Detroit Holy Redeemer Cross Country

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ATHLETES

'68	Jack Benitez
'69	Charlie Busuttil, Paul Pisani, Ken Seguin, Tom Targosz
'70	Bill Klann, Huey Maas, Gary Waver, Bob Cunningham, Gary Hawver, Darrell Howard, Mike LaCroix, Bob Leal, Allan Luc, Daniel Wilkens, Joseph Franges, Larry Portelli
'71	Pedro Rangel, Bob Muir, Miguel Osequeda, Gene Campbell, Gordon Cole, Greg Klotz, Craig Barlow, Frank Bucholtz, Eugene Campbell, Desi Correa, Miguel Gorcy, Lolly Perez, Gary Hawver, Fred Buchner, Tony Samonie, Mario Osegueda, Terry Powers
'72	Tony Mesa, Robert Ziola, Paul Girard, Antonio Alvarez, Larry Alcantar
'73	Not Available
'74	Dave Benitez, Alfredo Aguirre, Bob Flores, Mike Benitez
'75	Gary Oulette
'76	Havier Aguilar, Tony Lukasiwkz, Paul Munoz, Casmir Czarnecki
'77	Doug Bajor, Ron Maynor, Rick Kales, Tom Matras, Jose Valdez, Rick Dazsi
'78	Angelo Chavez, Don Pace, Joe Trolley, Wayne McComber, Wayne Ingraham, Mike Sautter, Gabe Morales, Mark Ogiluis, Ralph Rodriguez
'79	Manuel Manriquez, D. Camilleri, Jose Aguilar, Charlie Dorantes
'80	Mark Dadabbo, Jerry Argenaello, Jose Flores (Twinkie), Homer Pueblo, Alan Aleman, Mike Kilburg
'81	Steve Benevides, Michael Galvan, Mark Gueverra (Corktown)
'82	Patrick Irwin, Tony Ramirez (Chumley), Andy Vance, Mike Kowalski (Ski), Mike Vara, Chris Silva (Gump), Oscar Vazquez, Juan Flores, Joe Galea, Ray Birch, Carlos Chavez
'83	Mike Murray (Caveman), Robert Rankin, Craig Nelson, Rob Krowzuk
'84	Fred Feliciano, Oscar Hernandez, Dan Martinez, Ed Vazquez, Albert Matras, Frank Suyak, Victor Chavez
'85	Carlos Aguirre, Andre Galvan, Jose Salazar, Ruben Salinas, Anthony Stackpoole, Gerald Vazquez, Danny Rendon. Richard Martinez
'86	Martel Peguese
'87	Frank Alcala, Tim Colbeck, Dave Guerra, Ricardo Roman, Guadalupe Salazar, Robert Skates, Victor Delavega
'88	Fred Wydrick, Mike Ayala, Dave Ayala
'89	Enrique Olechea, Steve Belchunas, Jim Dadabbo, Joe Saheda, Ron Alcala
'90	Erin Irwin, Dominic Medina, Miguel Guiterrez, Andy Perez, Cesar Gonzalez, James Vara, Frank Lemus
'91	Paul Powell, Mike Salinas, Ben Smith, Jeff Ross
'92	Phil Powell, John Carmona, Jeff Pulk, David Chacon, Rub Palileo, Alerto Gaza, Pablo Vega, Tim Ross, Doug Golden (Doug Fresh)
'93	Jesus Estrada, Joe Carruba, Santino Trejo, Tom Cachuba
'94	Gabriel Macon, Louie Macon, Alex Rojas, Mike Evoy, Rudy Gomez, Eric Vazquez, Keith Brooks, Rene Palileo, Willie Smith
'95	Berto Vega, Paul Brown (NFL), Paul Garza, Tomas Lopez, David Mifsdu, Erin Lashbrook, Estalita De Jesus, Rene Jaramillo
'96	Trevel Parker, Mike Lemus, Adam Escobedo, Juan Benavides, Tony Galvan, Milus Jones, Andy Grunduski, David Vazquez, Christine Broom, Maria Gonzalez, Racheal Villanueva
'97	Dave Gonzalez, Omar Flores, Ray George, Mario Guerra, Steve Sellers, Joe Mitchack, Bronson Nichols
'98	Gabriel Rojas, Delobar Pecovic, Jason Stevens, Kevin Diaz-Teasley
'99	Drezien Pecovic, Juan Serrata, Noe Garcia, Mike Dowdy, Jim Guth, Victor Saavedra, Rollie
'00	Diego Gomez, Aaron Romero, Alex Botello, Tony Fernandez
'03	Dante Garza, Sergio Mendez, Ray Perez, Paco Romero
'04	Eddie Mendez, Matt Vega
'05	David Romero, Mike Stempien, Kevin Mizzi, Felipe Ramirez, Dan Gadigan

CAPTAINS

Fall Season	Captain(s) Name
1967	Charles Busuttil
1968	Kenneth Seguin, Bill Klann
1977	Doug Bajor
1980	Mark Dadabbo
1981	Steve Benevides
1982	Mike Vara, Patrick Irwin
1983	Edgar Vazquez
1984	Edgar Vazquez
1986	Robert Skates
1987	Fred Wydryck
1988	Erin Irwin
1989	Erin Irwin
1990	Paul Powell
1991	Phil Powell, Doug Golden
1992	Phil Powell, Dave Chacon, Doug Golden
1993	Paul Brown and Paul Garza
1994	Rudy Gomez, Mike Evoy, Alex Rojas
1995	Tony Galvan, Andy Grunduski, Adam Escobedo
1996	Dave Gonzalez, Steve Sellers
1997	Noe Garcia, Drazin Pecovic
1998	Noe Garcia, Drazin Pecovic, Juan Serrata
1999	Diego Gomez, Aaron Romero
2000	Diego Gonzalez
2001	Diego Gonzalez
2002	David Romero and Johanna Fenton
2003	David Romero, Mike Stempien and Johanna Fenton
2004	David Romero, Mike Stempien and Johanna Fenton

