I would like to take the time to respond to Kevin Liddell’s article in last week’s Record. My initial response is to want to minimize the negative feelings that the article may have caused other athletes, coaches and people on campus to feel. Except, what Kevin said is true. And I want the members of our team to know I support them and how they feel.  

It is true that the track and cross country teams consistently perform at the national level. To date, there have been 26 national championships between cross country, indoor and outdoor track. Goshen College has been represented at 100% of those championships. There have been 42 All-Americans, two Academic All-Americans and 150 national qualifiers along with six national qualifying teams in that time. All of this happened in a span of nine years.  

While other sports can perform at home, our track is in a state of disrepair. Each summer, GC pays to resurface the basketball court and work on the soccer and baseball/softball fields. I understand those facilities need much more work. What I am highlighting is that, during this time of regular repairs, the track has not experienced any regular maintenance to help upkeep the facility where our athletes practice daily.

Over the past nine years, we have worked quietly to build a program that GC could be proud of. My job is to do my best for all of the student-athletes I have the privilege of working with. At this time, I think it serves our team best if we bring ourselves out of anonymity and shine a light on the outstanding accomplishments of our athletes.  

I think our athletes deserve recognition. Athletes like five time All American, Nelson Kemboi, who graduated last spring. Looking around, you would never know the level of accomplishment Nelson achieved. It does not stop with Nelson. It continues with Annika Alderfer Fisher, Summer Cooper, Noami Ross Richer, Mia Wellington, Jacob Gerber, Simon Graber Miller, Sawyer Biddle, Kayla Gray and many more All-American athletes over the years.  

I know we have room for improvement, and we will continue to work to get better. Can we also celebrate the successes along the way?

 

Rustin Nyce, XC head coach