From Deseret News archives:
Bingham runner Antczak is carrying on a proud family tradition
James Antczak's senior year was the first year Arbogast coached at Bingham High.
"His father, James Antczak, was in the first class I ever coached," Arbogast said. "His dad was the state runner-up and was one of the best early generation runners Bingham ever had."
Even though Devan is graduating this year, the Antczak tradition of cross country at Bingham High, and particularly for coach Arbogast, will likely continue. Devan's 14-year-old sister, Danika, just joined the team as a freshman and will likely have three more years.
Traditions aside, Devan Antczak, who has been switching off this season as the No. 1 and No. 2 runner on Bingham's cross country team, can flat out run and hopes his strengths will help Bingham take state this year.
"We're going to try to win it," Antczak said. "We think we have what it takes."
That kind of attitude and optimism is what Bingham is looking for as the team struggled last year and, as Antczak put it, "just kind of gave up."
"Nobody liked each other," Antczak said of last year's team, which ultimately led to a long and difficult season.
If last year's weakness was the lack of team unity, "this year is different," Antczak said, as everyone gets along well and is pretty close.
Even a little friendly competition doesn't hurt. Alex Weber, whom Antczak has been switching off with as the team's top runner, helps drive Antczak to do better and run faster.
"It's competitive, but we don't hate each other," Antczak said of the friendly competition that Weber and Antczak share with each other.
Though he normally doesn't say much, Antczak is trying to take more of a vocal leadership role as a senior.
"He lets his legs do the talking. He has an engine on him that doesn't quit," Arbogast said. "He's working to become a leader on the team. Kids respect the faster kids on the team."
Judging from last year's results, Antczak has a shot at winning the state championship. He finished eighth in the 2004 5A cross-country meet and was the highest-placing junior at the state championships.
"He'll do quite well this . . . year," Arbogast said. "He could end up being one of Bingham's best ever."
Antczak kept busy training this summer, running between 50-60 miles a week as part of Bingham's offseason conditioning program.
"Antczak's running like a sack of fire," Arbogast said. "He can take the pain and discomfort of running. He stays calm and collected, and you can't really rattle him."
The coach's experience has also helped Antczak.
"(Coach Arbogast) is a cool guy and a pretty good coach," Antczak said. "He's been around for a while."
Arbogast holds two practices a day. The morning practices are "sometimes" hard to go to, but the runners get used to it, Antczak said. With early morning practices and constant running one would wonder why someone would enjoy running. Antczak sees it as a possible way to pay for college, and it's just something he likes to do.
"I don't know, I just like to run," Antczak said. "I hope to get some sort of scholarship to pay for school."
But right now Antczak is focusing on doing his best to continue the family tradition and help Bingham do what Bingham is used to doing: winning.
