They meet again
IHSA official Struck humbled by influence on former athletes winning state titles as coaches
In the mid-1990s, as Sandburg’s cross country and track coach, Pete Struck had three student-athletes on his rosters who went on to win state titles of their own as coaches.
John O’Malley won a Class 3A cross country state title in 2015 with his alma mater. John Sipple did the same in 2017 at Downers Grove North. Brian O’Donnellwon a 3A track championship in 2019 with CreteMonee.
Three of the four were able to get together Tuesday during Sandburg’s 17-46 victory overHomewood-Flossmoor in aSouthWest Suburban Blue dual meet in Flossmoor.
Sandburg, which did not use its top 10 runners in preparation for Friday’s huge dual meet at Loyola, was led by Jacob Coleman’s finish in 17 minutes, 12 seconds.
Colemanwas followed by Indiana Hauter in 17:38 and Will Kupczyk in 17:45. Homewood- Flossmoor’s Trip Shonkwiler took fourth with a 17:48.
Struck, an Illinois High School Association official in his 20th season, was the race’s starter. O’Malley is still coaching Sandburg. O’Donnell moved to H-F, where he’s the head cross country coach and an assistant in track.
As a track official, Struck was present at all three state championships won by his former student-athletes.
“None of the three were great high school athletes, but they were in love with the sport,” Struck said. “That’s what makes them great coaches.
“I’m sure there are others who have a coaching tree with that kind of success, but for me, it’s just a gift. It really is.”
Until this season, which has been altered because of coronavirus concerns, the two coaches in Tuesday’s matchuprarelymetin a dual meet. O’Malley was happy to face a formerteammatein a one-on-one setting.
“For the three of us to have experienced the highest level of success and to share the same roots and philosophy has been really profound,” he said.
“We are in each other’s corners, we challenge each other and we share in our setbacks aswell.
“Being on a team is so importantandwe are a team of coaches. However good or bad of a coach I am, I would be half as effective if I didn’t have those guys pushing me and supporting me. I hope to offer that to them as well.”
O’Donnell said he was glad to host O’Malley and to have his former coach start the race.
“Itwas an awesomeexperience,” he said. “We got to see a fair amount of each other, even when Iwas with Crete. Pete would be starting some meets we were in. It’s not lost on me how special that is.”
Coleman said he was thrilled to win the first race of his high school career.
“It’s my last year and I had to make it a good one,” he said. “Ever since freshman year, I’ve been dreaming of winning a race. It feels really good.
“Since I’ve been here, there have been some great runners. Seeing myself in the front was really a farfetched goal.”
Sandburg, rankedNo. 5 in the state for Class 3A by MileSplit, will run against top-ranked New Trier for the third time this season in an eight-team meet at Loyola.
New Trier edged Sandburg 33-46 in a six-team meet hosted on Sept. 11 by the Eagles. The Trevians won Saturday’s dual meet 23-32 over the Eagles in Winnetka.
“We’re soevenlymatched — it’s literally a second per guy,” O’Malley said. “We got a little closer last week. The hope is that we’re on a process that is going to cut that downand keep improving.”