Photo by: Henoc Kivuye
The stereotypical college athlete is someone who has pursued his or her chosen sport since an early age, from attending small-town camps during elementary school until retiring their designated number after the last game. Two Oklahoma Christian University runners break that mold.
Junior Tavia Hoheisel did not start running cross-country until her senior year of high school, and now serves as a steady contributor to Oklahoma Christian’s women’s cross-country team.
Hoheisel attended Newton High School in Newton, Kan., where she competed in track for three seasons. Her senior year, she added cross-country to her list, and placed eighth in her first race.
She was a first-team all-region selection in cross-country and finished 32nd in the Kansas Class 5A meet in 2010.
While running for Oklahoma Christian, Hoheisel has participated in many events around the country and racked up a handful of awards and honors. In her first meet as a freshman in 2011, Hoheisel finished 33rd in 21:29:08 at the Central Oklahoma Land Run.
“Going to nationals is always fun,” Hoheisel said. “Our whole team gets to go and we’re all together. My first meet as a freshman in cross-country was really fun and a memorable experience.”
Aubree Hughes, a freshman on Oklahoma Christian’s women’s cross-country team, said she looks up to Hoheisel as a role model and leader. Hughes suffered through an injury this season and looked to Hoheisel for help in her recovery training.
“She’s a hard worker and she’s a very smart trainer,” Hughes said. “She’s helped me through an injury by giving me advice about stress fractures while also being a positive influence. She’s never complaining and she’s very good at managing her busy schedule.”
According to Hoheisel, her time management skills have come in large part from her cross-country coach, Wade Miller, who has supported Hoheisel through previous injuries as well as her work schedule.
“I pulled my hamstring late during the season; I have a job outside of school and social life, and then I have cross-country,” Hoheisel said. “My coach is awesome and is really understanding. He’s flexible, and we’ll come up with training plans to keep me focused on meets and practices.”
Hoheisel will compete next year in the 2014-2015 cross-country season as a senior and a main leader for the Lady Eagles.
“I’m looking forward to competing at nationals again,” Hoheisel said. “I’m really going to enjoy it since it will be my last year. We did alright at nationals. The team was really young, and I pulled my hamstring so my races were pretty painful.”
For the men’s cross-country team, senior Nick Stoots began running, like Hoheisel, in middle school, and has not stopped since.
“I started running because it’s something different than what the rest of my family did,” Stoots said. “It got me out of the house. It wasn’t until later that I realized that running was a great way to meet new people, make new friends and stay in shape.”
Stoots comes from a military family background, so his family moved around a lot while he was growing up.
“We’ve been all over Ohio, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and my parents are currently in Alabama,” Stoots said. “I’m pretty sure they’ll be moving in a little bit. I think since I’ve been at Oklahoma Christian, it is the longest I have stayed in one place.”
Stoots said that he chose Oklahoma Christian based on his choice of major in 2009.
“I first chose OC because of the engineering program, but after my freshman year I switched to accounting,” Stoots said. “The cross-country team was also a decision-maker. I saw how awesome they were with their runners and their success.”
In 2012, Stoots’ highlight of his season came from his 21st-place finish at the Oklahoma Baptist Bison Invitational with a time of 26:20, resulting in a Heartland Conference runner of the week honor.
“My favorite moment of my time here was being able to go to nationals for the first time my sophomore year,” Stoots said. “I got to see how competitive this sport really is at its finest. Seeing how close it brings the cross-country team together is a great feeling. Without the team, most of the runners on this campus wouldn’t even know each other. Cross-country is the reason I met some of my best friends.”
According to Stoots, running has taken more meaning than simply a hobby as he had progressed throughout his career. It has become a way of life..
“I had a good run here,” Stoots said. “I had a great way of meeting people and I can’t wait to meet new people as I continue to run. Running for Oklahoma Christian has been one of the greatest things to happen to me. Without cross-country, I wouldn’t have been as outgoing as I would have been otherwise.”
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