Athlete of the Week: Valerie Bright

Valerie Bright, after coming to Exeter as a new upper, charmed the girls’ cross country team with her quiet, sweet disposition and unfailing work ethic, and was elected co-captain after only one year on the team.Bright was an athlete all through her middle school years. She played soccer and basketball, in addition to starting to run track. Her father, a high school and college runner, encouraged Bright to run track and to join the cross country team in eighth grade. Although she was unsure about running greater distances, Bright nevertheless accepted the challenge and started running on the cross country team. As an extra boost, her father had coached her middle school track team and was able to offer advice and support.“That’s kind of carried through all my years running,” Bright said. “When I came here, it was kind of sad, because my dad wasn’t here to watch me run and cheer me on. He’s always been my coach, in a way. It’s nice to have that relationship with my dad through running.”Adjusting to the cross country team at Exeter meant participating in harder workouts and longer runs, but the tight-knit group also offered support for Bright, especially as a new upper. In addition, one of Bright’s favorite parts about running at Exeter is the stark difference between the New England trails and the streets of her hometown in Texas.“We don’t have the nice trails that we have here. We get to run on the trails, and they’re really beautiful, especially in the fall when we’re running in the cross country season, and all the leaves are changing,” Bright said. “Also, it’s so awesome to go to a course and have all this variation. Before, I’d be running around on sidewalks around the school. It’s a whole different type of running.”The transition to Exeter can be a challenge for many new uppers, but Bright was able to find her niche at the Academy through the cross country team.“Coming into Exeter as a new upper was a little bit hard, but joining the cross country team was really what allowed me to fit in and find a place,” Bright said. “All of my friends have come from the running team or people that my friends on the running team have introduced me to. It made the transition a lot easier.”Even as a two-year senior, Bright has managed to impress and grow close to the athletes and coaches on the team“She’s very dedicated to cross country,” senior co-captain Anika Ayyar said. “She’s always very energetic when she comes to practice. She’s in a good mood and she’s fun to be around, even at a tense atmosphere, like in a cross country meet. When you run with her she pushes you to run harder, whether it’s on the trails or the track or at a meet.”“She's been such a big part of our team for only two years, but that's enough to kind of know us really well and make friends with all of us,” lower Annie Dunigan said. “She already knew so much about the team, and has been such an integral part of it. She has got a lot of wisdom and knows what she is doing.”Bright’s fellow runners have watched her evolve into an inspiring leader and powerful figure on the team."I think that she has become more of a presence on the team,” lower Stajz Saar said. “On her first day she was just kind of that quiet new girl, but I guess that everyone is their first day. Now she is definitely more of a leader."Bright has been working to fully realize her role as captain of the team, and after being inspired by last year’s captains, she is constantly working to be the best leader that she can be.“It’s really cool to have people looking up to you,” Bright said. “It’s important to be there and support them. It’s made me think about what I would want a good leader to be and trying to put that out to the rest of the team.”Coach Gwyneth Coogan has noticed this dedication.“Valerie leads by example in training,” Coogan said. “Valerie is a hardworking athlete who quietly does her best in every workout. She does what you ask of her without complaining. Valerie works to create team-building activities, and I am pretty sure that the girls on the team feel comfortable talking to Valerie about team-related problems that are having knowing that Valerie will give them good advice.”Bright has persisted through a tough season, battling injuries and setbacks while maintaining the morale of the team.“Valerie has a ton of talent and a great attitude,” Coogan said. “She has had some lower-leg issues, like shin-splints and foot pain that has deterred her from having the senior season we were hoping for this year.”Although Bright also runs winter and spring track, she will miss many aspects of the girls’ cross country team after finishing her last season in just a few weeks.“I’m going to miss having the part of my day where I don’t have to think about all of the stressful things, and I can just run with a group of girls who are really fun to be with,” Bright said. “It’s so nice to just go out and focus on running. I’m going to miss just being part of a team. It’s nice to have that community support.”Bright will finish out her time on the cross country team with a strong season behind her. So far, the team is 3-2, and will be running against Andover and at Interschols in the next few weeks.“We have so many new, talented girls,” Bright said. “We have tons of preps and it’s their first year ever running, and they’re amazing. They’re really pushing themselves to be better. I think everyone is really pushing themselves harder this year. All of our times are going down."Her fellow runners and coaches will miss Bright’s presence on the team as well.“She is a great captain,” upper Michaela Morris said. “She leads by example, and works hard during practice. She's a very good leader, as she not only gets along with all the girls on the team, but she is also very dedicated to the sport.”“Valerie is a great kid and a hard worker,” Coogan said. “She came to this school last year with a solid XC background and a great work ethic. Valerie is like many girls on the team; she has a great attitude, loves to run, wants to win and enjoys being a part of the team; she is a good representative.”