Coach CHRISSY FRANCEK has started coaching cross country at University High School in the fall of 2003, From 2003-2005 as an assistant and since 2006 she has been the head coach. She continues to lead the program which is filled with rich traditions of excellence, built over the years. Chrissy graduated from St. George’s High School in 1995, where she won both the individual and team state XC titles in 1993, while at the same time playing soccer at Lewis and Clark High School and being the GSL scoring leader. She won high school state championships in XC, basketball and track. She attended Stanford University, where she played soccer, and graduated from Middlebury College in 1999, where she qualified for NCAA nationals in soccer, basketball, and track. In 2000, the Spokesman Review named Chrissy as one of Spokane’s top 10 athletes of the millennium. Chrissy teaches math at U-High. In the past, she also has coached the distance runners in track for 3 seasons, and coached basketball and soccer as well. But, cross country is her favorite! Chrissy teaches math. She and her husband, Jason, live on the south hill in Spokane. On August 3rd Chrissy and Jason's 1st child is due to be born! This season Chrissy will be stepping into a volunteer role as she spends time with her newborn baby boy.
Coach JESSI WALTERS started coaching in 2006 with the titan XC team. Jessi graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1998. She graduated from Whitworth College in 2002, where she played varsity Tennis for 4 years. Her senior year, Jessi was nominated as an academic all-American in Tennis. Jessi teaches math, French and leadership at U-High. Jessi started running when she ran cross country at Wa-High, but really found her love for the sport while chaperoning Whitworth students as a teaching assistant on their study abroad program in France in 2004. On that trip she ran a half marathon in Annecy, France. Jessi has run in two marathons since then, first was the Portland Marathon (2004), and she recently completed the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon. For three years Jessi traveled to California as a chaperone of Spokane area high school runners at the Footlocker Regional XC meet. She lives on the north side of Spokane.
Coach HOLLY WIELER has joined the Titan Cross Country team as a coach in 2007. She has a great background in coaching! She coached CCS, Horizon Middle School, the Mercury Track club, and was the assistant coach for the East Valley Track team. However Holly didn’t start out as a coach. She began her running career in the 7th grade. She ran cross country for East Valley High School where she contributed to multiple awards for her team, including state championships in 1994, 1995 and 1996! She then went on to run for SCC for 2 years and then to Whitworth for 2 more years of running. Holly teaches english at U-High. Holly lives in the foothills of Mt. Spokane. Her incredible dedication to the sport will be an outstanding addition to the team.
Coach JOHANNA OLSON will be beginning her first year as a coach for the titan XC team this year. Johanna is one of the most accomplished and decorated runners in the Spokane area. Johanna was a 7 time Division III All-American while attending Luther College, and won the NCAA Division III nataional championship as an individual in 2000 when the championships were held here in Spokane! In 2004 she was one of the youngest participants in the US Olympic Marathon Trials, and she qualified and competed again in 2008. Johanna recently finished earning her master's degree in Exercise Physiology from Oregon State University. On top of all these personal accomplishments, she has experience coaching both at every level from elementary to the collegate level. She will be bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with our team! Johana and her boyfriend, Brian, live on the north side of Spokane. She will be substitue teaching this year in hopes of teaching health and fitness here in Spokane.
