South Jersey Magazine - Marlton / Medford

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SJM_FallAthletes_1022FINAL_REG1 . qxp_Feature 10 / 26 / 22 1 : 23 PM Page 6 the whole time or are you thinking about other things ? COLIN HERMACK CH : Actually , it might sound a little strange but I try not to think about the race . I’ve found that my best races Lenape boys cross country have come when I wasn’t thinking too much and I’ve A key competitor throughout his career at managed to stay relaxed . Sometimes if you’re thinking Lenape , Hermack has emerged as one of the about it too much or anticipating too much , you can premier runners in the area during his senior get in your own head . If you’re super nervous at the be - season . He placed third at the Olympic Con - ginning , it’s not a good way to start off the race . ference Championships in 15 : 53 and fourth at the Burlington County Open in 16 : 05 , and is SJM : How is the college search going ? primed for strong sectional and state meets Are you hoping to run in college ? as well . CH : Right now I’m still undecided . I know it’s something I would enjoy doing , but I plan to major in computer science , which is a pretty South Jersey Magazine : You are coming off a intense major . I haven’t committed to anything yet . strong outdoor track season in the spring , when you made it to states in the mile and two - mile . SJM : Have you always lived in South Jersey ? Which do you like better , cross country or track ? CH : Actually , I was born in California but I moved Colin Hermack : They both have their pros and cons , but here in 2006 , so I’ve been here almost all of my life if I had to pick one I would pick cross country . I like the and I don’t have much memory of anywhere else . I’ve different courses ; track can get a little repetitive because always liked my neighborhood and I have good neigh - every track is pretty much the same . In cross country , bors who are very friendly . Mount Laurel isn’t too every race is a little different depending on the course . small but it’s not a big city either . It’s a nice balance . Some have a lot of hills ; some have sand and gravel you have to deal with ; some have narrow trails so there’s a SJM : Do you like Lenape too ? lot of jockeying for position and elbows being thrown . CH : Yeah , I do . I like all the people , I like my team . I feel like I’ve gotten good opportunities and the acade - SJM : How did you get into the sport ? mics are good . I’ve had some great teachers and I ap - CH : My dad was a runner in high school so I sort of had preciate that . an interest in it . In seventh grade , I decided to try cross country out , and I wasn’t very good but I started to get SJM : Who is the funniest guy on the team ? into it once I got to high school . It went from there . CH : I have to give a shoutout to Lucas Minato for that ; he’s always making me laugh . During our warmups he SJM : While you are racing , is your mind on strategy always has something to say and he cracks me up . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 19 issue 7 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 39

