Welcome to the West Chester Track Club.  The West Chester Track Club is a non-profit track and field club based in Chester County, Pennsylvania.   Established in 1961 by Dr. John H. Hewlett 3rd, we are the second oldest continuous operating track club in the MidAtlantic Region.  Since 1961, we have had only three head coaches: Dr. Hewlett, William Gravely, and Eric Horsey.  This is a testament to the stability of our leadership and the steadfastness of focus on the mission of our organization. For almost 50 years, our club, using track and field as a vehicle for healthy competition and learning,  has promoted the ideals of sportsmanship, and tolerance for individual differences and group diversity. Our Mission is to continue the rich tradition of the West Chester Track Club by motivating the youth under our direction to achieve at their highest level of excellence on the track, in their communities, and in the classroom.  The West Chester Track Club is Molding Tomorrow's Leaders Today.                                                                                                                 

Founder, Dr. John H. Hewlett 3rd circa 1973. Dr. Hewlett is a graduate of Hampton University and received his Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Hewlett's contributions to the West Chester Community are too numerous to mention.  At the present, he is the Director of Human Resources for the West Chester Area School District.  Early in his career, Dr. Hewlett taught science at Henderson High School and coached track & field.  We sometimes think that our accomplishments are solely our own.  We forget that no one gets anywhere without the help of many people; some of whom we will never know, yet they are there when we need them the most.  They unselfishly work behind the scenes to open the doors of opportunity for those who might never get an opportunity.  When we reflect upon how far we've come along life's winding road, let us not forget those like John Hewlett who soften the curves and level the hills, and fix our vision on the grander prize at the end of the journey. 

Bill Gravely was Head Coach of the West Chester Track Club from 1999 to 2005.  Under Coach Gravely's leadership the club increased its participant base outside the West Chester Borough.  Coach Gravely is credited with instituting the dual-track system whereby athletes could participate in both AAU and USATF Junior Olympics.  Coach Gravely also systemized athlete documentation, the club fee structure, and was instrumental in designing the WCTC uniform.  Coach Gravely along with Coach Horsey is credited with acquiring permission to use the Downingtown East High School Track for practices.  Bill is a graduate of Bucknell University where he was inducted in their Hall of Fame for his athletic accomplishments in Track and Field. Bill continues with the WCTC as an Adjunct Coach and Advisor.

Eric Horsey joined the West Chester Track Club in 1987.  Coach Horsey has a 21 year coaching tenure with the WCTC. He was an Assistant Coach under Dr. Hewlett from 1987 to 1995 before becoming Head Coach from 1996 to 1998. Due to his responsibilities as Vice President of Union Local 135, Coach Horsey stepped down as Head Coach to become an Assistant Coach under Bill Gravely from 1999 to 2005.  Coach Horsey's second tenure as Head Coach began upon Coach Gravely's retirement in 2005.  Under Coach Horsey's leadership, the club has experienced a renaissance going from a seasonal program to a year round program.  Coach Horsey increased the coaching staff enabling the club to expand its paticipant base to the entire Southeast PA Region.  Coach Horsey is responsible for creating the Club Manager position; authorizing the creation of a website, adding Cross Country and Indoor Track to our program; and adding the Masters component.   Coach Horsey also instituted a Spring Developmental Program for young athletes and heads a Winter, off-season training program for our athletes.

If you are not familiar with our club and your first contact with us is online, we would be pleased to hear from you! Please let us know what your questions are. We will be more than happy to speak with you. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

To contact Eric Horsey, the Head Coach

Email: Coach.Horsey@yahoo.com
Home: 610-524-6634
Cellular: 484-467-4266

To contact Richard Beck, the Club Manager 

Email: richbeckhiker@aol.com                                                                                                            Home: 610-380-9385                                                                                                                                          Cellular: 610-470-0934

The WCTC is a proud member of the USATF, AAU, and UAGTCA.

The WCTC is a proud participating member of the Philadelphia Masters.

Graphics by Christian Liero.

Photographs by Mrs. White and Mrs. Cunningham.

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.   Dr. Martin Luther King

Music by Samuel Barber (1910-1981)                                                                                                             Born in West Chester, PA                                                                                                                                Adagio for Strings, 1938                                                                                                                                  Performed by Scottish Chamber Orchestra                                                                                                   Conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Barber

Sam Barber's Letter to his mother is good advice to parents --

Dear Mother: I have written to tell you my worrying secret. Now don’t cry when you read it because it is neither yours nor my fault. I suppose I will have to tell it now, without any nonsense. To begin with I was not meant to be an athlete. I was meant to be a composer, and will be I’m sure. I’ll ask you one more thing .—Don’t ask me to try to forget this unpleasant thing and go play football.—Please—Sometimes I’ve been worrying about this so much that it makes me mad (not very).

Everyone can experience the joy of running but not everybody enjoys running to compete. There is plenty of room on our track for composers, chefs, poets, dancers, singers,mathmaticians, and artists.  One need not feel obliged to win gold medals.  Some things in life are more golden.