WORK IN PUTTING THE

Mike Mazzei knew when he arrived at Princeton Day School that if he wanted to lead his new team to greatness, he would need to be great, too.

“I was always good at cross country,” he said, “but I didn’t get really good until I had a great coach.”

Mazzei’s motivation to leave an indelible mark on his team stems from his own experience.

“When I was at Rider University, my coach helped me see what I was fully capable of as a runner. He showed me that I was the one who had the power to be successful. That was a big confidence booster,” he shared.

Teaching his new team of runners to practice and compete with confidence would prove to be just as important as the physical training. Mazzei reflected, “Cross country is very physical, but it is also incredibly mental. You have to learn how to push through so many thoughts of giving up and learn how to give it your all.”

As Mazzei’s team learned to trust him to guide them in the right direction, they would also learn about his high expectations for stamina. Students began their training for the fall season in the summer months and logged weekly mileage in an app that allowed the coaches to interact in real-time with each athlete. At the end of summer, some runners were logging between 35 and 50 miles a week.

Maddie Weinstein ’23, a captain on the team, was intimidated by the mileage at first, but saw the benefits that went beyond the strength she was building as a runner. She said, “I think this year our training schedule consisted of more mileage per day than I have done in the past, which helped prepare me for our meets. We all worked hard together especially on our long run and interval training days!”

That sense of teamwork would prove to be an integral piece of the puzzle when it came to the team’s success.

Emily McCann ’24, another captain, shared how Mazzei’s summer schedule was the beginning of what would become a very special bond among the teammates. “We started the season with optional pre-season practice and fun activities at the end of practice. A water balloon fight or a walk to a local bagel shop, to name a few. As the season progressed, the bond of the girls’ team strengthened. The captains planned and carried out a pumpkin carving competition and even team apple picking. This was one small difference that made the season much more successful and fun.”

The team was growing closer and their individual skills were becoming stronger.

“It’s important to make sure that everyone is adapting well to the training,” Mazzei said, “and I saw that there were so many improvements happening all the time. It’s less about the run times for me — I just want to see growth.”

And growth he saw.

“I came to Princeton Day School with the hopes of winning the championship and building a community. I notice that a lot of cross country coaches only pay attention to their top seven, but if you’re only concerned with winning, you’re not a coach. A good coach wants to coach everyone, and when the whole team is consistently improving, that’s a huge win,” Mazzei reflected.

Laying the foundation for a strong community that trusted his approach seemed to work in Mazzei’s favor, especially on November 1, 2022, when the team won the first ever Prep B Championship in Princeton Day School history.

“It’s so rewarding to watch these girls build accolades and to see how proud they are of themselves. I had a coach who changed my life because he believed I could be great, and I know that these student athletes are going to continue to do great things.”

So, what can a coach who has already won the top accolade do to improve his team even more? Mazzei has already established a three pronged plan for the future:

1) Start the girls’ cross country season in Mid-July instead of August.

2) Defend the Prep B Championship title.

3) Win the boys’ cross country Prep B Championship.

He said, “I am who I am today because of athletics. I have seen the amazing things that can happen when you put the work in — so we’re going to keep putting the work in.”