Jon-Michael Falbo '22 Recruiting Profile

Although I didn't start running cross country competitively until my junior year, I have become devoted to the sport and have enjoyed considerable success as a two-year member of the varsity team.  I have been playing team sports for as long as I can remember, but there is something very different about cross country.  While you are still part of a team - encouraging each other to push past real and imagined boundaries, running side by side in unbearable heat, pouring rain, and giant mud puddles, experiencing the highs and lows of wins and losses - there's just something about cross country that's so deeply personal it really defies explanation.

Since I've been running XC, I've challenged myself to reach goals I never dreamed possible and I've experienced a kind of success I never thought I would experience.  In my first year of XC, I was awarded the Newcomer Award and I earned spots as the top third or fourth runner in at least half of the meets I ran in.  I also earned a varsity letter my first season out.  In my second year - my senior year - I was awarded the Most Valuable Runner Award, was named an OVAC Academic All-American for academic and athletic achievement, earned my second XC varsity letter, and helped my team win the OVCCL championship - the first ever in school history.  This accomplishment meant the world to me because it was both a personal milestone as well as something I earned as a member of a team!  As a member of the varsity track team, I've been equally successful. As a freshmen, I earned my first varsity letter and was looking forward to a successful sophomore season, but COVID led to the cancellation of the entire season.  We came back strong the next year - as a junior, I was part of the 4x800m relay team that earned a spot in the OVAC track championship meet, earned my second varsity track letter, and was awarded Most Improved Runner Award.  

While success as an athlete is important, it is more important to do well academically.  You must be able to thrive in the classroom if you desire to thrive on the court or field.  Success in athletics is closely tied to success as a student - the characteristics that lead to academic success are the same characteristics that lead to athletic success - hard work, team work, determination, and dedication.