When Colonial High School opened in 1958 President Eisenhower was in office, gas cost a quarter, and NASA was just being formed. Fast forward fifty-three years and history is once again at the forefront. The school is looking for their first state title in any sport and this year's cross country squad could be the one to do it. Coach Rene Plasencia, who is in his tenth season as head coach, says it's the team camaraderie that always makes the Grenadiers a force to be reckoned with.
"We're a family. I get alumni who come around all the time, come over, and meet the guys. I think there is a big connection between the guys who were there before and the guys who are there now. It's a culture more than anything else. I tell them running isn't the most exciting sport, but it's about the camaraderie, the passion for the sport."
Leading the charge in 2011 is junior Andres Arroyo. Arroyo hasn't received as much attention as he'd like, but he knows the time will come. He uses that as motivation on the track and cross country course every time he goes out. His Coach Rene Plasencia says to be mentioned with the Max del Montes and Elliot Clementes of the state you have to prove yourself.
"To try and get exposure against those guys he has to wait his turn. Those guys have been legitimately better. He wants to beat those guys and he's not far behind."
It was Plasencia who saw potential in Arroyo as an eighth grade at the county meet. He told the youngster he could have a promising future in the sport and he was right. As a sophomore Arroyo ran 15:26 and finished seventh during cross country. In track, he crossed the line in 4:24 for 1600 meters which placed him 9th at the 4A State Championships. Coach Placencia attributes the jump in times from his freshman to sophomore seasons to a full years worth of training. Arroyo also plays baseball for the Grenadiers.
"In middle school he bounced around from sport to sport didn't just focus on one sport. Once he started year round training it caught up with him. That combined with his drive to be better than everyone else and his talent really made him better."
Last year's cross country season still sticks in the back of his mind. He thinks about that race at Little Everglades Ranch and his seventh place finish every time he runs and wonders what he could have done differently, trying to learn from his mistakes. Arroyo has taken on a leadership role for the Grenadier's this season.
"You have to motivate your time through good times and bad. If you don't want to practice of you are falling behind you need to speed up because you don't want them to see you weak. You want them to see a strong leader. You want to guide them in techniques and how to achieve certain things faster."
Colonial finished third last season as a team and once again the strength of Coach Plasencia's squad is depth. He says this year's team could be the deepest he's ever had with Arroyo returning as the number one runner and all but one of his top five back from a year ago.
"The depth on this team is amazing. I really had a good team back in 2004. We finished second in the state behind a Winter Park team that went to Nike Team Nationals. I used to think to myself that I'd never have a team as good and last year's team was better. This year's team is better than that one. We have six guys under 16:51 and two extra guys who I think will break into that group."
The Grenadiers went to team camp in North Carolina where they did a lot of mileage in the mountains. Lately, they have been working on tempo runs, base mileage (50 miles per week), and figure eights which are similar to a fartlek run. Coach Plasencia is hoping the hard work can lower times as the season wears on.
"If everyone progresses as they should we could have six guys around 16:20 to 16:30. That's a little depth, but other teams are just as deep. The only difference between a Miami Columbus and us is Andres, but the rest they are guy for guy with where we are at. As impressed as I am with our team I think there are teams out there that are just as good. Now we have to go to work and outwork those other equally as talented teams."
Individually, Arroyo hopes to run sub 15:00 and reach the top three at states, but this story has a bigger picture.
"Of course the main goal is to win the team championship for Colonial's first ever state title. We've never had a state title in any sport so that's why our team wants it so bad this year. It would make me feel like part of something big and it will always be in my mind. I'll be the person or part of the team that all of Colonial remembers. It would be nice to have people remember us like that."
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