Not only is freshman Caleb TeBrake a two-sport student athlete in varsity soccer and cross country, he’s one of the best in Northview history. During cross country this year, TeBrake ran a 5k in 17:14.70, the second fastest recorded time for a freshman at Northview and the thirteenth fastest time in school history.
TeBrake’s love for running stems from his mom, Katie TeBrake. In fifth grade, he began training for a half marathon supporting World Vision, an organization that raises money to support third world countries in poverty.
It was a defining time for him, and his close relationship with her is a testament to the long hours and hard work put in together.
“My mom always supports me,” TeBrake said. “She was my training partner, because I needed one, and she runs long distance [with me]. That got us a lot closer, because we’d wake up really early and go on runs.”
The emotional connection TeBrake has with the sport now goes beyond his mom. He’s also built his own extended family through long and arduous runs with his teammates.
“Cross country is not the most popular sport, but I think the people are super cool,” TeBrake said. “They’re super fun to be around, and I think they make me happier [as a] person.”
TeBrake’s coach, John Wojciakowski, is the head of the boys’ cross country team. Wojciakowski notices the influence being part of a team has on the boys during the cross country season.
“I think if you look at someone’s high school career, they grow and mature quite a bit. In terms of that, we’ll see [how] he’s going to grow and develop over the next three years,” Wojciakowski said. “Then, you add in his work ethic, and he loves to run, so he’s got that on the backside to do some great things for sure.”
Though Wojciakowski admires TeBrake’s dedication to running, he also recognizes that TeBrake holds the same love for another sport.
“He [has] a high interest in running, and he also shares that interest with soccer. He split this fall between competing in cross country and also playing on the soccer team,” Wojciakowski said. “He managed that very well. He’s able to balance that out and find success in both sports.”
TeBrake admits it wasn’t easy, but he did adjust to the workload of both sports.
“It was more tiring during the summer,” TeBrake said. “I don’t practice for cross country when I have soccer, so it wasn’t that hard. The hardest part was switching my mentality from soccer to cross country.”
“Getting his mind right” before a game or a meet was especially tough for him. Focusing on his teammates and engaging with his team helped him settle in. The emphasis on collaborating well as a team was also imperative for the success the soccer team saw during the season.
“We meshed better, so we played better. We knew what we were thinking [as a team]. We were all on the same page,” TeBrake said. “Some teams [are] really good, but they just can’t play together.”
Senior and captain of the soccer team Peyton Huffman recognized the value of the team’s connection as well, so he focused on team building this year.
“Last year, we had a good team and everything, but the team bonding just wasn’t there,” Huffman said. “This year, we all had team dinners, and it was like no one was left out. Everyone was a [part of the] team.”
Even as a new player on the team, TeBrake understands the worth of the special bond the team shared.
“We were really close as a team,” TeBrake said. “I think that’s one of the reasons why [we excelled this season]. We’re not the best individually, but we come together as a team.”
Appreciating this is a testament to TeBrake’s natural understanding of how team dynamics influence a sport, according to his teammates. Huffman sees his skills and devotion to the team coming in handy in the future.
“He’s shy when you don’t know him, but as the season grew on he became a leader. It was almost like he was another captain with us,” Huffman said. “It’s like he wasn’t really a freshman.”