Herrick Middle School’s cross country program serves as a source of pride for students and staff alike. This year, all four cross country teams won the DMVA Conference Championship, and, since 1990, the teams have won an impressive 36 championships.
“I am very proud of our student athletes for their hard work and perseverance this season,” said Mary Lueck, a Herrick cross country coach and PE teacher. “About 100 students participate in cross country, which is really a large number for a school of our size. We are fortunate to have so many students interested in running and keeping active.”
"This year's team showed strong dedication to running after school every day and a desire to improve at every meet,” said Jill Henry, a fellow Herrick cross country coach and science teacher. “We are very proud of how much everyone improved from day one of practice to the conference meet."
Mrs. Lueck attributes much of the program’s success to the community’s support and the high school’s influence. She said that Downers Grove North excels in cross country, and their success trickles down to the middle school level.
“Siblings tend to show interest in the same sports as their older brothers and sisters,” Mrs. Lueck said. “When a student sees an older sibling is enjoying cross country, either at Herrick or DGN, that often motivates that student to join cross country when he or she reaches middle school.”
In addition to Mrs. Lueck and Ms. Henry, Herrick’s cross country program is coached by School Counselor Steve Gross. Mr. Gross agreed with Mrs. Lueck’s sentiments, but added that other motivators exist as well.
“Mrs. Lueck has coached Herrick cross country for 29 years. During her tenure, she transformed it into a fantastic program where students can make friends, stay active, work hard and have a lot of fun,” said Mr. Gross. “This reputation makes Herrick cross country a very attractive extracurricular for students entering middle school.”
Mr. Gross added that their focus on hard work and fun has created a winning combination for the Herrick cross country teams. In fact, not only did they win the conference championships this year, Herrick also won the coveted Franklin Invitational for the second consecutive year. The Franklin Invitational is an annual cross country meet that invites Herrick to compete with teams outside their conference, including Wheaton and Naperville schools, which traditionally boast very strong cross country programs.
“The Franklin Invitational includes some of the toughest competition in DuPage County,” Mrs. Lueck said. “It was a very big deal to win the Franklin Invitational, and we are so proud of our students!”
While winning the conference championships and the Franklin Invitational are incredible accomplishments, the Herrick cross country coaches ultimately hope that their students’ cross country experiences spark a lifelong love of running.
“We want our students to develop a passion for running and keeping active,” said Mrs. Lueck. “We want them to continue running -- either on a team or as a hobby -- into high school and beyond!”
In addition to Herrick’s successes, nearby O’Neill Middle School also performed well, with its seventh grade girls taking second place in conference, and its three other teams all placing in the top four.
Photos provided by Mr. Gross.