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Jan Small to retrace husband's footsteps By Steve Metsch Plaindealer News Service CRYSTAL LAKE - Jan Small has been running for five years, but her most difficult race might be yet to come. On April 29, the Crystal Lake resident will run the Lake County half-marathon, the same race in which her husband, Kevin, died last year. Some people might have given up running and others would have tried to put the incident out of their mind forever. Jan has refused to do either. Instead, she will retrace her husband's last steps. "I think I decided last year sometime I wanted to do it. I've driven part of the course. A lot of people would have quit running, but Kevin knew how much I love to run," Jan said Monday. An energentic person, Kevin worked out and played tennis in addition to running. His death, which was the result of a previously unknown heart condition, came as a surprise. It also occurred on one of those rare days Jan wasn't running with him. Their daughter, Nicci, was born five months earler and Jan decided to skip the 13.1-mile half-marathon in favor of a 10- kilometer race in Elgin. While waiting to register, Kevin's father and sister arrived with the news of his death. Usually, the Smalls would run together. They met through Kevin's mother, whom Jan played tennis with. Kevin was planning to build a combination gas station-market and needed help in the foods department, where Jan had experience. They became good friends, starting dating more than a year and later were married in 1982. At first, he would kid her about running, but soon changed his tune. "I got him interested in running. I always talked about it and he thought it was crazy. Then one day he started. I didn't know until he ran enough to enter a race," Jan said. "It (his death) was very unusual since he was in excellent shape." Actually, Kevin wasn't in tip­ top health. An auto accident eight years earler left a heart aneurism, which spread un­ detected. "He could have gone any time. The race was an exertion, but not necessarily tfie cause. He had an EKG annually and seemed to be fine. The doctors were surprised he lived that long and they said running helped him to live longer," Jan said. • Kevin collapsed nine-tenths of a mile from the finish line. Paramedics and doctors who were running the race at­ tempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Great Lakes Hospital on April 24, 1983. So, In memory of her late husband, Jan will lace 'up her running shoes April 29 in Lake Bluff. While she acknowledges it will be difficult, nothing ran keep her away. "I don't know what will happen, but I've spent a lot of time thinking about Kevin and thinking about retracing his steps the day he died. I know we enjoyed running together and he would want me to continue," she said. Jan, who now is sole owner of Continued on pago 20 PAGE 22 - PLAINDEALER - FRIDAY. APRIL 20, 1984 let's talk Warriors battle back to tie Golden Eagles Sport Talk by Mike Lamb Sports Editor Everybody wants to play, but where? Where do you draw the line? That was the question McHenry City officials were faced with when the park department reported there were more Softball teams than the city parks could hold. Last spring, 26 teams were represented at the recreation department's 12 inch organizational meeting. The problem arose because the league could only hold 16 teams. Former park district softball registration procedures were such that many McHenry residents were unable to play last year. So park department director Pete Merkel pleaded his case to the city council. The city council debated and took a vote. The result was a residency rule, which in theory, would weed the out-of-towners out who don't pay McHenry taxes and leave more room for citizens who do pay taxes. Rna^niiy the rule states only teams with at least 60 percent McHenry citizens on its roster can play softball in city parks. A team with 80 percent McHenry citizens had first crack at signing up for the league. Teams with 60 percent would register second, and pay an equalization tax of $75 to the city of McHenry. The McHenry High School district was set up as the boundary for McHenry citizens who could play softball. This rule not only effected the park league, but also any league which played on city parks. Now this rule seems to be a fair one. You pay taxes, which helped build and maintained the parks; you can play. But as always, there are two sides to every issue. Team managers from 28 teams showed up for the league meeting last Tuesday. Mayor Joseph Stanek also attended. There was only room for 16 teams. When the topic of the new residency rule came up, a heated