Warsaw Community High School senior cross country and track standout Ashley Erba signed a letter of intent to continue her running career for the Providence Friars. Erba, a state champion in both sports and one of the most decorated athletes in WCHS history, selected Providence over several top NCAA Division I schools around the country. With two state championships during her junior year (cross country and the 3200m), Erba did not skip steps as a senior. After turning in an undefeated season capped with a state-record performance to claim the 2011 cross country state crown, she trimmed nearly 36 seconds off her previous year’s time in the 2012 state meet. In both 2011 and 2012, Erba was named the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches 5A Runner of the Year, IATCCC first-team All-State, Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association All-State, Academic All-State, the 2011 Indiana Cross Country Gatorade Runner of the Year, and the 2012 IHSAA cross country Mental Attitude Award winner. During her career, she has set 22 course and meet records and on three occasions broke the 5K state record in cross country. Erba was also outstanding competing nationally, winning the New Balance Nationals with a record time in the 5000M, clocking in at 16:18.12 in 2012. She was also the NXN Midwest Regional Champion and set a course record in the Mid-East Meet of Champions. Despite the time and devotion to becoming an elite runner, Erba also found time to shine in the classroom Warsaw – earning an incredible 13.04 GPA on a 12-point scale. She is ranked fourth out of 512 students in her senior class. The daughter of Karen and Scott Erba, Ashley intends to major in biology with a possible minor in Studio Arts.
