In his previous 11 seasons, the Panthers boys and girls have captured 9 Sectional titles and 5 Sectional Runners-Up, along with State Finals appearances each season, including state trophy finishes of  3rd place (2002), 1st place (2003), 2nd place (2004), and 4th place (2010)  for his boys' teams.  Three of his girls teams have had top 10 finishes, with the 2010 team finishing 6th.  Ten Panther runners have garnered All-State honors during his tenure, with Tom Pacey winning an individual state championship in 2005.

Coach Brehm is a life long runner with over 40 years of experience as a competitor, coach, and/or official.  He prepped locally at Rantoul and Fisher High Schools, where he still holds school records in the mile and the 2 mile run.  He was inducted into the Fisher High School Hall of Fame in 2010.  Mike continued his athletic career at Eastern Illinois University running on the Cross Country and Track teams, which won a NCAA Division II Track national title in 1974, while the Cross Country team was 3rd in the nation each of his 4 years at EIU.  

Dr. Brehm serves as Technology Coordinator for the PBL school district, is a recognized Track and Cross Country official with the IHSA & IESA,  serving as a meet official locally and at the sectional and state levels.  He is a member of the Illinois Track and Cross Country Officials Association and the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association.  He recently completed a term on the IESA Cross Country Advisory Committee.  Mike resides at Lake Iroquois and enjoys his family, running, swimming, biking, computers & technology, reading, fishing, boating, and working in his yard. 

 

Rob Pacey starts his 4^th year as an assistant coach for the PBL Junior High cross country team.  As a 2004 PBL graduate, he looks forward to working with students each season to continue the Panther cross-country tradition.  Highlights during his tenure include: 4 Sectional Titles, 1 Sectional Runner-Up, 2 All-State Runners, 2 Top-10 finishes by the girls’ team and 1 State Trophy for the boys’ team (4^th Place in 2010).  In addition to helping the junior high team, Rob also coached his dad, Steve Pacey, to run a 3:30 marathon in 2010 at the age of sixty. 

Coach Pacey was a member of the first PBL junior high cross country team in 1998 and helped the boys’ team to a 5^th-place finish in 1999.  In high school, Rob earned all-conference honors in cross country and won 3 conference titles in the mile and two mile in track.  His current running “career” includes participating in local road races and the annual River to River Relay. 

Mr. Pacey is a 6^th grade social studies teacher at PBL.  He received his degree in history from the University of Illinois in 2008.   His coaching education includes Level 1 (2007 and 2010) and Level 2 Youth Development (2011) coaching schools through USA Track and Field.  Rob is also a member of the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association and the Illinois Track and Cross Country Officials Association.  Pacey has worked as an official at IESA and IHSA sectional and state meets, as well as the Big Ten Championships.  He lives in Paxton and enjoys his family, U of I sports, teaching, and spending time outdoors. 

RUN FOR FUN!!!