Never one to seek the ….

Never one to seek the spotlight, Loyal senior Savannah Schley had to be talked into having an event to recognize her signing an official college letter of intent to run cross country at UM-Duluth. But as Loyal co-athletic director Mike Rueth said at the May 20 event, “This doesn’t happen too often in Loyal.”

It’s not too often, either, that a small school like Loyal has an athlete like Schley, who qualified all four years for the WIAA state cross country meet, and also is a severaltime state qualifier in track and field events. Her signing is mainly as a cross country runner, but she may well get her chance on the track at the collegiate level, too.

Schley came onto the LHS scene after turning heads with her cross country times in junior high. She did not disappoint, as she began winning meets in her freshman year and continued to do so through her four years in high school. She won Cloverbelt Conference championships as a freshman, sophomore and senior (finishing second as a junior), and took 24th at the state meet as a freshman, 15th as a sophomore, 12th as a junior, and then 16th as a senior, when the team was bumped up to Division 2 from Division 3.

DEAN LESAR/STAFF PHOTO Loyal-Greenwood head cross country coach Jim Genteman said it was apparent early on that Schley would be a special runner. He’s not surporised at all that she’s signing to run at the collegiate level.

“This is a great day for Savannah. For us coaches, it’s kind of a sad day,” Genteman said. “We saw this coming probably seven or eight years ago.”

Genteman said Schley was fairly small for a runner when she started at the varsity level, but she put in the work and was not only able to compete against older runners, but continue to do so through her four years.

“She was able to develop and keep her running skills the whole time,” the coach said.

Her work ethic, leadership and other intangibles were also something Genteman said were unique.

“She was really one of those athletes you don’t run into every day, or every year, or every decade,” Genteman said.

He also said her legacy will live on in Loyal as younger athletes try to repeat what she has done.

“It’’ll continue for years here, it will be something I’ll always talk about,” Genteman said. “She’s one of those gals you can’t shut up about.”

Schley’s assistant coach, Hannah Olson, said she recalls a time when Schley said there was “no way” she’d continue to run past high school. Now, she’s taking a huge step forward in developing herself further.

Olson said the coaches are thrilled for her, but yet it’s hard to watch her leave.

“It’s difficult for us knowing we have to share,” Olson said.

Olson also said Schley’s attitude has been remarkable, and she never let her successes go to her head.

“The humility she has displayed since Day 1,” Olson said, “She would never be one you’d imagine to be a fourtime state qualifier.”