discussion followed. Now many of the teams could at least make the 60 percent residency requirement, but they were still unhappy. And, as you can imagine, those that had doubts about meeting the requirements, were extremely unhappy. They argued, for example, that they now live in Wonder Lake, but have lived in McHenry all their lives. Their parents pay McHenry taxes, and they would pay McHenry taxes if they could find a place to live in McHenry. They graduated from McHenry High School, they shop in McHenry, their friends live in McHenry, their jobs are in McHenry and they do all their business in McHenry. "Why can't we play?" One gentleman asked. "Do you get tax dollars from stores such as Sullivan's and Jewel (grocery stores in McHenry)?" But Merkel was quick to point out, "no matter where you draw the line, it will be unfair to someone." Of course, one of the options mentioned by some of those in attendance was to expand the league. But Merkel says it's im­ possible. "It's easy to say expand to more teams, but where? " Mayor Stanek, however, made a promise at the meeting. He | pledged that all teams that come up with the 80 percent requirement, will play. "If you have 17 teams with 80 percent, that 17th team is going to play." That promise again brought up the question of "where"? All the other privately-run men's leagues, that play on city fields are filled by now. One option is Sunday. But a Sunday league was a problem last year, because of supervision and maintenance. It's hard to persuade a city employee to work on Sunday, and is costly as well. Another option was having games on Thursday nights at Petersen Park. But that spot is filled by a women's 16-inch league. But that could change. That league has only three teams signed-up so far. Of course, they are having some of the same problems with the residency rule as the other leagues. Although she wouldn't completely blame the low turnout of teams to her league on the city's residency rule, a league official admitted it doesn't help. So Merkel promised the men if the women's league doesn't come up with more teams, Thursday night will be theirs. Hie meeting ended with everybody still unhappy. But the residency rule is a city ordinance and can't be changed now. Either live with it, or don't play. The city council made a decision, good or bad, which had to be made. And there is no doubt, more problems like this are going to arise in McHenry. One gentleman who was in attendance might have summed up the whole situation while talking to Merkel after the meeting. "McHenry is a small town facing big town problems." • • • o By Mike Lamb Plaindealer sports editor The McHenry Warrior baseball team waited 10 days to play a game, thanks to rainy weather. When the Warriors finally played a game, they battled Jacobs Wednesday for six innings, but the Warriors will still have to wait. The Warriors will have to wait to Saturday for the win or loss. Thanks to McHenry's Steve Cunningham scoring from third on a wild pitch in darkness with two outs in the sixth inning, the Warriors tied the contest at 5-5. The game was halted because of darkness by the umpires and will be continued, starting with the seventh inning, Saturday at Algonquin. The Warriors will then play a second game to make up a scheduled game rained out last Monday. "Ending up in a tie is as crazy as you're going to get," said McHenry coach Brian Wilson. It wasn't the tie, however, which had Wilson a little upset. His Warrior squad had Jacobs on the ropes in the fifth inning, holding a 4*3 lead. Relief pitcher Ross Vehring easily worked the first two batters into outs before the Golden Eagles broke loose. A balk and an error, along with a walk and a single resulted in two Jacobs runt. "Our defense let us down today. We made some errors in key situations," said Wilson. Wilson was happy with the pitching performances. Pat Dunne starteafne game, getting in trouble in the third inning and giving way to Vehring. Vehring's only bad inning was the fifth inning, giving up the two runs. "Ross came in and did a pretty good job. He's my stopper," Wilson said. The Warriors almost battled back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jacobs pitcher, Ron Bender, gave up consecutive walks to Kris Teuber and Continvod on p«|» 20 Game report forms are now available at the McHenry Plain- dealer. All youth and adult leagues that play softball, or baseball are required to use the forms when submitting league game results. If there are any questions about these forms, call me at the Plaindealer at 385-0170. Jacobs lead-off hitter Adam Brancamp looks towards his coach for the sign as the umpire signals a 1-1 count in the fourth