GHCA runners showing coaches dedication, determination

By Gloria Austin  
Staff Writer
    The Greater Houlton Christian Academy may not have the largest cross-country squad, but the individuals who are running are “showing dedication and determination,” said coach Angela Ewings.
    GHCA fields a team of nine runners, five boys and four girls.
RUNNERS – Running on the Greater Houlton Christian Academy cross-country team are, from left, front, Whitney Cote, Destinee Neureuther Halle Duff, Lauren Robertson and coach Angela Ewings; back, Jordan Cummings, Russell Socoby, Ethan Holmes, Micah Wiley, Isaiah Straubel and assistant coach David Goodrich.
    “For many of these young athletes, each day is a learning experience,” said Ewings.
    The leading male runner for the team is junior captain Micah Wiley, who is in his third season.
    “Although he has had a slow start [to the season] due to illness, he is using his mature athletic abilities to reach his goals,” said Ewings. “Micah is one of those athletes who always gives it his all. He is an individual that knows what needs to be done to take it to the next level.”
    Ewings and her team will rely on Wiley’s leadership ability to lead a relatively young squad.
    Sophomore Destinee Neureuther is the leading female runner, who returns to the team after taking last year off.
    “She is displaying great potential this year,” Ewings said. “She is one of our runners who loves the sport.  She is showing a tremendous level of maturity and is willing to do what it takes to improve.  She is focused this year and we are seeing this in her performance.”
    Returning third-year veteran Whitney Cote has “developed tremendously” as a runner, according to her coach.
    “We have seen major improvement in her,” said Ewings. “She is also one who is willing to do what it takes to get to the next level.  Whitney needs to work on her confidence and we will see great performances from her.”
    Assistant coach David Goodrich looks at the season with great ‘anticipation.’
    “We have several runners returning this year to bring some experience which will be awesome,” he said. “We also have some runners coming out for the first time to run cross-country, which is always great to see.”
     Sophomore Russell Socoby is one of those newcomers, who is “definitely an asset to this young team,” Ewings said.
    “He joined the team with speed, but we are working on the endurance side of racing,” she added. “Every run, he is learning something new. We are still working on finding his true potential. We will be seeing big things out of him if he continues to work on his strengths.”
    Junior Ethan Holmes joins the team this season after a short setback due to a minor operation on his hand.
    “He is a positive athlete and role model,” said Ewings. “His injury has not discouraged him. He is one of those individuals who will work hard to make it happen. He has strong work ethics and this makes coaching him very rewarding.”
    Rounding off the newcomers are sophomores Jordan Cummings, Isaiah Straubel, Halle Duff and Lauren Robertson.
    “Jordan is showing improvement every day and is a positive athlete,” Ewings said. “We are working hard on building his confidence and it is starting to show in his performances.  He is fun to have around and his personality is a plus for the team.”
    Though Straubel is a newcomer to the squad, he is not unfamiliar with long distance running.
    “He has the foundation, but we are now working on building that to the competitive level,” Ewings added. “ He will be a strong runner if he continues to work hard and is willing to put the time in.”
      Duff and Robertson have just decided to become team members after checking out a couple of meets.
    “They have just come on board,” Ewings said, “but we are looking forward to working with them.”
    Goodrich and Ewings are both hoping to build each runners’ endurance, as well as their commitment to running.
    “I believe that as the more seasoned runners share their experiences and what they have learned over the last couple of years, it will make the newer runners, and the team as a whole, stronger,” said Goodrich. “We are looking forward to a great year.”