Syracuse.com’s 2025-26 winter media day indoor track coach poll: Biggest motivator of tired teammates?

Syracuse, N.Y. — When it comes to track and field practices or meets, there’s always that one person who hypes everyone up or leads by example.

At Syracuse.com’s winter sports media day, we asked indoor track coaches which of their athletes is the biggest motivator at practice when their teammates are tired.

Here are their responses:

Boys

Atticus Garland, Auburn

“He’s kind of like a silent leader, so he’s always going to be leading the way.” — John Oliver

Kole Otts, Canastota

“He’s a kid that’s going to always be hyped. He’s always ready for practice. He’s always the last person at practice, and his performance speaks for itself. He’s going to outshine everybody.” — Tabitha White

Everett Cox, Cato-Meridian

“He’s always hyping everybody up. He’s just being a great motivator.” — Ryan Ellis

Brooks Ruddy, Cazenovia

“Everybody loves Brooks.” — Mark Tugaw

Mitchell Kandt, Central Square

“He’s just a goofball. He can turn the attitude or the mood of the team around pretty quickly just by being himself.” — Eric Wasacz

Pablo Joseph, Corcoran

“Pablo is one of our fastest players. He’s one of our speedsters. He’s definitely going to make sure everybody’s going to come in at least first. If not first, he’s going to say first anyway.” — Ozzie Mathis

Aaron Ali, East Syracuse Minoa

“He’s our weight thrower. He’s just an intense kid.” — Mark Carr

Mason Kinney, Fulton

“He’s naturally a leader. He also motivates everybody on his team. He cheers for them when they’re competing. He is also really big in helping, like, mentally before they race, and getting them in a good headspace. It’s great to have him.” — Bethany Fancher

Alex Miller, Hannibal

“He’s in the weight room every morning. First guy at practice, last guy to leave. A very good leader, a leader in the classroom and a leader on the track. He’s my go-to guy.” — Dan Pawlewicz

Aidan Small, Homer

“He’s one of our guys who just gets everybody on the team up. He’s funny. He lifts everybody up when they’re having a bad day.” — George Schneider

Sheldon Birthright, Institute of Technology Central

“He’s very dedicated to the sport. He practices day in and day out. He tried to work his schedule around with track into it. So when it’s time for the need to lead, he’ll step up to the plate and do it.” — Jaquale Breland

Michael Aldrich, Marcellus

“He’s a really good football player. He’s vocal, and he wants to get those guys up and going as fast as he can.” — Rick Belvito

Andrew Shaver, Oswego

“He’s a five-year runner with the program and he’s going hopefully into the Naval Academy. He’s got that natural leadership.” — Dominick Pike

Maddox Jasper, Utica Proctor

“He is our team captain. He’s one of the most motivated guys we have out there. When everybody’s done, if there are people who are leaving the building, he has those guys out in their groups. They’re in their cooldown jog, making sure everybody’s getting their exercises done. He is our key to keeping these guys motivated for sure.” — Giuseppe Battista

Jack Chieco, Vernon Verona Sherrill

“He’s like our Dick Vitale. He just has energy, he goes and he analyzes. For him, not being a track kid, he analyzes track data more than anyone I’ve ever seen.” — Todd Bauer

Michael Gomes, West Genesee

“Because of how talented he is, people kind of gravitate to him and he does everything right. He takes the warmup seriously, nutrition — all of the stuff.” — Mike Palmisano

Girls

Kyleen Brady, Auburn

“She’s ahead of everyone.” — John Oliver

Kalli Congden, Canastota

“I know that she’s going to push the kids because she wants it and she wants the team. She’s not worried about herself as much as she’s worried about the team being successful. Wearing Canastota is important to her.” — Tabitha White

Megan Kyle, Cato-Meridian

“She’s always hyping everybody up. She’s always cheered everybody, and she’s just super positive all the time.” — Ryan Ellis

Rebecca Brooks, Cazenovia

“She’s happy to be in practice all the time.” — Isaiah Brooks

Kadence Williams, Central Square

“She’s so dedicated that if the runners see her going and doing stuff, they will follow her. She sets the tone.” — Eric Wasacz

Ava McLean, Chittenango

“She’s going to make sure that everyone gets on the line to get ready to go if the rest is coming down. She’s I’ve got to step on the line and we’ve got roll, so she keeps us going.” — Derek Gott

Goddess Muhammad, Cicero-North Syracuse

“She brings a lot of energy in everything she does. She’s a senior this year, so she’s looked up to by a lot of the other student-athletes. She does a nice job for us.” — Jack Harbold

Anaija Cage, Corcoran

“She’s our little Energizer Bunny. She will just constantly say, ‘Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.’ She’s the loudest one on our team. She might not do the workout, but she will tell everybody else to do the workout. She might slack, but she won’t let the other people slack.” — Olja Martinez

Madeline Carr, East Syracuse Minoa

“Madeline is a really good motivator. She wants everybody to do their best.” — Christopher Staub

Olivia Hendrickson, Fulton

“She is very outgoing. She’s not going to necessarily give you a positive speech, but she’s going to right before you run. While they’re running, she’s going to be the loudest one in the arena. You’ll hear her from no matter where you are.” — Bethany Fancher

Madison Melita, Hannibal

“She’s a go-to person, a good leader and good role model, in and out of the classroom as well.” — Dan Pawlewicz

Emma Effinger, Homer

“Emma is just upbeat and positive. She brings a great attitude every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s a difficult day or an easy day. She just puts everybody around her in a good mood.” — George Schneider

Adaya Gunn, Institute of Technology Central

“She loves her team and they love interacting with her.” — Beatrice Green

Alyssa Bladek, Little Falls

“She comes every day with a smile on her face. She is always the one who is trying to get the kids to go just a little bit further than what they’ve done before. She just kind of sets the tone. She did it last year as a freshman.” — Mark Rauch

Dorothy McMahon, Marcellus

“She’s strong-willed. She’d be the one who would be getting everybody going.” — Rick Belvito

Olivia Kapuscinski, Oswego

“She’s a four-year senior leader of the team and I call her my rock. If I need something done or somebody to talk to, I send Olivia and she takes care of it.” — Dominick Pike

Shaniya Dugar, PSLA @ Fowler

“She’s probably one of the student-athletes who’ll actually go above and beyond the workouts that we have. She’s always willing and able to stay to help someone else out after she’s done with her workout.” — Derrick Williams

Grace Carguello, Pulaski

“She would be the one to rally the troops and be the best cheerleader. She has a very good understanding of what it takes to get us to the end.” — Deana Peter

Jernessa Donaldson, Solvay

“She takes things very to heart and seriously in practice. She always pushes other people around her.” — Mike Acchione

Cora Wheeler, Vernon Verona Sherrill

“She’s just a little ball of energy. A lot of kids love her and want to hang out with her.” — Todd Bauer

Amelia Jennings, West Genesee

“She does quiet leadership, but just kind of does everything right. We have a lot of young throwers and she’s just really good with them.” — Mike Palmisano