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10/08/2024 02:46 PMJack Rickleman has immersed himself in the tradition of the Hand boys’ cross country program, as he has seen some great campaigns in his three prior seasons. He is utilizing knowledge acquired from his past to set an even brighter future path for the Tigers.
Jack, who is committed to run at Dickinson College next year, grew up playing both soccer and lacrosse. While he developed a great love for both, he quit soccer as a freshman to join the cross country team at Hand. His hard work and dedication to both craft and club have paid off, as Jack has emerged as not only a senior captain for the Tigers this fall, but he has established himself with steady and speedy legs in the Hand starting lineup on race days.
“My success with running has a lot to do with the guys before me. My freshman year, we had an excellent team that was runner-up in states for Class MM and sixth overall at the State Open,” says Jack. “I looked up to so many guys and the captains on that team. I looked up to them, and they made me believe in myself. I saw that if they could do it, then I could do it. My teammates have always been a huge part of my success each year.”
Jack considers himself very fortunate to be around such a great company of runners. While he loves the camaraderie forged on and off the paths, he is also attracted to the war of the mind the course brings about.
“The cross country community is great. I love the group of guys I am around,” says Jack. “The guys on this team are a great group, and we spend so much time together in and out of school and cross country. With the sport itself, I love how gritty the sport is. It is such a mental sport, and I love that aspect of it. It is you against you out there, rather than you against someone else.”
By his standards, Jack’s overall body of work last fall was sub par. But those perceived setbacks only forced him to push ahead with a stronger fortitude in which he never loses: he either prevails or learns a lesson to set up the next success.
“Last year, I was disappointed in myself; I did not get anywhere near the results I wanted. But it all just motivated me to work harder,” says Jack. “Now, whenever I have a bad day, I just realize that it is only one day. I trust myself and my training and look for the positives.”
Each journey can seem like a marathon when it comes to the 5K races of cross country. Still, Jack explains that when you put one foot in front of the other and harness the focus on the next step, it makes the grind much more bearable.
“Like a lot of runners, I break races into segments. Yet I think the first, second, and third mile are too big of segments,” Jack says. “I like to break it up into 100 meter parts. I just focus on what is in front of me. I think it is a good strategy to avoid psyching yourself out. It is all about taking it one step at a time.”
So mindful of predecessors, Jack uses the examples set by them to be a superior steward for the Tigers. When it comes to the perception put forth by Hand, Jack aims to have the program recognized as one of the more dedicated teams in order to make them a decorated team come season’s end.
“Being a captain has been great so far,” says Jack. “My freshman year, I had the luxury of having extraordinary captains. For myself, I am trying to help introduce a culture of working hard. We all like to have fun, but we have to work hard, and then it can all work towards Hand being a top team.”
First-year Hand boys’ cross country head coach Chris Pagliuco could not have had a better captain on his roster to help him settle into his new position at the helm. Simply put, Jack is someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes mileage.
“Jack is a really ambitious runner and great leader,” says Pagliuco. “He is a super friendly person, and he has been our top runner in every race this year. He loves everything about running, from the diet, shoes, different races, college programs, and workout design; you name it, he loves it. He is running in college next year, and he is just really a high quality kid.”
While having to craft a new starting lineup essentially from scratch, Jack is plenty pleased at where the club stands currently. He feels the boys can certainly vie for big-time hardware later this month, as he himself sets out to hit equally lofty solo targets.
“I like where the team is at right now. I think we have a shot at getting on the podium at the SCC Championships,” says Jack. Four out of our top five runners graduated, so to do something like that would be amazing. We would love to do something similar at states. I always set high expectations for myself. I want to break 16 minutes in the 5K, and then I also want to make First Team All-SCC and All-State. I would also like to crack the top 25 at the State Open and hopefully make it to New Englands.”