Post by Todd B on Aug 30, 2007 21:45:35 GMT -5
Constant companions
By: Jeff Meade story updated August 30. 2007 9:48AM
IDA - Margaret Gruber is an accidental cross country runner.
Two years ago, her good friend, Jaimie Sawasky, was spending the night and needed a ride to her first cross country practice at Munson Park.
"Why don't you come to practice with me?" Sawawsky said.
The only problem was that Gruber had never run anything longer than the 400 meters in track and field. She complained about having to run something that long.
"Her parents didn't believe it," Sawasky said. "I said, ‘Guess what, Margaret went to cross country practice with me today.' They thought it was a joke."
But something happened at that first cross country practice their sophomore years. Their dedication, talent and work ethic make them instant successes as distance runners.
Sawasky has been the No. 1 runner and Gruber No. 2 for the last three years. Both earned first-team All-Lenawee County Athletic Association honors and Sawasky qualified for state. They will be Ida's captains this fall.
The success and the similaries don't end there. The two good friends could be joined at the hip.
Gruber has the top grade-point average in the Ida Class of 2008 and Sawasky is No. 3. Both play flute in the school band. Both plan to pursue careers in the medical field after college. Both run the same three events on the track team.
"It was that one fateful day," Sawasky said.
After their initial doubts about cross country, Gruber's family has been totally supportive. She believes they wanted her to prove to them that she could do it.
"It actually wasn't bad," Gruber said. "It was really laid back. Coach (Chad Clevenger) actually brought his two kids to practice. We just ran through the woods. It was a nice pace. I miraculously stayed with them."
Sawasky also was running cross country for the first time - both had tried out for basketball as freshmen - and developed even more of a love for the sport.
"We just started to like it and we worked harder at it," she said. "We pushed each other. We're pretty much training partners."
But Gruber points out, "Jaimie is more interested in running. If it were up to me, I would rather be horseback riding. That's my passion."
The cross country duo nearly was broken up this year. Gruber was a starting middle hitter on Ida's successful volleyball team. The court-mandated change in seasons forced her to choose between volleyball and cross country.
"It was very hard (choosing)," she said. "I just thought about it a real long time. I really like Coach (Clevenger) and then I found out my volleyball coach (Eric Flotow) wasn't coming back.
"I really enjoy running. I find it rewarding. My friends are in it. It's very relaxing. After I'm done, I just feel really energized and ready to take on anything."
Sawasky adds, "Running is a challenge. You want to beat the girls that may have finished ahead of you before. Yet it's such a friendly sport. Runners want to see each other do well even though they're on another team."
Gruber has finished ahead of her friend a couple of times, but Sawasky wasn't upset. "We all have our good days and our bad days," she said. "Things work themselves out."
If Margaret can maintain her 3.98 GPA, she could be Ida's valedictorian next spring. Two of her older brothers - Justin and Jared - were salutatorians. "I want to follow in their footsteps," she said.
The two are constant companions despite living at opposite ends of the school district 15 miles away. Jaimie, the daughter of Joe and Janis Sawasky of Petersburg, would like to become a pediatrician. Margaret, the daughter of John and Mary Gruber of Monroe, wants to be a nurse or a physician assistant.
"Jaimie is very carefree, always happy. She always tries to cheer people up," Gruber said.
Sawasky calls Gruber "very organized. She's straightforward with you. I like being told when I'm out of hand."
Clevenger said that Gruber was "kind of a surprise. She's a specimen of her work. She puts in the miles. You put in your work and you're going to have results.''
Sawasky ran about 500 miles and Gruber some 250 over the summer months.
"Those two have put in the most miles - boys or girls - on either team," Clevenger said. "They're perfect examples of leaders and competitors. They're true athletes. Anything you want out of them, they're willing to do."
By: Jeff Meade story updated August 30. 2007 9:48AM
IDA - Margaret Gruber is an accidental cross country runner.
Two years ago, her good friend, Jaimie Sawasky, was spending the night and needed a ride to her first cross country practice at Munson Park.
"Why don't you come to practice with me?" Sawawsky said.
The only problem was that Gruber had never run anything longer than the 400 meters in track and field. She complained about having to run something that long.
"Her parents didn't believe it," Sawasky said. "I said, ‘Guess what, Margaret went to cross country practice with me today.' They thought it was a joke."
But something happened at that first cross country practice their sophomore years. Their dedication, talent and work ethic make them instant successes as distance runners.
Sawasky has been the No. 1 runner and Gruber No. 2 for the last three years. Both earned first-team All-Lenawee County Athletic Association honors and Sawasky qualified for state. They will be Ida's captains this fall.
The success and the similaries don't end there. The two good friends could be joined at the hip.
Gruber has the top grade-point average in the Ida Class of 2008 and Sawasky is No. 3. Both play flute in the school band. Both plan to pursue careers in the medical field after college. Both run the same three events on the track team.
"It was that one fateful day," Sawasky said.
After their initial doubts about cross country, Gruber's family has been totally supportive. She believes they wanted her to prove to them that she could do it.
"It actually wasn't bad," Gruber said. "It was really laid back. Coach (Chad Clevenger) actually brought his two kids to practice. We just ran through the woods. It was a nice pace. I miraculously stayed with them."
Sawasky also was running cross country for the first time - both had tried out for basketball as freshmen - and developed even more of a love for the sport.
"We just started to like it and we worked harder at it," she said. "We pushed each other. We're pretty much training partners."
But Gruber points out, "Jaimie is more interested in running. If it were up to me, I would rather be horseback riding. That's my passion."
The cross country duo nearly was broken up this year. Gruber was a starting middle hitter on Ida's successful volleyball team. The court-mandated change in seasons forced her to choose between volleyball and cross country.
"It was very hard (choosing)," she said. "I just thought about it a real long time. I really like Coach (Clevenger) and then I found out my volleyball coach (Eric Flotow) wasn't coming back.
"I really enjoy running. I find it rewarding. My friends are in it. It's very relaxing. After I'm done, I just feel really energized and ready to take on anything."
Sawasky adds, "Running is a challenge. You want to beat the girls that may have finished ahead of you before. Yet it's such a friendly sport. Runners want to see each other do well even though they're on another team."
Gruber has finished ahead of her friend a couple of times, but Sawasky wasn't upset. "We all have our good days and our bad days," she said. "Things work themselves out."
If Margaret can maintain her 3.98 GPA, she could be Ida's valedictorian next spring. Two of her older brothers - Justin and Jared - were salutatorians. "I want to follow in their footsteps," she said.
The two are constant companions despite living at opposite ends of the school district 15 miles away. Jaimie, the daughter of Joe and Janis Sawasky of Petersburg, would like to become a pediatrician. Margaret, the daughter of John and Mary Gruber of Monroe, wants to be a nurse or a physician assistant.
"Jaimie is very carefree, always happy. She always tries to cheer people up," Gruber said.
Sawasky calls Gruber "very organized. She's straightforward with you. I like being told when I'm out of hand."
Clevenger said that Gruber was "kind of a surprise. She's a specimen of her work. She puts in the miles. You put in your work and you're going to have results.''
Sawasky ran about 500 miles and Gruber some 250 over the summer months.
"Those two have put in the most miles - boys or girls - on either team," Clevenger said. "They're perfect examples of leaders and competitors. They're true athletes. Anything you want out of them, they're willing to do."