Rochester, NY – The Sage Colleges' women's and men's cross country teams wrapped their 2017 season earlier this month, but a pair of performers were honored on Wednesday with the release of the Empire 8 Men's and Women's Cross Country all-star teams. Sage's junior Sagan Leggett (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) and sophomore Jarryd Wick (Ayers, MA/E.F. Parker School) were both tapped for the Sportsmanship Teams for their performances this fall.

Head Sage Cross Country Coach Zachary Williams said of Wick, "Jarryd has one of the best attitudes that I have encountered as a coach." Williams added, "It's not easy being the only male on the team. I personally tried to run with him whenever I could, but most days he would be on his own. The season is long on its own, but feels doubly so when you have to run on your own. Yet he never complained, and was enthusiastic each day for the upcoming practice."

"Sagan was put in a tough position as the only upperclasswomen on the team for the majority of the season," noted Williams. He continued, "Yet she eagerly seized the leadership role was thrust upon her. In doing so, she greatly helped ease my transition of a new coach, which brought many changes and challenges to the team, and eased the transitions of the incoming first year student-athletes. She would give encouragement and praise whenever she felt a teammate, or the team as a whole, needed it."

Sportsmanship Team

In addition to the yearly awards and all-conference teams, one member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2017 Women's and Men's Cross Country Sportsmen of the Year Team.  Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen and sportsmen.