For the first time in more than five years, Clarkston’s girls cross country team will have a new coach at the helm.
Lynn Gasparella, a former University of Michigan track and field athlete hopes to guide the girls to their fifth consecutive top-10 state finish this fall with a team of young veterans.
The girls lone senior, Jenna Leach, will run cross country and track for Paul Rice’s program at Oakland University next season.
The girls lost much of the core of the team, which won three consecutive state championships from 2003-?05.
The Wolves were made of freshman and sophomore runners last season, when they finished sixth in the state. The team was led by sophomore Kristen Smith, who earned all-state, all-county, all-region and all-league honors.
Gasparella, an assistant coach with the school’s track program, earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference in her junior (2004) and senior (2005) seasons with the Wolverines.
Clarkston Athletic Director Dan Fife thinks Gasparella will make a smooth transition to the long-distance-running nature of cross country.
‘She knows enough about track to be a good distance coach,? Fife said.
Gasparella is currently a teacher within the district at Sashabaw Middle School.
‘She’s a great young lady,? Fife said.
‘I’m very impressed with her and she’s an outstanding role model.?
Former coach Jamie LaBrosse was relieved of his duties as the team’s coach recently, Fife said.
LaBrosse violated Michigan High School Athletic Association rules that govern high school athletics in November of last year, Fife said.
According to the school, LaBrosse’s misstep violated rules regarding recruiting.
LaBrosse will serve a one-year suspension from coaching starting for the 2007-?08 school year and can re-apply to coach in the 2008-?09 school year.
LaBrosse, who is a teacher at the school, declined comment about the situation.
LaBrosse’s indiscretion would have been in violation of the MHSAA’s ‘Undue Influence? rule.
MHSAA Associate Director Tom Rashid said the rule prohibits schools from dealing with people or schools indirectly which may secure or encourage a student’s attendance for athletics.
‘In my experience with this regulation, there is a range of activity that falls under the rule,? Rashid said.
‘The concept is to maintain proper perspective of school sports.?
‘Education comes well before school athletic (participation).?
In 1997, the ‘undue? rule was given it’s own section in the MHSAA rule book and also a broader definition to include encouragement in the form of conversations, meetings, promotional efforts which are in excess of efforts for others students, and written word conversation.
‘Teams, coaches, and kids. We’re going to win or lose the right way at Clarkston,? Fife said.
‘We’re not going to sacrifice principles to win.?
LaBrosse took over the girls program in 2000, after serving as an assistant for two seasons. He earned coach of the year honors in 2004 and 2005 from the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association.