The Charlotte boys are used to being at the top of the 3A cross country rankings. For the past two seasons the Tarpons have finished in the top three, but 2011 is another animal. Ryan Schnulle and Domonic Cardenas are the only names left on a roster that lost five seniors to graduation. It's an experience Schnulle says will be eye opening.
"It's definitely going to be a different experience for all of us being one of the top teams in the state the last couple of years. I'd say we are all pretty excited to get the season going and where we are at as a team. We have a lot of unanswered questions which we'll get the answers to as the season progresses. We're looking for a lot of the younger guys to step and for the seniors, including myself, to guide them."
The team finished third in 2009 and second in 2010 to state champion Belen Jesuit. Schnulle says being so close to the top was a hard way to end the season.
"It seemed like it would have been a fairy tale ending we all imagined and it didn't turn out the way we wanted. I was upset with myself and it left a very bitter taste in our mouth and not the way the seniors wanted to leave. I guess at the end of the day someone has to take home second and it stung, but after a while our focus turned to redemption on the track."
He calls the ordeal a "blessing in disguise". The Tarpons brought home the 3A State Championship for the second year in a row. The title was led in large part by members of that same cross country team. Schnulle finished fourth in the 1600, second in the 800 and was a part of the school's history setting 4x800 team. Being on that relay team is the highlight of his career.
"Our 4x8 was by far the best part of my running career. I was thankful just for the opportunity to have such a talented team around me. The feeling of breaking the previous National Record and shattering our state record was euphoric. It was a once in a lifetime chance, and I'd say we made the best of it. I'm going to miss those guys like crazy, but hopefully they'll come back and see me."
The Tarpons might be rebuilding, but they aren't throwing in the towel. Although Schnulle wouldn't divulge all the details of Coach George's mastermind workouts he says they are trying to maintain the speed from track season and build up the mileage simultaneously.
"Our workouts consist of some easy days, long days, followed by some tempo work to keep us from getting too rusty. We've never done a ton of mileage, whether it be in season or out, but I'd say we do around 35 miles per week, nothing too bad. Coach George always saves the killer workouts for a little later n the season.
Schnulle was the teams number two runner last year behind University of Florida signee Tyler Cardillo. The senior finished 10th in 15:58.51. He considers that performance a disappointment and says this year is his year to shine.
"I've always put the team first and foremost, but what's cool about cross country is it's just as much an individual sport as a team sport. A team is only as strong as its weakest link in a sense. I'd definitely like to improve from last year and I'd be lying if I said I was pleased with that performance. I would love to be in the position to contend for an individual state title this year in cross country."
As a leader of the team Schnulle will also have the task of getting new guys to buy into the program. He says combined with the team's recent success and a great coach like Coach Chris George it's an easy problem to have.
"With the program Coach George has built he has shown that with hard work comes success. A lot of the times younger guys feel like they're putting in hard work and sometimes they never get the results they are looking for. State championships and records show that if you dedicate your time and effort to the sport and our coaches success will prevail."
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