By Chris Bennett
Sports Correspondent
It is difficult to properly consider the accomplishments of Union Grove High School’s Cassy and Alex Goodrich at the WIAA Division 1 State Track & Field Championships, in which the Goodrichs participated June 6 and 7 at UW La-Crosse.
Both sisters performed well, but the results don’t tell the whole story.
The results don’t tell the story of the countless hours of practice and work. The results do not detail how each sister handled the mental challenges that accompany racing multiple races against the state’s best in front of thousands of spectators.
Cassy, a senior, won the 400-meter race and finished third in both the 100-meter and 200-meter races. Alex, a sophomore, did not advance out of the preliminary heats in either the 100-meter or 300-meter hurdles, but gained valuable insight for the future.
“It was, honestly everything I could have asked for in a senior year,” Cassy said. “Of course, work was put in to make it that way. Everything went really well.”
Cassy qualified for Saturday’s finals in the 100, 200 and 400 after racing Friday in three preliminary heats. She qualified for state in each event May 30 at the WIAA Division 1 Sectional Meet at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee.
“When I went into preliminaries, I went in with the mentality that I needed to be fast enough to take first in the heat so I could guarantee my spot,” Cassy said. “I didn’t want to kill it. I knew the next day I’d have a lot of work to do.”
Cassy bracketed her career-defining victory in the 400 with third-place finishes in both the 100 and 200. She ran personal bests in each race. Cassy finished the 100 in 12.21 seconds and the 200 in 24.87 seconds.
Kenosha Tremper’s Danielle Riggins won the 100 (11.85) and 200 (23.99).
Her finish in the 100 marked Cassy’s first time on the podium in the event. She did not advance out of the preliminaries in the 100 in 2011 and finished eighth in 2012 and 2013. She previously finished seventh at state in the 200 in 2012 and sixth in 2013.
Cassy finished ninth in the 400 in 2011 and second in both 2012 and 2013. She knew what to expect from this season’s final 400.
“Beforehand, I just kept telling myself, ‘This is going to have to hurt,’” Cassy said. “Anyone who has done it can attest to the fact that you burn afterwards. That last 100 meters is a killer.”
“I had to know I could physically handle that and had to mentally prepare myself, and I had to trust the training I received could get me there.”
Goodrich ran a personal best in the 400 and won in 55.35, more than 90 seconds better than second place Angel Malone of Milwaukee Riverside (56.96).
“In my head, I can remember repeating, ‘She’s right behind you … she’s right behind you … she’s right behind you …’” Cassy said.
Cassy said it took time before she could stand again following the 400, but she found her position coach, Jenny Orlando, and shared a moment she said is one of the highlights of her experience at state.
“We have created a very strong bond in these last four years,” Cassy said. “She has done everything she can to get me where I needed to be.”
“We just hugged. Both of our hard work paid off. She said ‘I’m proud of you,’ and that was one of the best things that happened the entire time (at state).”
Alex Goodrich also credits her position coach, Stephanie Davis, with a great deal of her success. Alex said Broncos head coach Joe Busalacchi, in addition to directing the program, oversees weight and conditioning training.
Alex did not advance out of the preliminary round in either of her races at state. She also qualified for state at the WIAA Division 1 Sectional Track & Field Meet at Wisconsin Lutheran. Alex advanced to state last season in the 300 hurdles, but did not advance out of the preliminary race.
“Returning back to state was an experience in itself, especially being able to take the 100 (hurdles) as well this year,” Alex said. “Even thought I didn’t run my best times that day, it’s a matter of knowing it’s the race that comes up that matters.”
Cassy said every experience at state makes Alex a stronger competitor, and gets her more acclimated to an intense environment.
“She did not make the finals, but the way she had come in ranked, that wasn’t expected,” Cassy said of Alex. “I think it was another good day for her, if nothing else, to get another state experience under her belt.”
“She’ll be back, and I think she’ll definitely be a contender in years to come.”
Up next for Cassy is a track and field scholarship at Marquette University in Milwaukee. She will be a freshman in the fall, and is in the doctoral program in physical therapy. She will graduate in six years.
Alex is set on adding more Union Grove High School records to the Goodrich family name and establishing her legacy.
Cassy is the school record holder in the 100, 200 and 400, and Alex is the school record holder in the 300 hurdles.
“This next year, I’m definitely going to be working harder all year,” Alex said. “I want to be a better contender in both of the races next year. For the 100 hurdles, this next year my goal is to try and break our school record.”
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