Westrmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Norwin’s Thomas Gaydos

By: Anthony DiFilippo
Monday, September 23, 2024 | 2:15 PM

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As a high school senior, there are plenty of things to look forward to.

People look forward to life after high school, which typically involves enjoying newfound freedom as an adult.

Norwin cross country runner Thomas Gaydos, however, has quite a wait until his 18th birthday. He will walk across the graduation stage at age 16, a combination of skipping a grade and having an August birthday.

And oh yeah, he’s on track to be class valedictorian this year.

At last week’s Red, White & Blue Invitational At White Oak Park, Gaydos placed sixth in the Class 3A boys race, breaking the 16-minute mark (15:58.70).

Last year, he ran the same race about 40 seconds slower (16:41) and finished 22nd.

“I did winter track for the first time last year,” Gaydos said, explaining what sparked the improvement. “I’ve been working really hard in the summer and putting in 50 miles per week. That’s helped me improve a lot for this season.”

As a team, the Knights have gone undefeated in their last two seasons.

There aren’t any plans to stop that in Gaydos’ senior year.

“I feel like one of our first goals is always to win the section,” Gaydos said. “Last year, we really wanted to win. This year, we know we had a couple of seniors graduate, so we still need to keep up and work hard so that we can win the section again this year.”

Since 2012, Norwin’s boys’ team is 77-12, and the girls are 79-10.

“I think it makes it easy to work hard at practice, and there’s always been leaders on the team that’s shown hard work to the younger runners,” Gaydos said, describing the longstanding success of the program.

Gaydos has not decided where he is going to college, but he is planning to run track and major in biology on a pre-med track.

Gaydos took some time this week for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

How did you get started with cross country?

I started in cross country because both my older siblings did it. In middle school, I kind of just followed what they were doing and joined the middle school cross country team.

If you were to outline some personal goals, what would they be?

I feel like my personal goals would definitely be to make it to states, individually, and also as a team. I really hope at WPIALs, my goal is to get top three. Also, I want to medal at states. I think my time goal is probably in the 15:30s, because I think that I could improve on my time at Red, White & Blue at the faster and not muddy courses.

How does coach Brian Fleckenstein contribute to Norwin’s success?

He definitely makes it easy to work hard. He’s someone that I like running for and am willing to work and push for him. He definitely creates a culture of a team that’s like a family, and that is a very positive environment.

How are you able to keep team chemistry in what is an individual sport?

We have a lot of team hangouts, and in the summer, we always get together and run. I feel like I’m running with my teammates, keeping the connection up and encouraging. Lots of people join us on our runs, so I feel like that helps the team environment continue from season to season. We’re welcoming to freshmen too, so every new class is getting introduced into the new environment.

What does your leadership look like as a senior to the freshmen?

It’s encouraging them to go on runs in the summer and joining us for runs. Also what we do in practice and giving them advice on how to run in practice and run races. If we do a good job and with the cycle, then they can encourage others too.

What is one thing that people may not know about you?

I’ve been to 46 out of the 50 states. I love to travel and I love hiking, and I’ve hiked up in the Grand Canyon twice and to the bottom of it, and the Rocky Mountains. I haven’t been to Hawaii, Alaska, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Tags: Norwin