MONROE - Drake Ingold will display respect for his father and coach by wearing a throw-back "Monroe Hounds" cross country jersey from about 40 years ago to run in the WIAA Division 2 state meet Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course.
When Monroe senior Drake turned into a teenager in middle school, his father, Jim Ingold, didn't force him to run cross country or track. Having a father with a prestigious running career could be intimidating for a teenager. Yet, Drake always enjoyed the way his father, who is now the co-coach for the Monroe cross country team, didn't force him into running cross country. The father-son rapport has paid off as Drake Ingold enters the state meet in Wisconsin Rapids with the sixth-fastest qualifying time in his second straight state appearance.
"I think when I started running in middle school, he didn't push me," Drake said of his father. "He taught me little by little. I have become a good runner and that is because of him. He was a good runner and I think that reflects on me. It's one thing to go to state and have a coach go there with you. Having a coach and dad go with you makes the interaction better with someone who just knows you better and I feel like it will help with the race."
Jim Ingold was a part of Monroe's back-to-back state championship teams in 1973 and 1974 and a member of the state championship wrestling team in 1973. Jim Ingold ran track and cross country at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and has a 34-year career as a physical education teacher, including 25 years at Parkside Elementary School in Monroe. The Monroe native was an avid runner who chased his dream of competing in the Olympics.
"I always give him (Drake) advice," Jim said. "Whether he listens, I don't know. Sometimes I just leave him alone. I don't want to overdo it and get him too nervous before a race."
Drake has found his own path to cross country success. After battling bronchitis at the end of last year in cross country and pneumonia in track, Drake devoted himself to training.
"He was really motivated and he came back stronger," Monroe co-coach Scott Mosher said. "He came in ready to roll. He won the first race and kept going from there. He didn't look back."
A big part of that was monitoring his nutrition and ensuring he got enough sleep. Every day he has to run in a meet, he has oatmeal, fruity and nuts for breakfast.
"I have been able to see his progress from his freshman year to his senior year," Jim, said. "As a freshman he would always say I don't have to run to be good. Now, I have to tell him to rest, back off and not run as many miles. The big part was the nutrition and sleep."
Drake has been consistent this season and is garnering cross country and track interest from several colleges, including Marquette, Eastern Illinois, UW-Milwaukee, UW-La Crosse and UW-Oshkosh. He has finished in the 16 to 16 minute, 30 second range every meet. Drake's lifetime-best time of 15:59 came at the Platteville Invitational this year.
Drake shaves his legs the night before every race. The day of the race, Drake completes a dynamic warmup that includes lunges and stretching before a two-mile run. He has big goals for his final prep race at state.
"I want to make the podium," he said. "I don't think I'm expected to do super good. I'm being mentioned in some Wisconsin articles with the other sectional winners. I think it's kind of fun to be an underdog and try to get in the top 10 on the podium."
The top returning qualifier is Valders senior Trevor Wenzel, who finished fourth at state last year. Two other runners returning from top-10 finishes last year are seniors Miguel Mathias of Nekoosa/Port Edwards (fifth), and Trey Ulrich of Medford (10th). Other potential contenders for the individual title, based on their sectional performances, are seniors Tanner Maier of Lodi, Walker Miller and Maury Miller of Ashland, Kavanaugh FitzPatrick of Lakeland, Hayden Fredrickson of Westby and Stephen Lavey of Cedar Grove-Belgium; and juniors Andrew Pahnke of McFarland.
"I'm usually close to Andrew Pahnke of McFarland," Drake said. "Usually, when we race together, I try to stay as close to him as I can. I have beat him once this year and he has beat me. I have gained knowledge of the course last year, where the hills are and where I need to pick it up."
Jim Ingold doesn't see an overwhelming favorite for the state meet.
"I don't think anyone will run away with it," he said. "They are all within 10 or 12 seconds."
Despite being ranked No. 6 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Division 2 state poll, the Cheesemakers took third at the Platteville sectional and didn't qualify for state as a team. Drake is honored to keep the streak of having at least one runner from Monroe at state intact.
