Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NAPPANEE -ÊAt 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon, NorthWood senior Aaron Hoover is in the high school parking lot changing a flat tire on his car while several teammates and his coach sit in lawnchairs watching.
"I told him he could just run home," said NorthWood cross country coach Mark Mikel. "You know, if it had been August, I would have made him do it, but I guess I'll give him a break since it's the week before regionals."
And Hoover probably would have. He's been running since the fourth grade.
"Actually, when I was in the fourth grade, (teammate and fellow regional qualifier Mark) Davidhizar talked me into running in a four-mile road race in what was then the Harvest Jamboree. I didn't know much about it, but all my friends were going to do it, so I agreed.
"Wouldn't you know it? I won the race in my age division. Then Fred Meyers (the high school and middle school coach at the time) pulled me aside and talked to me about running."
That first race eight years ago was a big confidence booster for Hoover. It is also when his talent was discovered. Later he ran in middle school and has continued running through four years in high school with much success.
Hoover was named to the Northern Lakes Conference All-Conference team this year and last year. He advanced to the individual regional competition in cross country last year. In track, he was a state qualifier and placed 15th in the state in the 3,200. Than he placed first in last week's sectional race by seven seconds.
"It wasn't really a surprise, but it was a little bit of an upset given the way he won," said Mikel. "Andy McKalips finished four seconds ahead of him in the NLC meet, and then Aaron turned around a beat him by seven seconds in the sectional just one week later. Earlier in the season, McKalips beat him by two seconds in a three-way meet."
"At the mile-and-a-half point, I took the lead, and I didn't want to give it up," said Hoover. "At two miles, I was still ahead. I just tried to keep out in front and hold on."
Saturday, Hoover will try to add to his list of accomplishments by advancing from the regional to the semistate.
"This week's times are going to depend on several factors," said Mikel. "Times a relative to conditions, the field and the head of the pack. We're more focused on the place in the race rather than the time. Where he is in relation to the first-place person is what is important during the race."
The Elkhart Regional will not be a cakewalk, however. Not only will Hoover be running as an individual for the first time this year, he will be running with the top cross country athletes in the area.
The boys regional will kick off at 11:30 a.m. at Ox Bow Park in Dunlap. Hoover, teammate Davidhizar, and the Wawasee team will be competing for regional honors.
