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Winning ... and winning ... and winning: Beverly girls spring track team hasn't lost a meet in over three years

Tuesday, April, 08 By Jean DePlacido
Correspondent

BEVERLY | It would only be natural for the seniors on the Beverly High girls spring track team to be a bit cocky. After all, this group has never lost a spring meet in their high school careers, having compiled 30 consecutive victories.

But the senior nucleus of this talent-laden team is modest and unassuming. The beat simply goes on and on for the Panthers.

"We're all close and get along well," said Panther captain Kasey Kluge, explaining what helps make her team so successful. We're a strong team and are all competitive, but we always cheer each other along, too.

"And we try not to be cocky. We like to be friends with our opponents and always try to be humble. Our coach (Dave Jellerson) has taught us those things are important."

You have to go back 1,422 days to Beverly's last loss in girls spring track: a 66-56 setback against Salem on May 18, 2004 that decided that year's Northeastern Conference title. Since then, the Panthers have won the last three conference crowns easily.

Jellerson never mentions the unbeaten streak, but the record speaks for itself | 90 straight meets (cross country, indoor, and outdoor) without a loss and nine straight Northeastern Conference championships.

"I don't talk about it, but I know the girls are well aware of it," said Jellerson. "One of our goals every year is to compete for the league title. They are very smart and know the only way to do that is to work extra hard.

"There are no shortcuts. They've achieved success by being willing to put the time in."

The seniors on this team that do track all three seasons of the calendar year have experienced a grand total of two losses in their entire careers.

"These are talented athletes who are very dedicated to the sport and work very hard," said Jellerson. "They are also good citizens of the community and excellent students. I have to credit their parents for that."

Nelson Desilvestre, the Beverly High boys trrack coach, has watched this group of girls develop through the years and points to a couple of main reasons for their unbelievable string of victories.

"They're fantastic and special to watch because of the dedication these girls have both to the sport and to each other," said Desilvestre. "They are truly one big happy family. When Dave tells them to do something, they are more than willing to do it because they know it will make them even better.

"Another big reason is that Dave has somehow been able to find kids coming out of the woodwork as the years go by. I guess they see the success the program enjoys and want to be part of it. And the girls work extra hard to keep that winning streak going | they don't want to snap the chain."

Captains set the tone

Kluge, a senior distance star and a three-season captain, is carrying on the lessons she learned as a freshman newcomer. The example set by the Panther captains when she first began high school is something Kluge tries to carry on with the underclassmen of today.

"I remember thinking our captains were so amazing, and I wanted to be like them," said Kluge of her first few years as a high school runner. "When I was a freshman the seniors on the team were all very close; the same as it is this year. Not only the captains, but our entire senior class takes on leadership and responsibility."

Kluge, who started out doing low hurdles and running short distances her freshman year before asking Jellerson if she could try distances and found her niche, believes all the team's success begins long before the spring season actually begins.

One of those keys is having a good summer program. Kluge said that she and her teammates like to get together once a week during the summer months to run on the beach, then have breakfast as a group afterwards.

"As long as you do what the coach tells you, it will carry over the entire year," said Kluge.

Millie Chapman, a sophomore, has quickly made her mark as a three-season runner for the Panthers. She is one of several talented underclassmen who have benefitted from the tutelage the Beverly seniors provide.

"Track is so much fun, and we're all such good friends," said Chapman. "The seniors are really nice and help us get through the hard workouts together by encouraging us."

Strong role models

Now in his 18th season as the head coach, Jellerson plays a big part in the team's family-like atmosphere. He gets text messages from many of his former athletes, especially after college competitions to tell him how they performed.

"I e-mail a lot of our former girls to keep in touch and put out an unofficial newsletter so we can maintain close ties," said Jellerson. "Even though they're not here anymore, they're still part of us.

"I've been so fortunate not only to have good athletes over the years, but excellent students as well. Most of our girls are in the top 20 percent of their class, and I never have to worry about eligibility issues."

To hammer home that point, Jellerson said he writes 15-20 college letters of recommendation for his runners each year. In many cases, he can tell one of his girls who is interested in a particular college which former BHS runners went there and how they enjoyed their experience.

There is no question that the success of this BHS girls track program makes it very popular | and that more young girls want to take part it in.

"The kids keep coming out," said Jellerson. "One reason why is our good role models. They pass the attitude on to the younger members.

"Our hardest job is not having a middle school track program, which means we have to teach the technique involved in every event to freshmen. But our kids recruit well, and we tell the young ones to bring their friends. We hope to get them out, and hope they like it."

They are a wonderful bunch of girls; really classy, well mannered, and educated," added Desilvestre, the BHS boys' head coach. "The girls are successful not only in track, but in life because they are quality people. It has been wonderful seeing them succeed year after year after year."