"As the only individual going to state you feel a little bit more obligated to push and do well for Monroe," Drake said. "It's good to have someone at state every year. I want to keep carrying that tradition on."
When Monroe senior Drake turned into a teenager in middle school, his father, Jim Ingold, didn't force him to run cross country or track. Having a father with a prestigious running career could be intimidating for a teenager. Yet, Drake always enjoyed the way his father, who is now the co-coach for the Monroe cross country team, didn't force him into running cross country. The father-son rapport has paid off as Drake Ingold enters the state meet in Wisconsin Rapids with the sixth-fastest qualifying time in his second straight state appearance.
"I think when I started running in middle school, he didn't push me," Drake said of his father. "He taught me little by little. I have become a good runner and that is because of him. He was a good runner and I think that reflects on me. It's one thing to go to state and have a coach go there with you. Having a coach and dad go with you makes the interaction better with someone who just knows you better and I feel like it will help with the race."
Jim Ingold was a part of Monroe's back-to-back state championship teams in 1973 and 1974 and a member of the state championship wrestling team in 1973. Jim Ingold ran track and cross country at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and has a 34-year career as a physical education teacher, including 25 years at Parkside Elementary School in Monroe. The Monroe native was an avid runner who chased his dream of competing in the Olympics.
"I always give him (Drake) advice," Jim said. "Whether he listens, I don't know. Sometimes I just leave him alone. I don't want to overdo it and get him too nervous before a race."
Drake has found his own path to cross country success. After battling bronchitis at the end of last year in cross country and pneumonia in track, Drake devoted himself to training.
"He was really motivated and he came back stronger," Monroe co-coach Scott Mosher said. "He came in ready to roll. He won the first race and kept going from there. He didn't look back."
A big part of that was monitoring his nutrition and ensuring he got enough sleep. Every day he has to run in a meet, he has oatmeal, fruity and nuts for breakfast.
"I have been able to see his progress from his freshman year to his senior year," Jim, said. "As a freshman he would always say I don't have to run to be good. Now, I have to tell him to rest, back off and not run as many miles. The big part was the nutrition and sleep."
Drake has been consistent this season and is garnering cross country and track interest from several colleges, including Marquette, Eastern Illinois, UW-Milwaukee, UW-La Crosse and UW-Oshkosh. He has finished in the 16 to 16 minute, 30 second range every meet. Drake's lifetime-best time of 15:59 came at the Platteville Invitational this year.
Drake shaves his legs the night before every race. The day of the race, Drake completes a dynamic warmup that includes lunges and stretching before a two-mile run. He has big goals for his final prep race at state.
"I want to make the podium," he said. "I don't think I'm expected to do super good. I'm being mentioned in some Wisconsin articles with the other sectional winners. I think it's kind of fun to be an underdog and try to get in the top 10 on the podium."
The top returning qualifier is Valders senior Trevor Wenzel, who finished fourth at state last year. Two other runners returning from top-10 finishes last year are seniors Miguel Mathias of Nekoosa/Port Edwards (fifth), and Trey Ulrich of Medford (10th). Other potential contenders for the individual title, based on their sectional performances, are seniors Tanner Maier of Lodi, Walker Miller and Maury Miller of Ashland, Kavanaugh FitzPatrick of Lakeland, Hayden Fredrickson of Westby and Stephen Lavey of Cedar Grove-Belgium; and juniors Andrew Pahnke of McFarland.
"I'm usually close to Andrew Pahnke of McFarland," Drake said. "Usually, when we race together, I try to stay as close to him as I can. I have beat him once this year and he has beat me. I have gained knowledge of the course last year, where the hills are and where I need to pick it up."
Jim Ingold doesn't see an overwhelming favorite for the state meet.
"I don't think anyone will run away with it," he said. "They are all within 10 or 12 seconds."
Despite being ranked No. 6 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Division 2 state poll, the Cheesemakers took third at the Platteville sectional and didn't qualify for state as a team. Drake is honored to keep the streak of having at least one runner from Monroe at state intact.
"As the only individual going to state you feel a little bit more obligated to push and do well for Monroe," Drake said. "It's good to have someone at state every year. I want to keep carrying that tradition on."
