. "When we get to districts at the end of the season, we have a good chance to place in the top five," he said. "Since the top six move on to regionals, I feel we have a good chance keep running."
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