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Schools

Senior Spotlight: Michael Sutherland

Saucon Valley High School senior Michael Sutherland is a dedicated runner whose goals are guided by his faith.

senior Michael Sutherland says he has found running cross country to be the perfect opportunity to experience the changing landscape and the glory of God. The person he most admires is one of America's top runners, Ryan Hall.

At this year's inaugural cross country event, the annual Lions Invitational held at Moravian Academy on Sept. 2, Michael finished fourth with a time of 17:38. At Palisades on Sept. 7 he finished second and the Panther runners swept the field 5-0, which is a rather impressive achievement. Michael has a personal goal to finish in the top 10 at districts later this fall.

In the spring Michael is a member of the track team and runs the mile and two-mile events. At the league meet last spring he finished sixth in the two-mile event, with a time of 10:38. 

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Cross country coach Ed Kolosky says that "Michael has evolved into a top notch runner over the last three years, and his evolutionary process hasn't been an easy one by any means."

"Plagued by a series of injuries, Michael refused to give up and throw in the towel on a sport that he truly loves and is passionate about," Kolosky explained. "Instead, he kept himself in top physical shape by biking and using the aqua-jogger in the pool."

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Kolosky added that Michael "possesses a deep faith in God, and his devoutness is noticed as soon as you meet him."

"Michael is strongly supported by a wonderful family that shares these same values and he is truly blessed. Saucon Valley Cross Country is a better group of young student athletes because Michael has touched our lives," he said.

In addition to participating in athletics, Michael is a member of the National Honor Society and has been singing in the choir at First Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem since he was in first grade. He lists history as a favorite subject and pasta as one of his favorite foods.

His future plan is to enroll at Penn State, where he would like to major in geography, which could potentially lead to a career in mapping--a subject he said he finds most intriguing.

Michael has a twin sister, Rachel, and is the son of Dan and Gail Sutherland.

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