Four years and running strong

"Staying committed to a sports program for four years--that's the kind of building blocks that a coach needs." These words from Lester Zook describe the asset that two EMU seniors are to the cross-country team.

Zook has been the head coach for men's cross-country for 17 years, and in doing so has coached fourth-year senior runners Kevin Beachy and Caleb Yoder throughout their entire athletic careers at EMU. He has seen them develop confidence and hone their skills as runners to become the leaders that they are for the team.

Beachy, a Spanish and Education major from Ohio, and Yoder, a Spanish and Mathematics major from Iowa, work together as co-captains to provide leadership for the six-person team. They have both been running cross-country here for four years, so they know the system and use their status as upperclassmen to help the younger runners learn and grow. Said Beachy, "Every week we try to make sure we're on the same page with running and life in general."

Beachy and Yoder bring many strengths to the team both in word and example. Assistant Coach Emily Huffman, in her second year of coaching, sees Beachy and Yoder affecting the younger runners through encouragement. "It's important to have seniors who have been through four years and know what works," she said, adding that "fourth-year seniors are the proof of what freshmen have to look forward to" if they stick with it. Huffman called both solid runners who bring "total competition and excitement" to cross-country.

Zook said that both have a strong work ethic that models what he is after. He and Huffman described the two as committed athletes. Zook said that it is affirming to hear what he tries to teach the team coming out of the upperclassmen's mouths to the younger runners, and also highlights the genuine faith that Beachy and Yoder have and use actively in leading the team.

Both coaches said that Beachy is a caring and enthusiastic person who makes time for everyone on the team. Beachy brings to the team a passion for the sport, and has continual goals of improvement for not only himself but for the team. A few of those goals are for everyone to run to the best of their ability, and to be in the top five at ODAC as a team. He said that he is looking forward to getting to know the team members and pushing each other to run, and hopes to glorify God through their running. Beachy respects his coaches and the time they devote to the team. He said that Zook is "constantly reading up on running and passing information on" to the team, and that Zook makes sure they are here for education first, and then for cross-country. Huffman, Beachy said, helps with her recent experience on the team (she is a 2003 EMU graduate) in Zook's system by answering questions they may have and running with the team.

Yoder is described by Zook as a very intelligent person who is "intentional in his own athleticism." He is a good example to the team of balance, said Huffman, and leads through example. She said that he is not only a solid support but a solid member of the team in both running and commitment. A personal goal for Yoder this season is to be able to "perfect the art of racing," and as far as the team goes, to develop close relationships within the team, "being close both as friends and in times." Yoder is looking forward to the regional race in Arkansas. He described his coaches as having a "contagious" competitive spirit that has helped him over the years. He wants his teammates to "make running an expression of [their lives] as a worship of God."

Beachy and Yoder both are unsure of their plans following graduation. Yoder would like to attend seminary within the next few years, but said that next year is not really certain. Beachy will be student-teaching in the fall and hopes to stay involved with the cross-country team during that time when he can, but doesn't know what the spring will hold. The two also don't know how cross-country may be specifically involved in their lives in the future. However, as Beachy said, "The beauty of cross-country is that it's a sport you can continue the older you get. There are always events to run in no matter the age or ability."