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SJM_FallAthletes_1022FINAL_REG1 . qxp_Feature 10 / 26 / 22 1 : 23 PM Page 7 you a great set and you know you just landed an intimidating hit on the opponent ? zhariaharris - ZHW : It’s a great feeling , especially when your team - mates are with you . I love celebrating with my team - mates , that’s probably my favorite part of getting a waddy kill . We have a lot of fun cheers that we do . Paul VI girls volleyball SJM : I know you originally committed to Temple A senior middle blocker , Harris - Waddy helped for college and then the coach moved to Syracuse . lead Paul VI to the first state championship in Is that the main reason you changed your mind ? program history last year , and the Eagles are ZHW : Yes , and obviously Syracuse is a great academic once again one of the premier teams in New school too . Temple is close by and I wanted to leave Jersey this fall . A Syracuse commit , she passed the area , so Syracuse was a great choice for me . the 300 - kill milestone for her career earlier this season . SJM : Do you know what you want to study ? ZHW : I’m thinking of majoring in recording and enter - South Jersey Magazine : Last year was a historic tainment industries . It’s the business side of the music in - season for the program . What stands out when dustry , so you get to work with different artists and differ - you look back on it ? ent events and focus on the behind - the - scenes part of it . Zharia Harris - Waddy : I feel like it has sunk in , but it still feels surreal . It was amazing to make history for SJM : What kind of music are you into ? our school and we were really resilient that year , be - ZHW : I think my favorite singer would have to be cause we were on the road for most of the season . Be - Brent Faiyaz . My favorite rapper would have ing able to get that win at the end was just an amaz - to be J . Cole or Lil Baby . I like a lot of dif - ing feeling . ferent people . Concerts are one of my other favorite things to do besides SJM : How did you get interested in volleyball ? play volleyball . ZHW : I was in fourth grade when I started playing at my elementary school , St . John Paul II . I got the paper SJM : What are your goals for one day and I said , ‘ Mom , can I do it ? ’ She said , ‘ Yeah , your college career ? go for it . ’ Then it just took off from there . I started ZHW : Syracuse is rebuilding right playing club at 12U for Cherry Hill Jersey Juniors , and I now , so first I just want to acclimate myself to their just fell in love with it . program and really hustle and work hard . I want to all - ACC honors . But right now , I just want to get into a make a difference for the team and show my talent . In good routine , be available and be ready to play . SJM : What’s the feeling like when your setter gives the long - term , I’d like to win the conference and earn South Jersey Magazine : You’ve had a great career gymnastics . There’s not as many people doing it as other with many memorable moments . What stands out sports , but it’s still a lot of people going for not that isabella nelli when you look back on it ? many schools . So it’s really special if you get to be part of Isabella Nelli : Last year was very unforgettable . My one of those teams and that’s my goal . Washington Township gymnastics freshman year , I was South Jersey Gymnast of the Year , Last year was a special one for Nelli , who placed which was an amazing honor . Sophomore year was the SJM : Have you gotten to travel a lot because of the fourth at sectionals and helped Washington Town - COVID year , so it didn’t run as smoothly but I was still sport ? ship claim its first South Jersey title in 15 years and happy to be with the girls and to be part of it . Last IN : Yes . This year we’re going all over the country . We’re finish 8 - 0 . She has continued to shine this fall and year , the team did really well and we won sectionals going to Vegas , we’re going to Georgia , we’re going to was crowned all - around champion at the Olympic for the first time … so that was exciting . Now it’s se - Virginia Beach , and those are just three of the places Conference Championships . nior year and I’m trying to finish it out strong and we’re traveling to for club . I’m excited but it’s just expen - support the girls . sive for my parents ’ pockets . SJM : How did you get interested in the SJM : What are your interests away from the sport ? sport in the first place ? IN : I’m part of almost every club under the sun at school . IN : I basically started when I was 18 I sing in the high school choir , I do the a capella group months old . I was really young and my outside of regular class , I’m part of National Honor Soci - mom took me to the mommy - and - me ety , Science National Honor Society and French National classes . I tried other sports like soccer and Honor Society , I’m one of the members of DECA , I’m in softball , but gymnastics is what stuck the French Club and I’m on student council . I also just got with me the best . I love performing , onto homecoming court , which has been an amazing ex - which is one of main parts of floor and perience to be with the other 11 nominees . We’ve been beam , and I love showing off to the audi - practicing for that and for student council to perform our ence . That’s definitely something gymnastics has little dances for our spirit parade . I’m definitely always that other sports didn’t . Since I was little , I was always busy , and if not I’m sitting on the couch watching the Ea - climbing all over the furniture at our house too , which is gles or the Phillies , or you can find me hanging out with another reason it was great for me . my friends and family . SJM : How is the college search going ? SJM : What kind of career do you want to go into ? IN : It’s taking a little toll on my mental health because IN : I think I want to go into nursing or something in the it’s stressful . I’m just trying to find the light at the end of medical field . Last year , I took anatomy at school and it the tunnel and praying to God that something is going to was so cool . I got to dissect all sorts of things . I’m a peo - happen . That’s what is keeping me moving forward . ple person , so I would like to help other individuals with There’s not a lot of schools in the United States that have whatever they’re going through .

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