Bay's Murphy to run for Wisconsin

This past week, Whitefish Bay distance running ace Emma Lisa Murphy joined an elite sorority of fellow Blue Dukes cross country stars, when she signed an NCAA national letter of intent to compete for the University of Wisconsin next fall.

With her signing, Murphy becomes the fourth Bay star in recent years to compete for an NCAA Division I school.

Currently, Annie Talajkowski (Minnesota), Megan Palmer (Brown) and Kenzie Vicker (Marquette) are all in that elite group. All four were part of the 2008 WIAA state cross country champions, while Vicker, Talajkowski and Palmer were part of the 2007 state runner-up team and Palmer, Vicker and Murphy were part of the 2009 state runner-up squad.

Murphy was third individually in the 2010 state meet after taking seventh in 2009.

The curious thing for Murphy is that she said, "I always wanted to be a Badger.

"And that was after both my parents graduated from Illinois," she laughed.

The Fighting Illini were in the conversation for Murphy as was fellow Big 10 competitor Northwestern, but after she and her parents met with Badger coach Jim Stintzi and his wife it was all but a done deal.

"We started talking and exchanging emails in the fall, and I got in a nice visit in the fall," she said. "I've always loved the program and it has a great deal of potential. I also always wanted to stay in Wisconsin." She also said that the beautiful lake-based Madison campus was a huge selling point.

Coach loves her work ethic

Veteran Bay coach Mike Miller is pleased with Murphy's decision.

"This is so well deserved," he said. "The fact is, is that she can compete on this level. It's very exciting because I know what her work ethic is like. I think she'll do great at the 5,000- and 8,000-meter distances. They'll be really good events for her.

"She's very focused and determined and will do anything her coach asks. I just foresee a great college career for her."

She intends to major in business.

Murphy said that Stintzi reminds her a little bit of Miller in the way that he deals with people and in his techniques. He is a former state champion cross country and track runner at Menomonee Falls North and was an NCAA All-American at Wisconsin. He also coached at Michigan State for 20 years, before coming back to Madison in 2004.

"He appears to be a great coach. I'm glad he's there," said Murphy of Stintzi. "It's fun to have this all done. It's a huge weight off my shoulders. I want to finish off my high school career (this spring in track) with a bang. I'm going to enjoy it and make it a good one."

Bay is supportive community

Miller is ecstatic with how well this reflects on the Bay program.

"It's all due to the parents," he said. "We have such wonderful parents who are so supportive of the running program. It's also a nurturing village with people who care. I'm just happy to be here in a good place to live, in a good running community."