Head Coach: Jane Wheeler
Hometown: Traer, IA
School: North Tama HS; Luther College (BA); Western Illinois University (MA)
Athletic highlights: 1997 1A State cross-country champion; 1997 1A state runner-up in the 1500 and 3000m events at Iowa state meet; 3 time National Qualifier in DIII Cross Country; Member of 2000 3rd Place Team @ DIII National Cross Country; 2-time National Qualifier in DIII Track & Field Meet; 2001 IIAC Champion in 10K
Coaching Highlights:
CROSS COUNTRY: Named MAC Coach of the Year in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Led her varsity squad to ten consecutive MAC team titles from 2005-2014. Until 2019, she coached her team to 14 consecutive appearances at the state meet, including a 5th place finish in 2008, a 4th place finish in 2010, a 3rd place finish in 2011, state champions in 2012, a 3rd place finish in 2013, and a runner-up team finish in 2014. The Spartans returned to the podium in 2021, finishing as MAC and District champions, and closed the season with a runner-up finish at the 2021 State Cross-Country Meet. Jane has coached 13 all-state athletes, including 2013 and 2015 individual state champion, McKenzie Yanek. Served as a volunteer assistant at Iowa City High in 2002 when the team won the state title. Named Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2012 and At-Large Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2013.
TRACK & FIELD: Served 3 years as junior high track coach, 1 year as high school varsity assistant track coach, and stepped down after 12 years as co-/head track and field coach at the conclusion of the 2019 season. Named 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 MAC Coach of the Year and led team to conference and district titles from 2009-2013, and from 2015-2019. Works primarily with middle distance and distance runners and shared co-head coaching duties with husband, Kenny Wheeler. Guided McKenzie Yanek to a 2016 Drake Relays title in the 3000m and a runner-up finish and school record in the same event at the 2016 State meet. Led team to a runner-up team finish at the state meet in 2013, a Class 4A team state championship in 2015, and another state runner-up finish in 2016. Named IATC Class 4A At-Large Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and IATC Class 4A Coach of the Year for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Was named recipient of high school state coach of the year for Iowa by US Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) in 2015. Jane is a USATF Level I Certified Coach.
School: North Tama HS; Luther College (BA); Western Illinois University (MA)
Athletic highlights: 1997 1A State cross-country champion; 1997 1A state runner-up in the 1500 and 3000m events at Iowa state meet; 3 time National Qualifier in DIII Cross Country; Member of 2000 3rd Place Team @ DIII National Cross Country; 2-time National Qualifier in DIII Track & Field Meet; 2001 IIAC Champion in 10K
Coaching Highlights:
CROSS COUNTRY: Named MAC Coach of the Year in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Led her varsity squad to ten consecutive MAC team titles from 2005-2014. Until 2019, she coached her team to 14 consecutive appearances at the state meet, including a 5th place finish in 2008, a 4th place finish in 2010, a 3rd place finish in 2011, state champions in 2012, a 3rd place finish in 2013, and a runner-up team finish in 2014. The Spartans returned to the podium in 2021, finishing as MAC and District champions, and closed the season with a runner-up finish at the 2021 State Cross-Country Meet. Jane has coached 13 all-state athletes, including 2013 and 2015 individual state champion, McKenzie Yanek. Served as a volunteer assistant at Iowa City High in 2002 when the team won the state title. Named Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2012 and At-Large Class 4A State Coach of the Year in 2013.
TRACK & FIELD: Served 3 years as junior high track coach, 1 year as high school varsity assistant track coach, and stepped down after 12 years as co-/head track and field coach at the conclusion of the 2019 season. Named 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 MAC Coach of the Year and led team to conference and district titles from 2009-2013, and from 2015-2019. Works primarily with middle distance and distance runners and shared co-head coaching duties with husband, Kenny Wheeler. Guided McKenzie Yanek to a 2016 Drake Relays title in the 3000m and a runner-up finish and school record in the same event at the 2016 State meet. Led team to a runner-up team finish at the state meet in 2013, a Class 4A team state championship in 2015, and another state runner-up finish in 2016. Named IATC Class 4A At-Large Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and IATC Class 4A Coach of the Year for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Was named recipient of high school state coach of the year for Iowa by US Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) in 2015. Jane is a USATF Level I Certified Coach.
