Fox valley Pack TFCC

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The Fox Valley Pack TFCC is a non-profit organization that provides affordable opportunities for kids to participate in cross country and track and field at the youth, middle school, and high school levels. Our mission is to build community, teach fundamental skills, and create a fun, welcoming environment where every child has access to play and develop a lifelong love for running, jumping, and throwing.

Our philosophy emphasizes collaboration between middle school coaches, high school coaches, parents, athletes, and Pack TFCC clubs. Rather than focusing on high-pressure competition, extensive travel, or elite training, we provide accessible, community-based programming where kids can learn the fundamentals of track and field in a supportive local environment. All sessions occur outside of normal school seasons for middle and high school athletes. The club provides primary service to those in Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, Oswego, Naperville, St. Charles, Wheaton, and nearby suburbs.

Contact: Executive Director - Brenden Mariano, foxvalley@thepacktfcc.com,(847) 513-2043

Outdoor Lead Coach - Michelle Wicyk, foxvalley@thepacktfcc.com, (630) 608-8971

Meet the Coaches

Executive Director and Coach Brenden Mariano joins the Fox Valley Pack with 20+ years of coaching experience. He currently serves as an assistant coach for men’s cross country and track and field at North Central College. Previously he coached boys cross country and track and field at Hoffman Estates High School and girls cross country and track and field at Schaumburg High School. Accolades include an IHSA State Championship team, 5 individual state champions, a NCAA trophy Team, and 2 individual NCAA National Champions. In track and field, Coach Mariano has coached distance and throws.

Additionally, Coach Mariano brings 9+ years of experience in the business sector including entrepreneurship, sales, hospitality and fundraising. He is always looking to build connections within the Fox Valley community.

As an athlete, Coach Mariano was a member of cross country and track and field teams from middle school through college. He was an IHSA state qualifier in cross country and track and field and a team captain at North Central College. Post-collegiately he has competed in marathons, Spartan races, bike races, and Master’s track races.

Fun Facts

  • In 2015, Coach Mariano broke Coach Quick’s 13-year streak of MSL West Division Championships. The former rivals now coach together.

  • As an athlete Mariano won team trophies at IHSA State (high school) and NCAA Nationals (college). Then he ran it back, coaching both his alma matter teams to IHSA State and NCAA National trophies.

Head Coach Michelle Wicyk joins the Fox Valley Pack with 11+ years of coaching experience. She is currently the girls head cross country coach at Waubonsie Valley High School. Previously she was the head cross country and track and field Coach at Romeoville High School.

Coach Wicyk has coached numerous state qualifiers, 9 All-State athletes and recently led the Waubonsie Valley girls cross country team to their first ever IHSA State appearance. Coach Wicyk is an experienced health and physical education teacher at the high school level.

Each summer she offers a summer camp for cross country athletes in District 204. Recently Coach Wicyk restarted a youth track and field camp, previously led by Coach Rafferty. The camp has doubled in size in only two summers!

As an athlete, Coach Wicyk was a member of track and field teams from middle school through college. She also played volleyball and bowled from ages 5-14. In addition to being a varsity athlete for most of her career, Coach Wicyk was a team captain both in high school and at Bethel University.

Fun Facts

  • During the season, Coach Wicyk coordinates scavenger hunts with her team around the community.

  • Coach Wicyk loves a good theme day! She and a coworker wear (cute/ugly) holiday sweaters every day in December, and she has started a spooky shirts collection for every day in October.

Coach Kevin Rafferty (aka Coach Raf) joins the Fox Valley Pack with 25+ years of coaching experience. He currently serves as the head coach for boys cross country and track and field at Waubonsie Valley High School. Coach Rafferty has guided over 150 athletes to qualify for the IHSA State Meet, his teams have nine Top-10 finishes, and 5 athletes have been crowned State Champion. In track and field Coach Rafferty has coached sprints, hurdles, distance, jumps and vault.

Prior to joining the Fox Valley Pack, Coach Rafferty organized, hosted, and coached a youth track and field camp for ages 3-18. The affordable, family-oriented camp grew to over 150 athletes and provided local competition opportunities.

As an athlete, Coach Rafferty was a member of cross country and track and field teams from middle school through college. He was an IHSA State qualifier in cross country and track and field and a member of 3 consecutive NCAA National Championship teams at North Central College.

Fun Facts

  • During the mid-2010s, Coach Rafferty designed Waubonsie Valley “Field and Track” team shirts, a creative flip of the traditional wording to reflect the strengths of his teams during those years.

  • In addition to being high school teammates, Coach Rafferty was Coach Mariano’s “Big Brother” in college.

Coach Alicia Rafferty (aka Coach Zim) joins the Fox Valley Pack with 14+ years of coaching experience. She is currently the head coach for girls cross country and assistant coach for girls track and field at Oswego High School. Coach Zim has coached numerous IHSA State Qualifiers and All-Staters across a broad range of events. In track and field, Coach Zim has coached pole vault, distance, and multi-events.

As an athlete, Coach Zim participated in track and field, cross country, and gymnastics. Zim was an IHSA State Qualifier in track and field and cross country as well as a NCAA National Qualifier in cross country and track and field (Steeplechase). For her success in college, Coach Zim was named CCIW Conference Athlete of the Year.

Fun Facts

  • Two years into college, Coach Zim suffered a career ending injury in the pole vault. She switched to distance running full-time and later became CCIW Conference cross country champion.

  • Coach Zim notes, with a smile, that animals and track spikes are taking over her house.

Coach Miguel Gonzalez joins the Fox Valley Pack with 4 years of coaching experience. He currently serves as the head coach for both track and field and cross country at King Chavez Academy of Excellence in San Diego, CA. In track and field, Coach Miguel has coached both distance and sprints.

As an elementary and middle school physical education teacher, Coach Miguel is well-rounded in coaching kids of all ages and in all sports. He has been the coach of the soccer and volleyball teams and led both to AthLEAD Advantage Division 1 Championships. 

As an athlete, Coach Miguel participated in track and field and cross country from middle school through college. He attended East Aurora High School and Aurora University, where he was a 4x time All-Conference runner. 

Fun Facts 

  • Freshman year of high school, on his first long run with the varsity group, Coach Miguel accidentally tripped his high school coach. 

  • Coach Miguel has lived in San Diego, CA for 4 years!