Dalton Gray '21 Recruiting Profile

I started running when I was about 6 years old. My parents were both consistent runners before I was born, so even if I couldn’t run I was being pushed in a stroller by my mom in local 5k’s. As I got older I tried playing every sport available to me, my parents only wanted me to do what I enjoyed the most, but by my 6th grade year I had decided that my two favorite sports were running and basketball. My 7th grade year of school was a struggle in sports, I was the smallest kid in my class and I never had the energy or will to participate in anything. Halfway through the year I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic, doctors told me that the diabetes was reason I had no energy or growth. After I had been on my insulin for just a few minutes I had felt better than I had in a long time. I now have my blood sugars in control and I speak to other Type 1 diabetics to prove to them that’s it’s possible to still do sports as a type 1 and not to let it hold you back. My 8th grade cross country season I ran up on the high school team, I dropped my times and had a really good season. My freshman season I continued to drop my times and I qualified as an individual to go to state. My sophomore XC season I got injured, I was rapidly growing and my IT bands were to tight, I tried to push through the meets but it progressively got worse so I had to stop for the season. I continued to play basketball all through my 10th grade year, but after finishing the season I decided that running deserved my full commitment and informed my coach that I would not be with the team the following season. This summer I have organized meetups for my team to run, this year we have a very promising team and we plan to go to state for the first time since 2008. I enjoy how running sets no limitations on anyone, you get to be as good as you are willing to push yourself. I love the encouraging environment that surrounds running. Also I think the longevity running provides is great.

My goal is after high school to run in college, after college I want to become an Ultra-marathoner and continue to be a figure for type 1 diabetics. I plan to study in the medical filed. My high school offers a program that allows me to be a certified pharmacy technician and EKG technician when I graduate high school. My parents always make sure that I prioritize my academics over athletics, I take the hardest classes available to me and study very hard to ensure I keep my grades high!