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3 teens organize Rocket run, walk
Told they were in over their heads, the three youths set out to prove the naysayers wrong.
LOWELLVILLE — Three Lowellville High School sophomores are hoping to raise at least $1,000 for Mahoning County Hospice of the Valley with the Rocket Run and Walk on Saturday, which they organized as a class project.
The Rocket Run 5K race route, which will wind through the streets of Lowellville, begins at 9 a.m. at the high school at 52 Rocket Place. A two-mile fun walk on the track at the high school’s Ralph Conti Sports Complex begins at 9:15 a.m.
The enterprising young men, John Kostelnak, Mike Mangine and Mike Petronek, friends who have worked together on school projects before, began planning the Rocket Run last fall.
The trio, active in school, participating on various sports teams and in musical and academic programs, and in their community and churches, quickly discovered the daunting amount of work in front of them.
“We had a whole long list of things. We had an uphill battle,” Kostelnak said.
They wanted to keep the money they raised local and accepted the suggestion of Kostelnak’s mother, Patricia, a runner herself, that proceeds from the Rocket Run go to Mahoning County Hospice of the Valley.
In addition to turning to Mrs. Kostelnak as a resource for information and expertise on running events, they asked local runner Jim Ferraro for help.
“We didn’t know where to start. He gave us a plan,” Kostelnak said.
There were a multitude of items to resolve, Mangine said, such as getting permission to conduct the race from city council and the school board and arranging for first aid and water stations along the race and walk routes and obtaining liability waivers.
They have received support from the community and their families, and area and local businesses have donated items such as timing mats and bottled water.
Their families provided tangible help, organizational skills, contacts, encouragement and moral support. Petronek’s parents, Janet and Stephen, provided race logos; Mangine’s parents, Loraine and Michael Sr., have State Line Paving and Penn Ohio Sealing; and Kostelnak’s parents distribute Little Debbie products. Kostelnak’s cousin’s company, Pine Hollow Water, donated bottled water. The Youngstown Road Runners Club allowed them to post the event on their Web sites.
“Most of the businesses in town kicked in. In small communities, people kind of help each other out,” said Petronek.
Their American literature teacher, Lisa Iberis, “helped us through and kept us on task,” Petronek said.
It was Iberis’ idea to introduce a service-learning project for students in her 10th-grade advanced American literature course. All students were required to either volunteer or organize a project.
“Right now, we’re looking for runners. Our goal is at least 100,” Kostelnak said.
“We’re hoping we get enough sponsors so all the entry fees can go to Hospice of the Valley,” Mangine said.
With the race nearly upon them, they reflected on their project.
“My 5K race has taught me, most of all, that things are not as easy as they seem, and no matter what you do in life, if you hope to succeed, then you have to work for it,” said Petronek.
“I remember when we were first introduced to the project. I was dreading it so much because I thought it was going to take so much work. But as the project continued, I got more and more excited for our 5K race,” Mangine said.
“It is turning out to be a rewarding experience. Don’t get me wrong, the challenges that still lie ahead are difficult ones, but I am confident we can pull this off,” said Kostelnak.
“At first, people told us we were in over our heads,” Mangine said.
“Some said we couldn’t get it done,” Kostelnak said.
“That became motivational,” said Petronek.
“To prove them wrong,” said Kostelnak.
“I’m just hoping this is a success. I just want to show that three sophomores can pull it off,” Mangine said.