Editor’s note: This is the last of a three-part series that follows the fall sports that were canceled due to the university’s closing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The day after Hurricane Katrina turned his life upside down, cross country and trackand field headcoach Al Seither knew that he wouldn’t be coaching anything in the fall. And it took his runners to tell him.He said, “I was in McComb, Miss., and getting word about the storm was hard. All the kids started calling me to see how I was, and they told me what was happening back home.”
What was happening was his life changing as he knew it. Prior to the storm, coach Seither lived in Chalmette, one of the hardest hit areas. His house was lost due to flooding. He has since moved to Covington.
As his personal life was changing, so was his professional life. The cross country season would not happen. Coach Seither knew that if he wanted any chance of seeing his runners during this school year, it would have to be in the spring semester during track season.
“Over the course of the fall, I contacted about 15 people who were interested in participating in track when we got back,” Seither said. “But I guess between October and now, a lot of things changed.”
The 15 people contacted by Seither during the fall dwindled down to three. Those three are Richard Bouckaert, history junior, Matthew Cagigal, business junior and Mary Erin Imwalle, communications sophomore. All three qualified for the NAIA National Meet last year.
Seither was shocked that, in effect, he was turned down by 12 students. “It took me by surprise,” he said. “I mean, I’m giving you a chance to participate in collegiate athletics. I have a lot of time on my hands now so I can work with you if you aren’t as good as you want to be. Why not take a chance?”
Seither, who was the GCAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2003 and Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2004, as well as the NAIA Region XIII Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2003, now has focused his attention on helping the three returning athletes achieve personal goals for the year.
Bouckaert, Cagigal and Imwalle all previously ran cross- country for Seither at Loyola. Therefore, the track and field season will be concentrated on distance running. Concerning their upcoming meet at the University of South Alabama on April 15, Seither said, “It’s best that we focus on personal goals. We’re facing SEC schools at this (meet), we don’t have a great shot at winning, so why not aim for something?”
Last year at the University of South Alabama track meet, Bouckaert set a Loyola record in the 1,500 meters, a goal that Cagigal is aiming for this year. According to Seither, Bouckaert has his eyes set on the school record in the 5,000 meters.
Seither’s next challenge is to get students to participate in cross-country in the fall. “I truly believe that if I can get three local talents on my list that we can truly field an exceptional team in the fall with Richard (Bouckaert) and Matthew (Cagigal). Really exceptional.”
It’s been a rough time for coach Seither. From losing his home in Aug., to losing his commitments upon returning in the spring, it’s been a long and tough road just to get back on the track. He hopes for some success with the loyal, and very good, athletes he has now.
Ultimately, he’d love to field two full teams in the fall, and he even admits that could be a long shot as of now. Only time will tell if the cross-country and track and field programs will be up and running in the future.
