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NOVEMBER 2, 2018 | SportsUnion
high school
Track
By Matt Ondesko
Managing Editor
You are standing at
the starting line ready
for the race of your life.
We you are deep in your
own thoughts as you
picture how this race
will go. You try not to
worry about what the
other people are doing
around you.
This is about you. It’s
about your preparation.
You know you are ready.
Even on this chilly day
nothing is going to stop
you from reaching your
goals. It’s almost time.
You start to work up a
little sweet before get-
ting in the blocks.
You aren’t one to play
mind games with oth-
er runners. They know
who you are. They know
how good you are, and
what you can accom-
plish as soon as that gun
goes off. Right now it’s
just you and the track.
This track has been
home to you for so many
races. It has been here
for the ups and downs of
your career. You made
this track you own. You
own this track, and ev-
eryone else is just visit-
ing on this day.
It’s time. You step in
the blocks. Opposing
runners are on either
side of you. But, you
can’t hear them. The
only thing you can hear
right now is the beating
of your heart. The ner-
vousness is gone and
replaced with anticipa-
tion.
You hear them say,
“On your Mark. Get Set.
Go.” And, just like the
gun goes off. You take
off running toward the
finish line, and toward
your future.
Anna Rybczynski of
West Seneca West High
17
School has been doing
this for a long time.
Starting off in the mid-
dle school, Rybczynski
has been running to-
ward her future since
seventh grade.
It’s there that she
would become the type
of track athlete that
she is today. One that
has dominated both the
cross country and track
and field scene for years.
“The
West
Seneca
School District has a
district track meet every
year for fifth and sixth
graders. Mr. Klaich (my
gym teacher at the time)
entered me into a few
events and I did pretty
well,” stated Rybczyns-
ki. “Coach Mancino was
there and talked to me
about his summer track
program. I later found
out that Mr. Klaich told
coach to keep an eye on
me that day, and I start-
ed running for the var-
sity cross country team
when I was in seventh.”
A chance encounter
has turned into a life
long passion. Rybczyns-
ki isn’t only good, she is
a dominating presence
every time she lines up
to race. It’s not will she
win, but by how much.
Her dominance in WNY
caught the attention of
a lot of college coaches
across the country.
Every coach it seemed
wanted Rybczynski too
be that star that could
take their program to
the next level. They all
“The pink socks
just
started
by
accident. I wore them
to a meet, had a good
day, and the rest is
history. I do have a
few pairs, but I wear
the same ones all
the time – my mom
washes them, of
course.”
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