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Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Jeremy Rushing, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Oct. 9, 2013 - Any runner that comes through the North Central College men's cross country program will be quick to tell you just how much of an impact head coach Al Carius has had on every aspect their life.  Senior Mitch Gilbert is no exception.
               
"Al really stresses that we're a family," explains Mitch.  "You don't have to be friends with everyone and you can have your differences with people, but as soon as you cross that red line in Merner Field House you stick up for one another because you're family."
               
Mitch, an elementary education major, is currently working with elementary school students in Aurora.  Pile that on top of classes, homework, and athletics, and you have a 21 year old with a lot on his plate.  Not one to complain, Mitch instead points to how rewarding it is to be around dozens of kids on a daily basis.
               
"It's amazing how such simple things make the kids smile so much," says Mitch.  "We had a firefighter in class to teach them about fire safety and they were so mesmerized at how he got in and out of the suit so quickly."
               
A competitive runner since seventh grade, Mitch played soccer growing up.  He didn't find his love for running until he received a punishment from his mother.
               
"I was really forgetful as a kid and my mother would punish me by saying, 'if you forget your books again you're gonna have to run to school,' which was two miles away," remembers Mitch.  "So, I forgot and ended up running one day and enjoyed it.  I tried out for cross country in seventh grade and I've been hooked ever since."
               
Mitch ran both cross country and track at Naperville Central High School, and has spent the last 3+ years as a vital part of the No. 1-ranked Division III cross country program in the nation.  Although Mitch is quick to point out that Al Carius is one of the most influential figures he's had in his life,  it was his high school coach, David Ashton, who set the ball rolling on Mitch's successful college career.
               
"I was really set on going to another school because I wanted to get out of Naperville.  But, (Coach Ashton) sat me down one day and showed me how the Naperville Central kids have done going through the North Central program," Mitch says.  "He asked me if I wanted to experience something few teams across all divisions could understand.  Education's also a better program here so I figured I could put up with four more years in Naperville (laughs)."
               
Al Carius has given countless North Central students priceless pieces of advice during his long tenure here.  Every day, the cross country team gets a long talk from the head coach filled with numerous insightful comments that can be taken and used in all aspects of life.  Mitch recalls something Coach Carius stresses multiple times throughout the week.
               
"Look yourself in the mirror every day and ask, 'Did I give it my all today?' says Mitch.  "These last few years with Al really taught me about how to take running from a hobby and turn it into a lifestyle."
               
Mitch hopes that lifestyle extends beyond college graduation.
               
"The long term goal would be for a bunch of us (cross country runners) to get a house together and train for the Olympic Trials in 2016," says Mitch.  "It's a lofty goal but it'll be the only chance we get to do it."