Chris Catanach Looks Back At Successful Cross Country Campaign

It started out as a night of celebration for a friend's birthday, but no one could have guessed how it was going to end. As gunshots cut through the silent morning hours, Chris Catanach's life was changed forever.

Growing up, Catanach played sports including baseball, basketball, and football. After unsuccessful attempts at making these sports teams in high school, the sports buff decided to try out for the cross country running team. "I made the team and it went on from there," says Catanach. For never really running competitively before, the Miami native made quite a name for himself. As well as excelling in school, recording a 4.1 GPA, he became a catalyst during races, posting solid times in multiple events. The team captain is a member of the National Honors Society and is a recipient of the Champagnat Award, which is given to those who exemplify leadership qualities.

Catanach wanted to continue running in college but had no idea where. During a second-place finish at the FHSAA 4A cross country finals, coaches from the University of Tampa were present and noticed his skills. Ironically, Chris Catanach, UT's volleyball coach, is the uncle of the cross country standout. The high school senior committed to UT after receiving a hand written letter from the Tampa coaches.

Practices and training are far more rigorous than high school, but the Florida Bright Future's scholarship winner has continued to show why he is a member of the team. He has raced in the SSC Championships since he was a freshman and placed 10th during his junior year. Catanach also participated in the NCAA Division II South Regional race all four years, as well as the NCAA National Championships during his sophomore year. Throughout his career at UT, while juggling 6:30 a.m. practices, and long weekends of racing and 14 mile endurance runs, the communication and film major is a member of the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll, and has received an ADA Academic Achievement Award. "It takes a toll on my social life. But if you are smart and can balance it, it isn't a huge issue," says Catanach.

When asked about the expectations for his senior year, he seemed to pause for a moment to collect his thoughts and then replied, "This year is going to be different." There will be many absences this year with two members redshirting because of injuries and sickness. "One teammate got in a car accident and shattered his arm, so he will be redshirting," says Catanach. "Another battled a bout with mono, so he sat out too." Injuries and sicknesses resulting in loss of playing time can be costly to a team's season, but no other teammate will be missed as much, or means as much to Catanach this year as Ryan McCall.

While walking home from a birthday celebration, McCall, who was a teammate, roommate, and close friend was confronted by an armed assailant and fatally shot. "He was a big personality that kept everyone going," remembers Catanach. "When I heard the news it was really tough, he was a great kid."

What started out as a promising senior season, has turned into turmoil and inspiration at the same time. As a senior, Catanach successfully used his leadership abilities in order to help coach the younger team and help them progress as much as possible for their future here at UT. "I want to do as well as I can and I'm going to battle with the rest of my teammates," says Catanach.

He is happy that the season did not go to waste as he for McCall for the year, including the SSC Championships and NCAA South Regional. His death is a reminder to Catanach that you have to live every day to the fullest because you never know what's going to happen at the end of it.

After graduating this spring, Catanach wishes to continue his studies in graduate school at the University of Southern California in the communications program. He may have one year of eligibility left when he arrives and wants to continue running. All the heartache he has endured and all the success he has accomplished has been a tumultuous warm-up run for what the future has in store for him.

Written by Keith Ganis