La Salle onto something big in little Rhody

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Coach Ken Skelly recognized something special happening to the La Salle Academy cross country program in Providence, R.I. three years ago.

Young talent was moving up through the pipeline, taking inspiration from upperclassmen, and building something big.

Last fall, La Salle Academy was missing a key piece (injured Matt Bouthilette) when it lost to Bishop Hendricken at the Rhode Island state championship meet. But then, La Salle won New Englands for the first time in 55 years.

And then came a track season that put La Salle's talent on full display. Three guys 9:15 or better in the 3200, a fourth guy at 8:50 for 3000, a fifth guy at 4:18 for the 1600, and two more who ran 1:57 in the 800. And everybody is back.

Jack Salisbury, David Principe Jr., Matt Bouthilette, Dan Paiva, Jake Grundy, Chris Notorianni and Jamie Placco continued to gel through the summer and have landed as DyeStat's Preseason No. 1 boys cross country team in the U.S.

La Salle is preparing for a season unlike any it has ever had. A school that has never sent a boys team to Nike Cross Nationals looks on paper like it could win it.

"We recognized something special three years ago," Skelly said. "I knew something was on the way, but seeing it come to fruition has been great to watch. These guys have tremendous talent and balance it with character as well."

DyeStat rankings expert Rob Monroe poured over the statistics of hundreds of teams across the country to arrive at his Preseason Top 100. And La Salle grades out as No. 1.

"La Salle looked like a strong contender for a spot out of the Northeast after returning everyone from their New England Champion and NXN NE top-8 squad, but that was taken to another level when Matthew Bouthilette kicked down some big names en route to a 14th place finish in the NBNI 2-Mile (9:15.92)," Monroe noted. "Couple with that great success for their top six throughout the track season -- three under 9:16 at the Loucks Games, tremendous success at the indoor and outdoor RI State and New England Championship meets, and it's hard to argue with their potential. They have three guys that can challenge for a Top 15 finish at NXN NE, and back that up with a 4 and 5 that rivals anyone in the nation, including CBA."

CBA of New Jersey is no surprise at No. 2. The Colts were last season's preseason No. 1 and finished the 2013 season on the podium in second place behind Gig Harbor of Washington.

Salisbury, La Salle's top runner, said the culture for running at the school was set by a group of seniors when he broke in.

"I think a big reason (for our success) is the senior when I was a freshman were good leaders," Salisbury said. "They helped us become better runners. They helped guide us as we tried to stick with them in training."

Mike Stephens, Adam Rego, Mike Nadeau, Shane Watterson and Zach Chapasko are the guys who spurred the current group.

And it took a galvanizing moment, like winning New Englands for the first time in 55 years, for the team to realize it had something special. That win came directly on the heels of the loss to rival Bishop Hendricksen at the Rhode Island state meet.

"We were favorites going to states and losing was a huge disappointment," Salisbury said. "Then we win New Englands and it was crazy. We knew every guy was coming back."

A closer look at the Top 7:

 
Jack Salisbury, jr. (State champion in the 1,500) – Coach Ken Skelly: "He had an unbelievable sophomore season. His body is built to run. He makes it look so effortless. He is a born leader and a great kid."

David Principe Jr., soph. (Second in the 3,000 at the RI state meet) – Skelly: "He was a freshman phenom last year and put up some great times on the track and also in cross country. He lived up to the hype."

Matt Bouthilette, jr. (Fourth in the RI state meet 1500 and 3000) – Skelly: "He looks like a collegiate runner. When healthy, he can run with anybody."

 
Jake Grundy, sr. (3rd in the 3,000 at the RI state meet) – Skelly: "He's a leader and one of our three captains. He had iron (deficiency) issues last year. He's always doing what he can for the team. Last year at New Englands he was struggling and tired but he did not back down. Without him we would have not won the New England title."

 
Dan Paiva, sr. (Second at the RI state meet in the 1,500) – Skelly: "Dan is always someone in the middle of the pack for us, but he's not (content) to say 'I'm in the middle of the pack.' He grinds every day to make the other guys better."

 
Chris Notorianni, sr. (Member of La Salle's state title 4x800 relay) – Skelly: "He's one or two seconds off Grundy and Paiva. He's been all hard work from the first day he arrived at La Salle."

 
Jamie Placco, sr. (Fourth in the RI state meet 800) – Skelly: "He's our No. 7 guy. That's his spot to lose and it will be hard for anyone to take it away from him."