Cross Country Committee

The Cross Country Committee (“Committee”) is a standing committee established by the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (“DIAA”) pursuant to 14 Del. C. § 304(2). Created at 14 Del. C. ch. 3, DIAA preserves and promotes the educational significance of interscholastic athletics; ensures that interscholastic sports remains compatible with the educational mission of the member schools; provides for fair competition between member schools; promotes sportsmanship and ethical behavior; establishes and enforces standards of conduct for athletes, coaches, administrators, officials, and spectators; protects the physical well-being of athletes; and promotes healthy adolescent lifestyles.

The Committee is charged with:

  • working with the DIAA office staff to perform tasks related to running the state tournament, including:
    • establishing written procedures for determining tournament berths and selecting tournament sites,
    • determining state tournament berths, and
    • inspecting member schools’ venues and determining viability for competition;
  • working with the Officials’ Committee to evaluate an officials’ association during its probationary period; and
  • working with the Officials’ Committee to make a recommendation to the Board at the end of an officials’ association’s probationary period.

The Board’s Chairperson shall appoint an individual to serve as the Committee’s Chairperson who shall serve for an indefinite period of time. However, the Board’s Chairperson, with the advice and consent of DIAA’s Executive Director, may remove the Committee’s Chairperson.

The Committee’s Chairperson, with the advice and consent of DIAA’s Executive Director, shall appoint individuals to serve on the Committee. Committee members shall be geographically representative and may include administrators, athletic directors, coaches, local school board members, officials, and members of the public. Individuals appointed to serve on the Committee shall serve for an indefinite period of time. However, the Committee’s Chairperson, with the advice and consent of DIAA’s Executive Director, may remove individuals from the Committee.

The Committee shall conduct itself in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the Administrative Procedures Act, and the Department of Education’s rules and regulations.

Approved by the Board of Directors on 09/14/2017.

Committee Members

First Name Last Name Conference Affiliation Title Committee Position County Term Expires BOD Approved
Czar Bloom Henlopen Polytech HS Coach Member KC 2024
Pat Castagno DISC Tatnall School Coach Member NC 2022
Mike DiGennaro Non-Conference St. Mark’s HS Coach Member NC 2022
Jim Fischer Non-Conference Ursuline Academy Coach Member NC 2023 20-Jul
Michelle Flanagan Public Member Member NC 2021
Matthew Lindell Henlopen Cape Henlopen HS Coach Member SC 2023 20-Nov
Ray Parker Public Member Member 2022
George Pepper Public Member Retired Chair SC 2021
Rick Schuder Diamond State Charter School of Wilm. Coach Member NC 2023 20-Jul
Rick Shea Catholic Conference Padua Academy Athletic Director Member NC 2021
Jason Stockel Henlopen Sussex Central HS Coach Member SC 2021
Mike Tucci Henlopen Caesar Rodney HS Coach Member KC 2023 20-Jul
Vacant Officials Rep