By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Whether it’s weight training, endless hours of running or film study, athletes will often do whatever it takes to gain a competitive advantage.
But hypnotism? In high school?
For Burlington High School freshman Ashlyn Barry, it’s about mental preparation.
“We raised a lot of money at the Chocolate City meet, and we were able to get Karyn Bird,” Barry said. “We used the money to hire her. She told us to envision our perfect race and helped us mentally every day. We’re really thankful for her. It’s all mental.”
Bird’s tutelage paid off at sectionals last weekend. The Lady Demons came in second at UW-Parkside, which earned them a trip to this weekend’s WIAA Division I state cross country tournament.
Barry led the runners with a time of 15:22, good for sixth overall. Her sister, Aleigha, finished with a time of 16:24, Burlington’s fourth-best time.
For Aleigha, a senior, it’s a dream come true to compete at state with her sister.
“I run with my sister all the time,” Aleigha said. “We always give each other a hug after each race. It is really special to share this moment with her.”
Both late bloomers, Aleigha and Ashlyn didn’t really take running seriously until later in middle school. Aleigha played volleyball and dabbled in cross country. Ashlyn was more of a soccer player.
But the sisters, who talked to the Standard Press just moments after finishing practice Tuesday at Burlington High School, were destined for this.
Not only were the girls’ parents talented runners, but their uncle Mike qualified for individual state for the Demons back in 1984. Jenny, their mother, was part of a 1984 Lady Demons squad that qualified for the big dance as well.
A 12-letter varsity athlete, Jenny was a star in cross country, track and gymnastics. An inductee into the BHS Wall of Fame, Jenny currently teaches gymnastics at Lakes Area Gymnastics.
Jenny’s mom Lynne was her assistant coach in high school. The two would run just about every day. Aleigha and Ashlyn are following suit.
“I still run every single day,” Jenny said Tuesday night. “I’ve been doing it every day since 1984, about five miles a day. I like getting fresh air and being outside. I used to run with the girls, now I run with my dog.”
Aleigha said she can take mom now.
“I don’t run with her anymore,” she joked. “I’m a little faster than she is at this point.”
Jenny said she had a “jogging stroller” when the girls were toddlers. She said Ashlyn and Aleigha had a goal to one day compete at state together.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Jenny said. “It’s a memory they’ll never forget.”
A team of ‘sisters’
The Barrys, along with Kit Kocha, Brittany Ehlen, Meta Ehlen, Marah Zinnen and Miranda Reed did their best at sectionals on a difficult course.
Kocha was the Demons’ second finisher, and Brittany Ehlen was fourth.
Along with supreme athleticism, the team has great chemistry.
“Our team bonding really brought us together,” Aleigha said. “We couldn’t have done it with any other people. We’re very mentally strong.”
For Ashlyn, she appreciates how the team’s upperclassmen have embraced her.
“We’ve been very close,” she said. “I can talk to them like family. They treat me like a little sister, and I love all of them.”
Ashyln added that the coaches push them each day and are always there for them.
“James Koceja is like a brother, and Rick is like a dad,” Ashlyn said. “I love them to death.”
On Saturday, Burlington will compete with 190 other Division I runners at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. The gun will sound at approximately 12:40 p.m.
Arrowhead is the two-time defending champion in Division I.
For Aleigha, the sport is 90 percent mental. She stresses offseason training in order to get better. For this Saturday, she is simply looking to give her best.
“I want to get a PR,” she said. “I want to run sub-16 minutes. 16:12 is my best time so far.”
Ashlyn is also focused on self-improvement. Her best time is 15:12, which she achieved at the Chocolate City Invite.
Ashyln, who said cross country used to be her training for other sports, began training for cross country last summer with a goal of making varsity.
With her main goal met, the phenom, who has been running for only a year, isn’t worried about winning.
“I just want to go out and have fun with my sister and my teammates,” Ashlyn said. “My goal is just to finish the season strong. I’m not looking to place high. As a freshman, that’s almost unreachable. I just want to do well.”
The girls’ grandpa, retired BHS teacher and coach George Barry, his wife, and Jenny and father Brian have no problem making the two-hour drive Saturday. They haven’t missed a meet this season.
“They’re always right there at the finish line to support us and give us a hug even if it’s our worst meet,” Ashlyn said. “Running didn’t interest me when I was little. I always wanted a ball in my feet or my hands. But now running is part of who my family is. It’s something we can share together, so it’s really special.”
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