COACHES

Coaches

Stan Wegzynowicz, Fall 1967
Previous to Stan, the last cross-country team at Holy Redeemer was in 1925. Stan restarted the cross-country program at Holy Redeemer in 1967. When he first arrived Redeemer in 1966, the school had approximately 700 students. By 1970, when St. Gabriel and All Saints High Schools were closing, Redeemer's high school enrollment was slightly over 900 students. Aside from Stan's efforts in coaching cross-country, he also coached football and track. From all accounts, Stan was a hard working and dedicated coach who was greatly loved by all of his athletes. It is because of his efforts in 1965 that Redeemer has the opportunity today to be the last Detroit Class D Catholic League School still fielding a cross-country team.

Gary Powers, Fall 1968-69
Gary is often referred to as "The Man" by all who ran for him. A formidable competitor, Gary ran for St. Anthony's (now known as East Catholic) where he was "All-Catholic", "All-City", "All District" as well as "All State". His arrival helped fuel an already burning competition between St. Anthony's and Redeemer (there was no love lost between these two schools!). Gary quickly got the program up and running, and won Redeemer's first cross-country Sectional Championship ("A-West") in 1968 with a record of 4 wins and 1 loss.

Paul LaCroix, Fall 1973-74
Paul LaCroix, was a 1967 graduate of Holy Redeemer High School. During his senior year he was the captain of the track team.

Larry Alcantar, 1975
Mr. Alcantar is an attorney and community activist practicing law in the Southwest Detroit area.

Bill Klann, 1976-78
Bill was both a head coach (1976, 1977 teams) and an assistant coach, first to Ben Madero (1988, 1989 teams), and then to Pat Irwin (1990 team). A 1970 Redeemer graduate, Bill was also a runner for the team during his student years. He coached current coaches Doug Bajor and Ron Maynor. Bill is a long-time avid runner who remains active in Southwest Detroit community issues. He and one-time Redeemer cross-country coach Ben Madero are life-long friends.

Fred Schefsky, 1979-80
As the boy's varsity basketball coach from the 1977 to 1980 seasons, Fred Schefsky also coached the cross-country team to (in-part) keep his basketball athletes in shape. Fred's success in cross-country was tremendous. In 1979 Fred won the first cross-country Catholic League championship in Redeemer history. Additionally, Fred's 1979 team became the first Redeemer cross-country team to qualify for the State Championship race, finishing 3rd in the District and 13th in the Class C State Championship race. Fred's last cross-country championship came in the 1980 season when Fred's team won the "A-West" Sectional Championship. Fred was a graduate of All Saints High School in Detroit and played on the 1968 All Saints State Championship Basketball team. Nickname among cross-country athletes: "Freddie G".

Mark Harry, 1981
Mark served as cross-country coach for the 1981 season. Sr. Mary Margaret McGill O.P., who was the high school principal, made a decision over the summer of 1981 to cancel the cross-country program after she decided to not to rehire basketball and cross-country coach Fred Schefsky. At the behest of her pleading cross-country athletes (whom had won the Sectional Championship only the year prior) Sr. Mary Margaret allowed for the reinstatement of the team, if the cross-country athletes could find a coach. Mark Harry was a math teacher whom had never coached or participated in any sports activities but graciously offered to direct the team if the athletes would actively participate in coaching themselves. In spite of having all of the previous year's athletes return for the '81 season the team's self-coaching efforts did not provide for the Lions to repeat as Sectional Champions in 1981.

Jim Glovac, 1982-83
Jim Glovac served as Holy Redeemer Athletic Director for the 1981, 1982 and 1983 seasons. In 1982 Jim Glovac took over the cross-country program and coached the Lion's in 1983 as well. Jim sustained the program, although he did not have any sectional or league championships.

Ben Madero, 1984-89
Ben Madero is the second longest serving cross-country coach in Redeemer history. Taking over the program in 1984, Ben began the process of rebuilding Redeemer as a competitor once again. While Ben was never able to capture a league or sectional championship during his tenure, Ben's team did qualify for the State Championship race in 1989 by finishing 4th in the District and 14th at the Class D State Championship race. Ben was a former outstanding runner at River Rouge High School. Ben's brother (Rich Medera) is a long-time head cross-country coach at Aquinas High School.

Assistant Coaches

Rob Skates, 1990-93
Upon graduating from Holy Redeemer, Rob ran cross-country for 2 years at Siena Heights College. After leaving Siena Heights College, Rob received a degree from Wayne State University in film studies. Rob's penchant for vegetarian food and the Grateful Dead music band made for many interesting conversations with Redeemer cross-country athletes! Rob is married to fellow Redeemer graduate Rebecca Olechea.

Dave Guerra, 1992-93
Dave coached as an assistant to Pat Irwin during the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Dave was a former cross-country athlete when he attended Holy Redeemer and is a graduate of the University of Michigan. Dave is now a member of the Sterling Heights police force.

Antonio Ramirez, 1992-97
Tony is a former Redeemer cross-country athlete who ran on the 1st team in Redeemer history to qualify for the State Championship (1979). Tony previously coached the Redeemer junior varsity basketball team from 1993 to 1997 as the head J.V. coach and during 1992 as the assistant J.V. coach. Tony's basketball coaching made a great fit for the cross-country program and much of the cross-country program's success in the 1990's can be directly traced to Tony's involvement and encouragement of players to run cross-country.