2-Weeks Until 2026 Cross Country Season

The start of the 2026 cross country season is only 2-weeks away! 

 Things to do this summer to prepare for the fall 2026 boys cross country season at Madison Memorial 

1) First day of practice is Monday August 17th 

Week 1 practices will be Monday-Friday at 4pm. Use the fieldhouse entrance and we will meet in the lower locker room 

2) Get out & run...take a teammate with you 

Summer running group will Meet 8am at Memorial Stadium Lot. Mondays will be a rotating location posted in SportsYou. 

 Weeks of 8/3 and 8/10 summer running meets Monday- Friday 

3) Fill out the Athlete Questionnaire (provides contact info to coaches) 

4) Fill out Online Athletic Forms 

5) Turn in Physical Cards 

- Physical card = physical from a doctor after April 1st, 2025 - 

For questions email our athletic director's office 

 Athletics Director Tim Richardson at ttrichardson@madison.k12.wi.us 

Associate Athletics Director Leigha Sponsel at lksponsel@madison.k12.wi.us 

6) Attend Spartan Sports Kickoff @ Memorial August 5th 6 - 8pm 

 Note: I will be in a tent somewhere near Mt. Hood in Oregon and Coach McIntyre will be out of state for a track meet so we won't have a cross country specific meeting at Spartan Sports Kickoff 

7) Sign up for SportsYou

 VPM coaches will use SportsYou (www.sportsyou.com) to communicate with athletes. Be sure to download the app and join our team page using Access Code S7VRW993

2026 Season Begins August 17th

 Things to do this summer to prepare for the fall 2026 boys cross country season at Madison Memorial

1) Get out & run...take a teammate with you
*Summer running group will Meet 8am at Memorial Stadium Lot. First Monday will be at Memorial. Following Mondays will be a rotating location posted in SportsYou.

Weeks of 6/22, 6/29, and 7/6 meet Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Weeks of 7/13, 7/20, and 7/27 meet Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Weeks of 8/3 and 8/10 meet Monday- Friday

2) Fill out the Athlete Questionnaire (provides contact info to coaches)

3) Fill out Online Athletic Forms 
Helpful videos & docs from the athletic department

Parent video  and parent doc

Student video and student doc

4) Turn in Physical Cards 
- Physical card = physical from a doctor after April 1st, 2025
- Questions...email our athletic director's office 

• Associate Athletics Director Leigha Sponsel at lksponsel@madison.k12.wi.us
• Athletics Director Tim Richardson at ttrichardson@madison.k12.wi.us

5) Attend Spartan Sports Kickoff @ Memorial August 5th 6 - 8pm (Note: I will be in a tent somewhere near Mt. Hood in Oregon on 8/5 so we won't have a cross country specific meeting at Spartan Sports Kickoff)

6) Sign up for SporsYou. VPM, coaches will use SportsYou (www.sportsyou.com) to communicate with athletes. Be sure to download the app and join our team page using the QR code or Access Code (S7VRW993) 

First Day of Practice = August 17th, 2026

4 pm @ Madison Memorial HS

Must have all PAPERWORK completed before practices begin!

We will go for a run on the first day of practice...have your running shoes & watch!

Summer Running (Some are not)

Hello Spartan Cross Country!

I am Coach Ryan Pewowaruk, and I am the head boys' cross country coach at VPM after having been an assistant coach for the past 3 seasons. Coach Brian McIntyre will also be returning as an assistant coach for this upcoming season. We are so grateful for everything Coach Casey Hopp has done for the Madison Memorial boys' cross-country team, including his 20-year tenure as head coach. While we are sad to see Coach Casey step down, we are extremely excited for this upcoming summer and fall cross country season.

 SUMMER RUNNING --> Lay the foundation NOW for a successful season later. Summer miles bring fall smiles

Consistency and building from week to week are essential to a successful fall.

Meet 8am at Memorial Stadium Lot. First Monday will be at Memorial. Following Mondays will be a rotating location posted in SportsYou.

Weeks of 6/22, 6/29, and 7/6 meet Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Weeks of 7/13, 7/20, and 7/27 meet Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Weeks of 8/3 and 8/10 meet Monday- Friday

Tuesdays and Thursday's athletes will be able to attend a strength training session at VPM supervised by UW Health and VPM coaches. This will take place right after summer running and athletes should be finished by 9:30. These strength sessions are a great opportunity to become a stronger and more well-rounded athlete!

Training Plan (Also posted in SportsYou)

Bring athletic clothes, shoes, and a water bottle. Led by upperclassmen.

Not being able to attend the summer workouts is not an excuse to skip training! You can go for a run anywhere you are!

SportsYou

In alignment with the rest of the athletic department at VPM, coaches will use SportsYou (www.sportsyou.com) to communicate with athletes. Be sure to download the app and join our team page using the QR code or Access Code (S7VRW993) 

Thanks for the Memories!!! - Coach Casey signing off

 Dear JMM/VPM runners, alumni, families, friends, fans, & followers -

In 2003 I called Stan Richter and asked for a chance to volunteer at Madison Memorial high school. I stepped into an opportunity that led me on a wonderful 23 year journey (the last 20 as head cross country coach). My time coaching track & field and cross country at Madison Memorial was nothing short of an amazing experience. I treasured this time to give back to a sport that had provided me so many opportunities in my lifetime. I have worked with countless young men & women who have developed as students, runners, and people both on the competition field and in the world of life. I hope I have inspired many of you to create a journey with running that is a lifelong event. I was asked by a neighbor why I was retiring and I said I am only stepping into my next phase of the journey. I have stepped away from coaching cross country so that I can be a cross country parent as my two children embark on their high school and middle cross country experiences. I hope to make as many memories with them that I made with all the Spartans at Memorial. I will never forget countless miles run, hours spent on the bus, mini-golf championships, valedictorians, team championships, rain soaked evenings, getting a newbie to finish their first 3 miler, full ladder workouts, rock-paper-scissor champions, searching for the lost runner, sprinting around the Ridges GC, celebrating a PR, handing out varsity jackets, and more and more and more. I will never be far away from the sport, so I hope to see you on the cross country course someday soon.

The next journey begins for the 2026 team as Coach Ryan Pewowaruk and Coach Brian McIntyre take over the program both have been with the Spartans over the last couple years and I expect nothing but great things this season and into the future. Every Runner Every Run Every Day

Madison Memorial Makes it to State
(click to watch video from 2009)