Athletes lead by example in cross country

For students Carlos Rodriguez and Sevil Oksuzler, running is their passion. As a part of the Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Cross Country Team, both students were honored with medals for their great accomplishments. However, these student leaders understand the difference between just running to win and running to achieve their personal best.

“Carlos and Sevil came to practice ready to work and were wonderful leaders to the younger runners,” said Coach and CtRCS Teacher Michelle Pye. “The younger runners really looked up to them and wanted to learn from them. Carlos was always pushing the pace and wanting more from practice with a desire to compete at his best. Sevil always had a smile on her face and gave lots of advice based on her past race experiences.”

These athletes have a bevy of cross-country accolades (as seen by the many awards around their necks), but they have both recently been awarded for their achievements in the Greater Houston Catholic Athletic Association (GHCAA) Championship in October. Oksuzler placed first in the GHCAA Championship 8th Grade Girls Division running 1.5 miles in 9.04 minutes.

“When I am running, I think about how I need to help my team,” Oksuzler said. “People usually think cross country is an individual sport, but we get team points. I used to play soccer, so I like to compete, but in cross country, I focus on the finish line.”

Oksuzler has been a student at CtRCS since 4th grade. She is involved with cross country, volleyball, basketball, track and she cantors at school Mass with the choir. She said you have to have a lot of endurance for cross country, but she wants to make a name for CtRCS.

“We’re a newer school and I want to start a great future for our students and program,” she said. “It’s really important to me to be an example for the youth runners too. I just want the youth players to grow, so when they are leaders, they had a good example.”

Rodriguez placed second in the GHCAA Championship 8th Grade Boys Division running 1.5 miles in 7.49 minutes. He also had consistently place in the top 15 throughout the season, with seven top 10 finishes. Rodriquez said he enjoys the competition of cross country is just you and the person ahead of you.

“That’s what it’s all about: it’s just you and the competitors,” Rodriquez said. “My strategy is just to run, then run faster.”

This is Rodriguez’s first year at CtRCS as he was homeschooled since 1st grade.

“It’s a great change for me,” he said. “My teachers were very accommodating and helpful. The transition has been wonderful.”

Rodriquez is involved in basketball, soccer, cross country, is an altar server and also cantors at Mass. Leach shared a story that when the team would have recovery runs on Sunday mornings, Rodriquez still came out to Cy-Champ Park for 7 a.m. and made it back to CtR in time for the 9 a.m. Mass. He said that he loves getting motivated to run and be involved.

“The blessing of running motivates me too and I’m grateful to be on this team,” Rodriguez said. “I’m just so happy to be here. For me and my life, passion is the center – through music or sports. Homeschool is limited, but here there is so much opportunity. Cross country is the first thing I joined and the team and the coaches went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I found a home here.”

Athletic Director Andrea Leach cannot say enough about these stellar athletes.

“Carlos is very good at centering the team through prayer and example,” Leach said. “The girls and boys train together and both Sevy and Carlos have great leadership potential and are proven leaders at CtRCS. The main thing is they are mature, coachable and other-focused. They ask ‘How do I elevate the group? What can I do to help my team?’ They are amplified when other people do well.”

She said she is proud to have them on her teams.

“Kudos to both sets of parents,” she said. “These students are firmly planted on practicality. Grades are first and the rest is for the greater glory of God. These are kids who listen and do. They are wonderful models for the others.”

For more information about CtRCS cross country, visit ctrschool.com/cross-country.