inning. (Plaindealer photo by Mike Lamb) Warrior pitcher Ross Vehring ended up striking out Brancamp. Brad Snyder Is the Warrior catcher. Central favored again in FVC track race During the past year I have extended congratulations and bouquets to Warrior coaches and players for their many deeds in athletics. Now it's time to give a special bouquet to our retiring editor and truly great Warrior fan, Adele Froehlich. She has indeed been a Warrior booster in many ways for many, many years. She has spoken to many classes at McHenry High School on a variety of topics. She has taken a keen interest in school affairs, attended athletic events, lent her support where needed, and was very helpful several years ago when a young fellow began to write a sports column for this paper. We will miss her smiling face, cheerful greeting and always a pleasant word. So on behalf of all Warrior fans I would like to extend congratulations for a job well done for over 40 years. Have a pleasant retirement, and maybe she can trade in the tennis racket for a set of golf clubs. , We hope she will take an interest in all Warrior activities. o o o o o o There is talk in the Fox Valley. Will the Crystal Lake Central Tigers win their third straight conference crown in track? It looks as if Dick Kloepfer has another powerhouse with a well balanced squad. His two distant runners, Jim Laneland and Pat McDaniels, are already in top form. The Tigers have sprinters, hurcflers, and along with the field events, will really be the team to beat. The Warriors, second place finisher last year, will really have to go to repeat. Coach Dan Boland has a young squad, but still has some veteran squad members that will give him some points, or maybe even an upset. Brian Wright, Marty Koleno, Chris Creutz On the , Sideline Dick Rabbitt can make a run for second place at the conference meet. The Trojans of Cwy-Grpye lost most of their team by graduation last spring. Coach Rich McKelvey is hoping some of his sophomore squad from last year will fill the bill, but he doesn't expect too much this season. and Terry Harth are all from the cross country team and will give the Warriors some strength in the distant races. The frosh-soph squad won the Panther- Viking Relays last week in Geneva. Again Dundee-Crown is a team that bears watching. Coach Tom Smith has George Scott, a state qualifier the past two years in the 100 and 400 meter dashes. Also the Chargers have a state qualifier in Mike Buhrow in the 1,600 meter run, and his brother Pat is a top shot putter. Woodstock has a squad of 71 out for the team. The Blue Streaks are strong in the sprints with Kurt Brown and Warren Wolschlager. Hurdlers Mark Washington and Greg Andes will help out, along with Todd Peterson in the high jump. Coach Ed LeCrone feels his team is a year away from serious consideration for a championship. Crystal Lake South has a huge squad this season, but just can't get past cross-town rival Central. The Gators are strong in the field events, and have a fairly good squad of sprinters and distance men to help out. Jacobs is building the team around triple and long jumper Ken Ezop. Generally, this gives the Golden Eagles a couple of first places to begin a meet. Along with some additional help, the Golden Eagles think they Crystal Lake South is again the team to beat in tennis. The number one doubles team returns for a repeat performance. Also, the number one player and conference winner in 1982 (second last year), Foley, will return to help the Gators. Jacobs is returning the number one singles champ, who won the title last year as a freshman. With some additional help, he should be a contender. Both Cary-Grove and Central have veterans returning, and these two should fight it out for second place in the conference meet. Woodstock is a sleeper this year. The Blue Streaks have a well rounded squad, but the top player, Rizzo, has not played this spring yet. _ Dundee-Crown, again, is a mystery with the combining of the two schools. They could be the darkhorse, but we have said that in every sport this year. Coach Gary Gray says his Warriors lack experience. So far this season they have been working and are eager to learn. In several meets this year, in a losing cause, his players have exptended the opponents to three sets. That's a good sign for a young group of players. Mike, Barb and I are hoping for good weather, so we may give you details of some events - instead of complaining about the weather. (Plaindealer photo by Mike Lamb) McHenry parks director Pete Merkel (center) and McHenry Mayor Joseph Stanek (right) discuss the new residency rules with some concern citizens during a timeout of the meeting.