Wildcat
Coaches
Wildcat Head Coaches
Mike Mapes & John Kunde
Wildcat Coaches
Gary Peterson, Roger Swanson,
Carol Wilson, Shawn Bradley,
Justin & Theresa Schroder, Larry Swanson, Nicole Gilfillan, Manny Arreguin, Chris Polnow, John Kunde, Mike Mapes
Wildcat alumni Assistant Coaches
This group are Wildcats who have gone on to High School and
College and in their off seasons when they are allowed to run with the
Wildcats or when they are home from college they drop in to run with and help
out. We thank them for their past and ongoing assistance.
David Lynch, Kassandra Swanson, Kenny Hillman, Kelsey Mapes, Kelly Kazmerski,
John Liddell, Hannah & Lauren Williams
Mike Mapes
Mike did not begin running until 1980. Since then he has logged over 55,000 miles. He has two children that have run with the team. He served as race director for the State Street Mile for four years and has been active in the past at many local running events. Mike began volunteering as one of our running parents in 1997 and served as an assistant coach for three years before becoming head coach in 2001.
* USA Track and Field Level One Certified Coach
* Completed the Lake County Marathon, Milwaukee LakeFront
Marathon, Grandma's Marathon
John Kunde
John began running with the Wildcats in September of 2001. A Rockford Road Runner who answered our call to the running community to help promote and teach the sport of running to children. He as run hundreds of miles over the past three years helping our Wildcats become better runners. He was chosen as Rockford Road Runner of the Year in 2004. We ask for a resume from our coaches so you can get to know them. The following is John's response to our request. It shows his sense of humor and dedication to the sport of running and to the Wildcats. In 2008 John became Co-Head Coach, this will be Johns tenth year as a coach with the Wildcats.
" Ugh. Writing a running resume. I could probably embellish
without much chance of fact checking, liking saying I won the Sauk City Cow
Chip Classic 5K run in 1985. The funny thing is I really did run in that race
and finished it in around 17:50, but I didn't even place in my age group.
I was bummed, because they gave trophies with
little cow chips on them. Ah, well, here is the mixed bag of running I've
done. Never won a race, but always finished. In 4th grade ran around the
school enough times during lunch break to run 60 miles.
(Still have the trophy) Ran high school track and cross country in High School
at McFarland, Wisconsin. Lettered three times.
Graduated in 1983.
Started running road races in summers of 1985 to get back in
shape. Dry heaved my way to many good times and lots of
t-shirts. Ran on and off for many years, but with little conviction.
On a lark, in March of 2000, a friend from high school who ran cross
country with me asked about running a marathon. Started
training, ran road races in Rockford area and
finished my first marathon, the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon on October
8th, 2000 in 3:46:31. Ran four more marathons since,
including the Berlin, Germany marathon in 2004. Compete in
Rockford Road Runners Circuit races and have won my age group 3 of
the last 4 years and finished 2nd once. Started with
Wildcats on September 24, 2001 as a volunteer. (I checked my
running log for this one, my memory's not THAT good.)
Running with children and watching them progress, no matter what their level, is more rewarding than finishing a marathon will ever
be. Completing a marathon means I got one person across the finish
line. Helping train 50 children means I contributed to getting 50
bodies across the finish line. And on to bigger
things."
Gary Peterson
Gary began running with the Wildcats as a parent volunteer. His daughter who now ran for Boylan High School brought him to the Wildcats in 2001 and he has stayed becoming an assistant coach. We are still researching his running history and hope to have it soon. His daughter is now off to college but Gary continues to run with and coach the Wildcats, he is now in his tenth year assisting with the Wildcats.
Roger has been one of our volunteer running
parents since the team started in 1997. He has also been active in
supporting the team in many other ways over the years. He has two
children, one that runs with the team. Roger also has been a volunteer coach in
a number of other sports as you can see below. When he finds time he also
teaches karate and has earned a black belt. This is his 15th year working
with the Wildcats and his 14th year as an assistant Wildcat Coach.
* Coaching or Assistant Coach
Boys / Girls Club Basketball - 2 years
Boys / Girls Club Baseball - 3 years
Greater Rockford Little League - 4 years
* Ran both Cross-Country and Track(Mile,800,400,200) - 5 Years
Rockford Karate Club - 17 years
Carol Wilson
Carol began running to stay in shape over thirty years
ago. She is a competitive age group runner and has completed a number of
marathons. In High School Carol played volleyball,
basketball and softball. College sports included volleyball,
fencing, synchronized swimming and softball. She also spent five years bike
racing placing second in the North Carolina state meet, while she was in
graduate school. Carol has taught Physical Education several area
schools. She has been active in sports for over thirty years in a wide variety
of places and at many levels. She has assisted as a volunteer and running
parent since the team started in 1997. Carol has two children who have
run with the Wildcats. This will be her 15th year as an assistant Wildcat Coach. In her spare
time when she is not helping us she plays soccer, takes karate classes,
referees soccer games and sings in her church's choir.
* Cub Scout den leader - 2 years
* Girl Scout leader - 6 years
* WSI instructor/trainer for Red Cross
* College Coaching - Volleyball
* High School Coaching - Basketball, Softball, Soccer, Volleyball, Jr. High Track
* Marathons - Milwaukee Lakefront, Grandma's and the 100th Boston Marathon
Shawn Bradley
Shawn Bradley became an assistant coach in 2006 after several years a parent helper. Even though Shawns children have grown up he continues to run with the children whenever his schedule permits.
Nicole
Gilfillan
Manny
Arreguin
Chris Polnow
Justin & Thresa Schroder
Larry Swanson
Jessica Langford
* 7 time Winnebago High School
state qualifier in track and cross-country
Ruth Negron
Ruth has two children who have run with the Wildcats for several years. Ruth became an assistant coach in 2006 after being a parent helper. She took on the large task of running with our smallest runners. After being a helper to Nonie and Karen she has stepped up and fills in their shoes while they are off watching their Wildcats run at High School. Ruth has moved to California where she continues to run and cheer her children and we are sure other children on.
Nonie Broski
Nonie is married and the mother of four children. She has been running for 25+ years, during that time she has completed six half marathons and one marathon (Chicago). She has competed in and helped out at many area races. She started out as a parent volunteer when her daughter Suzanne joined the club years ago. She started heading up our youngest group the "Cheetahs" comprised of children age 8 and younger. She is both a coach and a mom while running with this young group all the while making it fun and adventurous as she introduces theses young runners to the sport. Nonie's is currently filling the role of parent as her youngest goes through high school we hope to see her back now and then running with children when she becomes and empty nester.
Karen Liddell
Karen has two children who run with the Wildcats. She is a teacher at Maria Montessori grade school. She has been a parent volunteer for several years. In 2004 she decided to take up running and has successfully completed a number of local races since then. Along with taking up running she became an assistant coach working with Coach Nonie and our youngest group. This is her fourth year as an assistant coach with the Wildcats.