BLOG 13: Bulldog cross senior salutes interim head coach

By Sandy Gholston

Former Bulldog runner Steve Picucci guided the women's cross country team to its first appearance at nationals since 1987 as interim head coach

BIG RAPIDS – This fall truly has been a season of change for Ferris State University with regard to cross country and track and field. As part of that change, however, the student-athletes have truly come to appreciate the work of interim head coach Steve Picucci.

Picucci, a former cross country/track and field student-athlete in his own right, played an integral role in leading the Ferris women’s cross country team to a third-place finish in the 2008 NCAA Division II Midwest Region Cross Country Championships on Saturday afternoon in Big Rapids at Katke Golf Course.

“(Picucci) has done an amazing job for us,” said senior Mikinzie Stuart who claimed 12th place (22:41.6) and earned all-region honors as did sophomore teammate Tina Muir who earned the same with her fifth-place finish (21:56.8) Saturday. “(Picucci) made us his priority. I swear everything he does is either cross country or track related. When he’s not at practice coaching us or helping with our sprints right after our practice, he is writing new workouts and figuring out time splits or just helping us with aches and pulled muscles or he is doing mundane coaching stuff like recruiting.”

After the conclusion of the race, Picucci took time and saluted his student-athletes, but the student-athletes saluted him back.

“He told us we all earned (the first trip to nationals for a Ferris State University women’s cross country team since 1987 by virtue of the third-place finish behind Grand Valley State and Wayne State and just two points ahead of Southern Indiana for the last of the three spots to nationals), but the truth is (that) without him we wouldn’t have,” she said. “He earned it and we are so thankful and so appreciative of the life he has put into our team.”

Leading the men’s team, Picucci enjoyed a 47th-place finish from promising freshman runner Tyler Crossman, who timed in at 33:36.3 in the 10K race. Sophomore Alex Best was 88th in 34:42.3, senior Mike Mangieri was 90th in 34:43.1 and junior Matt Jozwiak ended up 99th in 34:58.8.

For complete results of the men’s and women’s races at the 2008 NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championships held at Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, visit: http://www.ferris.edu/sports/mcc/08region/homepage.htm.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com