Coach Roth: ‘It was a very special time’

The 1998 track season for the Washington Demons culminated in a Class 3A state championship at Drake Stadium in Des Moines under head coach Steve Roth.

That title and that team were celebrated Dec. 20 before Washington's basketball game with Albia.

'It was nice to see them still reaping benefits and recognition from what they won,” Roth said. 'It was a nice crowd with nice applause and stood up for them. Some parents were there. It is just a neat experience for them to show that they are never forgotten.”

While the Demons have finished third six times under Roth in his 42-years, it remains his only state championship.

'It was a very special team and they have a very special place in my heart, always will,” Roth said.

Members of that team were Brandon Black, Cesar Casteneda, Josh Colthurst, Neal Cutkomp, Tom Davies, Matt Doughty, Adam Fisher, John Greiner, Bret Greiner, Cory Haeffner, Ben Hall, Jake Hotchkiss, Josh Hoyle, Matt Huber, Kyle Kling, Brett Krantz, Brett Leyden, Scott Lindmeier, Protacio Marcelino, George Marie, Nathan Meyer, Adam Miller, Jens Nestingen, George Norris, Shea O'Hanlon, Robb Pearson, Jeff Pforts, Terry Pump, Lucas Pump, Nathan Reighard, Neil Rich, Alex Six, Andy Six, Steve Smith, Brian Stegall, Travis Smith, Matt Volkman, Brian Weeks, Andy Whitham, Josh Whitlow, Luke Widmer, Kelly Williams, Kyle Witthoft, Brad Witthoft, David Zieser, Tanner Pump (trainer), JC Timmins (manager), Jason Ganoe (coach) and Vern Wonderlich (coach).

'It just all came together,” Roth said of the title. 'It didn't take one of them, it took all of them.”

They were also recognized 10 years ago.

'I like doing that. It is important for the families and for the younger kids to see what is possible,” Roth said. 'Working together, anything is possible. We appreciate talent, effort, hard work. It's so important to remember.”

It was a special time. It was a special season.

'It is tough to mention names because everybody was special and everybody made a huge contribution,” Roth said.

Roth and his team knew something good could happen that season.

'I knew we were pretty good, but I also knew things had to fall in place,” Roth said. 'I think we won every meet that year. We did a lot of special things throughout the year.”

Back then, qualifing for state was based on times throughout the season. Now it is just how one performs at the district meet. So Roth continually experimented with his lineups and relays, putting kids in different events, so that he could learn what would be the best possible lineups at the state meet.

'We were just so consistent all year,” Roth said. 'You could qualify for state in a lot of events, you just had to back it up when you got there. I just had to work it, keep them fresh and the ones that performed all year performed like that at state.”

Brad Witthoft was a state champion in the long jump, going airborne for 22 feet, 6 inches. Stegall won the first of his two state titles in th 400 low hurdles in 53.57 seconds. The 4x2 ran to first place in 1 minute, 29.87 seconds.

Washington finished with 45 points to Sioux City Bishop Heelan's 43 points.

It was even closer than the final score.

'We had to finish in the top three in the 4x4 and I think we finished second,” Roth said of the last event of the meet.

To win a state title, there has to be contributions from everybody, something good has to happen, some luck has to be involved, and somebody that wasn't expected to place well finishes better than imagined.

All those things happened.

'My 4x8 made it for the first time ever that year,” Roth said. 'Neil Rich was the anchor and we didn't think they would place, but he had the lead with 600 yards to go and ended up finishing third. He ran under two minutes and that was the fastest race he had ever run in his career. That was the place we had not planned on getting. For them to get six points, when we won by two points, that that was a major contribution.”

Roth stressed how important everybody on the team was.

'Our depth really paid off,” he said. 'Our depth was big back then.”

While depth is the ultimate source of a team title, it helps to have some standouts.

'Winning three (individual) titles was important,” Roth said. 'I have had a lot of really great teams, but you always have to have the hammer. You have to have the guy that no matter where you are at, he is going to win it for you.”

Sprints and middle-distance races were the strength of the team and then the 4x8 stepped up at state.

'I had a talented group and I got them where they needed to be, but they did it themselves. It wasn't anything that I did,” Roth said. 'They all knew what they had to do, I just had to get them there and get them in the right position. We were supposed to be good that year and we were the best. That's what was really cool about it.

'It was a very special time with a very special group.”