Athlete-turned-coach blazed the trail for his siblings. S enior sports and recreation management major Ariel Syrotchen and freshman Bible and ministry major Josiah Syrorchen followed in their brother, Assistant Track and Field Coach Josh Syrotchen's, footsteps by coming to Harding and competing on the track team. "I was not going to come to Harding, but Josh begged me," Ariel Syrorchen said. "It took a lot of prayer... but now having my [younger] brother here, too, is so much fun." The three siblings competed in throwing, heptathlons and decathlons. Ariel Syrotchen and Josh Syrotchen were on the same team her freshman and sophomore year, but Josh Syrotchen soon graduated and moved to the assistant coaching position for the track team. "Coaching my brother is easy," Josh Syrotchen said. "He takes criticism well and is my best friend. My sister always works hard, and I am proud of that." Their family encouraged the trio to participate in sports throughout their childhood and into high school, and it made sense for them to continue at the collegiate level. They grew up playing a multitude of sports, but they each found that track was a sport in which they could all excel. Josh Syrorchen began running track in high school and saw the way track benefited his performances in other sports. Josh Syrotchen took his siblings at an early age and trained them at the track to become the best athletes they could be. "We are all [able to relate] because of [track], and track is something we can always go back on," Josiah Syrotchen said. "We always push each other, and it brings us together as a family." The Syrorchens pushed each other during their training and meets. Track became a sport of mental reward, strength, growth and family. The trio enjoyed training together and pushing others while also learning from others. The sense of family extended past just their siblings to the entire track team. "Track is a big mental game and to see my teammates get past chat point is so cool," Ariel Syrotchen said. "It's all in their head, and I love to see people overcome that." Josh Syrotchen planned to train for the upcoming Olympics in 2020 and expected to continue training Harding athletes as well. Ariel Syrotchen planned to pursue a career in sports and recreation management and said she would only continue being involved in track through a coaching position. Josiah Syrotchen planned to go into full-time ministry and hoped to keep working with athletes as a basketball coach, one of several sports he played in high school. Regardless of where the future would take these three, athletics was always more than a hobby; it was a family affair. story by Lexi Hoagland Freshman Josiah, Assistant Track and Field Coach Josh and senior Ariel Syrotchen warm up before practice on Sept. 24, 2018, at First Security Stadium. The three siblings came to Hardingfrom Spokane, Washington. I photo by Angelo Felix 219 I TRACK
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