Coach Martin Named 2015 MITCA Coach of the Year

After a lightning fast, yet grueling, 2015 Michigan high school cross country season the time to reflect falls upon November like the leaves from the trees. Following the state championship meets, the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association (MITCA) hold an annual cross country clinic and coaches meeting to inform and recognize a few select individuals. This year's banquet was held in Mt. Pleasant where Rockford High School was prominently represented with boys head coach Andy Martin named the 2015 MITCA Coach of the Year while senior Issac Harding was crowned Mr. Michigan Cross Country.

Coach Martin is a Rockford High School alumnus and educator and alongside Assistant Coach Josh Miller has led the Rockford Ram Boys Cross Country team to consecutive Division 1 State Championships. Even with the long list of historic accomplishments in the Rockford Cross Country men's program, Coach Martin earned the award by leading the Rams to back-to-back titles for the first time in school history. Rockford's other two championships came in 2000, and in 2002. Rockford took second three years in a row during the heyday of Olympians Jason Hartmann and Dathan Ritzenhein. Equally impressive is the current streak of 21 consecutive OK Red Conference championships. Please congratulate Coach Martin on his well deserved moment in the sun!

Another prime piece of hardware was awarded to Rockford senior student athlete Issac Harding who was named Mr. Michigan Cross Country. This is granted to the senior boys runner with the best performance (fastest time) in all divisions at the state meet held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI. Harding joins Jason Hartmann (1997 and 1998) and Dathan Ritzenhein (1999 and 2000) as Rockford's only individual winners. Issac has improved in the Division 1 finals race each year and is the only member of the current Rockford team to run in the state meet in all four years.