Sunday, May 5, 2024
TEAM LEADER: Ezra Sedgwick, a cross country runner at Granbury High School, is ready to take on the role of team leader for her senior year.
Every sports team needs a leader — someone who serves as a role model to the younger athletes and who can encourage the other team members to do their best.
As the 2022 Granbury High School girls cross country team moves through its schedule, senior Ezra Sedgwick was ready to take on that role.
Sedgwick, 17, is now in her fourth year running cross country for GHS. She started running on the varsity team during her junior year.
“I started because my older brother woke me up one morning and he was like, ‘Hey, you at least have to try (cross country),’ so I started getting into it,” she said. “Then I actually started liking the sport, so I stayed in it, and now I just run every morning.”
Sedgwick said she likes the friendships she’s made while running cross country, as well as the work ethic that she’s witnessed from her other teammates.
"(I like) how encouraging they are, and they don't let you fail,” she said.
“She’s a great leader,” said coach Amber Ward about Sedgwick. "She's very quiet, but leads with her actions. She’s very well respected by her teammates and very involved in the community. She's just an all-around great kid and great leader.”
Ward said Sedgwick is well-disciplined and always on time for practice.
"She also has a little sister (Zaeda) that's a sophomore that runs too. She has that big sister mentality to everyone, which is great,” Ward said.
Over the years, Ward has watched Sedgwick improve and grow as both a person and an athlete.
"She's just worked really hard,” Ward said. “She's gotten a lot stronger and a lot faster over the years.”
Sedgwick’s goal for her senior year is to be a better runner than she was last year and to “be a better leader to all the freshmen that joined the team.”
The most exciting part about being a senior, Sedgwick said, is her progression — being able to look and see where she was before, and where she is now in her accomplishments.
As for after graduating from high school, Sedgwick plans to become an elementary school teacher.
“I hate losing the seniors, but it's really fun to watch how they change, develop and grow over the years,” Ward added. “It's definitely gonna be sad losing her, but I'm excited to see what she does her senior year.”
