Zawisza signs with TWC

Mariah Zawisza's high school career got off to a fast start. That isn't exactly how a cross country harrier wants to run. But she crossed the finish line Wednesday as she signed with Tennessee Wesleyan College to run for the Lady Bulldogs.

"There are some people that you invest in more than others, and we invested a lot in Mariah," Oak Ridge cross country coach Allen Etheridge said. "I'm really happy to see her succeed."

Zawisza started strong from the get go earning a spot on the varsity roster and finishing fifth in the State Meet at Percy Warner Park. She followed that up with a sixth place finish a year later.

But a rash of injuries held her out for the majority of her junior campaign. Everything from stress fractures and broken toes to a tumor in her leg slowed the small Lady Wildcat runner down.

"I really hated it," Zawisza said. "I want to be there for my girls and be able to help them and learn from me. It's really hard to if I'm not there.

"I was kind of frustrated that I couldn't push myself as much as I used to my first two years."

Zawisza was able to run a full season this year and impressed first year TWC coach Shawn Jakubowksi enough to get a scholarship.

"I already love the team and the coach there," she said. "They are really awesome and it has exactly what I want. I think Tennessee Wesleyan College is right for me."

Zawisza said she plans on majoring in elementary education with a specialty in kindergarten through third grade. She said she wants to teach second grade.

But first she has some young runners to teach at TWC.

Zawisza said coach Jakubowksi expects her to be a leader on the team that features just five freshmen, three juniors and no sophomores returning in 2013 a. She will do so regardless of how long she stays with the team as well. Zawisza said the school will honor her scholarship if she finds herself on the sideline again, but she isn't planning on it and neither are her coaches.

The Lady Bulldogs finished fourth at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Meet in Dayton, Tenn., recently and compete in the NAIA. Former Oak Ridge Wildcat Thomas Potok joined the TWC track and cross country team last year.

Robert Holder can be contacted at (865) 220-5508.