Grantham, PA - The Messiah women's cross country team is off to a good start finishing third at the Dickinson Light Up the Night meet and put forth a strong showing at State College a couple weeks ago. Senior
Natalie Ross is leading the team running a 19:47.2 and 25.25 respectively in those two races. The Falcons are back in action this Saturday at home for the Messiah Invitational.
We got together with Natalie to learn more about her Messiah College experience in this edition of #WhyMessiah.
What are the names of the rest of your family and where do you fall among your siblings?
My parents are Debbie and Jeff Ross, and I have one older brother Jeremy who is two years older than me.
Is there anything unique about your family or members of your family that you want to share?
We are ALWAYS laughing. My family also has attended almost every race I've been in except a few. Even the races that are far away, they will make the trek.
Why did you come to Messiah and/or why do you love being at Messiah?
After I applied and was accepted I felt that God was calling me to be a student at Messiah so I transferred here after my freshman year. I love being at Messiah and being a part of Messiah Athletics because I have a second family with the cross-country team. There has never been a moment where I have felt like I didn't belong at this school. The professors I've had are awesome and they care about me as more than just a student and are invested in seeing me succeed.
Why did you choose your specific major here at Messiah? Have you enjoyed your study in it? Why or why not?
I am majoring in applied health science with a focus in exercise science. I knew I wanted to work with athletes in some capacity. Classes and labs are always fun and interesting, and the professors love what they teach so that makes it more enjoyable.
What is your dream job after college?
Physicians Assistant
Who has most influenced your life and why?
My brother Jeremy. He's taught me to laugh all the time and not to sweat the small stuff. He's my best friend and has really helped make me the person I am today.
What is special about your coaching staff and teammates, and how would you explain that to a recruit or someone outside of the program?
They place a priority on us being student-athletes. Whenever I start to get overwhelmed with classes or feel there isn't enough time in the day to do it all, they help us take a step back and prioritize things and find a balance between school and running. They are also very accommodating with people who have class conflicts with practice time. Last year, myself and two other girls came late to practice one day because of labs. When we arrived the team was pretty much done with the workout but the coaches stayed out with us on Grantham Hill long after everyone finished practice and stayed until the end. They are with us until the end of it and that is something I have always appreciated.
What is one of your favorite team traditions and why?
When we do our pre-meet loop on Fridays before a meet. We run P-loop and go down to these tunnels and sing in the tunnels. It's really cool and it sounds awesome!
Do you have a pre-game ritual or habit? If so, what is it?
Before races I will always straighten my hair. Even if it's raining and I put in a braid I still start with it straight. I also run with ribbon in my hair and wear black socks with my spikes.
If you didn't play your current sport, would you play any other sport? If so, which one and why?
I loved playing basketball as a kid and would want to play that! I wasn't the tallest but I was always the fastest and that's when people told me to go out for track and cross-country.
What is the toughest part about being a collegiate student-athlete? How do you live or grow through this at Messiah?
Finding the balance between academics and my sport. It is challenging but it's worth it. The friends I have made on the team help me through those rough parts and stressful nights of studying. The great thing about cross-country is that when we are stressed we can use our practice time to forget about the stress of classes and have fun with each other. We help each other stay grounded and definitely stand by each other when things are hard.
What advice would you give to younger student-athletes looking to play a sport in college?
Your sport doesn't define you, and your success or failure in that sport doesn't define you, either. I have been involved in sports since I was younger but did it because it was fun and I enjoyed what I was doing. Being a college athlete is more serious and it's cool to love something so much to have the opportunity to do it at the collegiate level, but it still doesn't have to define or consume you. Have fun with the sport you play and if you don't love it, take a step back to remember why you started playing in the first place.
What is your favorite Messiah memory?
Having outdoor track and field MAC Championships at Messiah last year was awesome! It was really cool to have so many friends and family be there to support us. I'm hoping to make more memories this year when we host cross country MAC Championships at Messiah!
If you had to answer the question #WhyMessiah what would you say?
At Messiah I am more than a student and more than an athlete. When I first got to Messiah I was scared that people wouldn't like me or wouldn't talk to me but the first day of cross country practice it felt like I had been here for years. It didn't take me long to build relationships with my professors and they would ask how running was going and they showed how they cared about me. I have a second family at Messiah and I love being a part of Messiah Athletics because I feel so supported by other athletes, and it is a community I love being a part of.
