On Feb. 24, senior Grace Lisnock announced her commitment to Gettysburg College Track and Field via Instagram.
Lisnock has always been an athlete. Growing up playing softball for Westfield, she has always loved sports. During her sophomore year, Lisnock decided to try winter track. Lisnock said that “right away, within a month, I knew that was for me and running was my passion.” She ended up quitting softball after that life changing winter track season and continued with spring track. “Since then, it’s been a part of me. I just love it so much.”
After several years of high school track, Lisnock decided to continue running at Gettysburg College, a private liberal arts university in Pennsylvania founded in 1832. Gettysburg ranks 43 out of 100 for best Division III schools for women’s track and field. Lisnock thought of a few different schools for running such as Dickinson and Franklin and Marshall, but after visiting the college, Lisnock said “I loved it there. It just left very comforting and it felt like home.”
Despite this feeling of home, Lisnock still had to face the life-changing decision of every high school senior and spend time deciding what university she was going to attend, or if she was running in college at all. After meeting the Gettysburg team in November Lisnock said, “My decision after that was really to see what schools I could get into and then decide even if I want to run at a college. I only applied to Gettysburg for running, then all my other schools were to see if I get in and then see what I want to do.” About a month ago Lisnock took a look at her options for school and knew what she wanted to do. “I definitely knew running in college was for me. I love being a part of a team and I love the whole aspect of having a schedule and a regimen,” she said.
Being a part of WHS Track and Field has been an amazing experience for Lisnock. “This cross country season was the biggest accomplishment I’ve had with running so far and finally seeing all my hard work being put together.” After Lisnock was diagnosed with anemia midway through her junior year season, she had to put her running career on pause to give her body time to recuperate. “It was very detrimental,” she said. While Lisnock enjoyed watching her team win junior year, “I wish I was a part of it,” she added.
“My favorite thing about being on a team with Grace is her spirit, motivation and passion. Every day she would walk on the track with a smile on her face,” said long-time friend and teammate, senior Belen Arbelaez.” Arbelaez also believes, “Grace’s passion will allow her to continue succeeding every year at Gettysburg. She works extremely hard and it shows as her results have improved throughout high school and I know that with her hard work this will continue happening. The whole team is looking forward to her success in college.”
