Brains And Brawn Shadle Park Girls Cross Country Team Collectively Achieves Academic As Well As Athletic Success

Shadle Park girls cross country coach Bob Isitt isn’t sure there’s a correlation between academic achievement and athletic success.

“I’ve seen too many exceptions to make it a consensus,” he said. “I do know there’s something about the individuality of girls cross country, at least, that brings out the top-notch student.”

There’s no question that the Highlander girls are as driven in the classroom as they are afoot.

“They are such hard workers and such perfectionists, one of my biggest problems is just trying to keep them healthy,” said Isitt. “They stay up all hours of the night studying. They’re active in church. It’s incredible.”

The girls have a composite 3.878 grade point average, a mere .004 points from the state’s best.

Last week the Highlanders finished seventh during a state qualifying 20-team regional meet. Four teams qualified for state.

Two Highlander runners, Lonaia Jones and Erin Krogel, however, finished among the region’s top seven and will run at state Saturday in Pasco.

“Of the 10 girls who are on varsity,” said Isitt, “nine are in honors and seven of them have been or are currently enrolled in my advanced placement U.S. History class. Two others will be when they are juniors.”

Senior Christa Eide, junior Julie Sawatzky and sophomore Krogel are all 4.0 students whose priorities center around religion, family, the classroom and then running. They are representative of the Highlander team’s ambition.

“Most of the varsity is seriously guilty of striving for perfection,” said Eide. “That’s one of the things (that) I think makes good runners.”

Ever the perfectionist, Eide was not without her rebellious phase, but says religion helped her put her priorities in order.

“God is my way through everything,” she said.

Julie Sawatzky, currently immersed in the difficult junior AP schedule, understands the pressure the girls put on themselves.

“Sometimes I’m feeling overwhelmed and want to quit it all,” she said, “but I wouldn’t.”

A common thread among Highlander runners is that they come from families of achievers.

Julie Sawatzky’s older sister Amy was a pianist who came to running because coaches recognized Julie’s efforts in eighth grade.

She also compiled perfect grades.

“I guess it sank in when she was valedictorian,” said Julie. “It kind of puts pressure on you because all younger siblings feel they have to do as well.”

Younger sister Heide, a freshman, is another perfectionist who finished ahead of her sister in regionals.

“I’m competitive,” she said. “I think it’s good for both of us. I usually try to beat their times.”

Erin Krogel’s sister, Ali, was a cross country and track runner and last year’s Shadle valedictorian. She also was a major influence.

“My sister was a real good role model,” the Highlander sophomore said. “I wanted to be her.”

After last week’s state qualifying success, she’s content to be herself.

A typical day for team members was to arrive early at school for music classes, stay late to run and remain up until all hours for study or outside activities.

“After the season is over you crash for two weeks, then get going again,” said Eide.

But the athletes wouldn’t have changed anything about their drive to succeed, short of having the state’s best GPA and a team berth in Saturday’s state cross country meet.

“The thing is you want to do well in everything, including cross country” said Krogel. “Once you get a 4.0, you don’t want to go back.”

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