Assistant Coach - Maddie Reynolds
Hometown: Le Claire, IA
School: Pleasant Valley HS; University of Northern Iowa (BA)
Athletic Highlights: A cross country and track and field standout while at Pleasant Valley High School, Maddie earned All-State honors in cross country in 2010, 2011 and 2012 helping her team to four consecutive conference titles from 2010-2013 and top-3 finishes at the state meet in 2011, 2012, and 2013, including a state team title in 2012. She was a four-time MAC All-Conference honoree in cross country and graduated as one of the most decorated distance athletes in PV cross-country history.
In track and field, she was a 6x Drake Relays qualifier and an 11x state qualifier for Pleasant Valley. She was a part of three conference championship teams from 2011 to 2013, including conference titles in the 1500 meters. She helped lead the team to a runner-up team finish at the 2013 state track and field meet. Maddie was also a huge contributor to the successes of the Pleasant Valley basketball and softball teams during her high school career.
At the University of Northern Iowa, Maddie competed in both cross-country and track and field. She ran collegiate personal bests of 4:59.41 in the 1500 meters and 10:25.45 in the 3000 meters in track and field.
Coaching Highlights: Maddie assisted the Spartans across a range of running events during her first year with PVGTF in 2019, primarily working with coaches Kenny Wheeler and Kaz Johnson during the season. Maddie was a wonderful addition to the staff and seamlessly transitioned into a coaching role, spending time primarily with the sprint group. Maddie took the lead in coaching the distance events beginning in 2020 and continued in that role in 2021. Under her guidance, Sophomore Lydia Sommer qualified for the state meet in both the 800 and 1500-meter run events, and Pleasant Valley's 4 x 800-meter relay and distance medley relay groups also qualified for the state meet. In 2022, the Spartans distance group continued to grow and excel. Buoyed be freshmen Grace Boleyn and Sophia Foad, sophomores Josie Case and Lexi Minard, and junior Lydia Sommer, the Spartans took to the podium in both the Drake Relays and State Meet in the 4 x 800-meter relay, and Minard qualified for her first state meet in the 3000-meter run. Boleyn and Sommer were among the very best in the state in the 800- and 1500-meter events with Boleyn medaling in both events at the 2022 State Meet. With talent and great depth behind them, Coach Reynolds group will continue to excel in the years to come. Coach Reynolds will be in her first year with PVGXC starting with the 2022 season. She is a USATF Level I certified coach.
School: Pleasant Valley HS; University of Northern Iowa (BA)
Athletic Highlights: A cross country and track and field standout while at Pleasant Valley High School, Maddie earned All-State honors in cross country in 2010, 2011 and 2012 helping her team to four consecutive conference titles from 2010-2013 and top-3 finishes at the state meet in 2011, 2012, and 2013, including a state team title in 2012. She was a four-time MAC All-Conference honoree in cross country and graduated as one of the most decorated distance athletes in PV cross-country history.
In track and field, she was a 6x Drake Relays qualifier and an 11x state qualifier for Pleasant Valley. She was a part of three conference championship teams from 2011 to 2013, including conference titles in the 1500 meters. She helped lead the team to a runner-up team finish at the 2013 state track and field meet. Maddie was also a huge contributor to the successes of the Pleasant Valley basketball and softball teams during her high school career.
At the University of Northern Iowa, Maddie competed in both cross-country and track and field. She ran collegiate personal bests of 4:59.41 in the 1500 meters and 10:25.45 in the 3000 meters in track and field.
Coaching Highlights: Maddie assisted the Spartans across a range of running events during her first year with PVGTF in 2019, primarily working with coaches Kenny Wheeler and Kaz Johnson during the season. Maddie was a wonderful addition to the staff and seamlessly transitioned into a coaching role, spending time primarily with the sprint group. Maddie took the lead in coaching the distance events beginning in 2020 and continued in that role in 2021. Under her guidance, Sophomore Lydia Sommer qualified for the state meet in both the 800 and 1500-meter run events, and Pleasant Valley's 4 x 800-meter relay and distance medley relay groups also qualified for the state meet. In 2022, the Spartans distance group continued to grow and excel. Buoyed be freshmen Grace Boleyn and Sophia Foad, sophomores Josie Case and Lexi Minard, and junior Lydia Sommer, the Spartans took to the podium in both the Drake Relays and State Meet in the 4 x 800-meter relay, and Minard qualified for her first state meet in the 3000-meter run. Boleyn and Sommer were among the very best in the state in the 800- and 1500-meter events with Boleyn medaling in both events at the 2022 State Meet. With talent and great depth behind them, Coach Reynolds group will continue to excel in the years to come. Coach Reynolds will be in her first year with PVGXC starting with the 2022 season. She is a USATF Level I certified coach.
"Keeping the Blue Line Running"