By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A senior season is supposed to be the time of a student-athlete's career where four years of hard work and determination culminate into the best results and outcomes yet experienced. So when injury derails those plans, making it difficult to even compete at a level desired, much less accomplish lofty goals, it takes a special person to overcome those obstacles and put the team first.
Four-year veteran Bernard Sigei has been that person for the Tennessee Tech men's cross country team in 2019-20, battling through nagging ailments all season to help keep his team competitive during the first year under the direction of new head coach Peter Dalton.
"Bernard is a true example of what it means to be a teammate," Dalton expressed. "He has struggled with injury, but has always remained positive. This example of self-sacrifice for the team is exemplary."
Sigei has turned finished fourth and third among the Golden Eagle participants at the team's first two events this season, respectively. But while injury has taken away some of his ability on the race course, it hasn't changed the way he goes about being a leader with a relatively young and unexperienced group.
"Bernard has worked through injury so that he can help the team," Dalton explained. "His diligence in training and in the training room sets the bar for the rest of the team. Also, as a senior member of the team, Bernard has led the young student-athletes in all facets of representing the Golden Eagles with pride."
It is for these qualities and dedication that Sigei is the recipient of the September Unsung Leader Award.
The Unsung Leader Award is selected from student-athletes, who have been nominated by their coaching staff, for exemplifying outstanding leadership qualities during the past month. The leadership can be shown on the field, in the weight room, at practice, in the classroom, in study hall, on campus, in the community or for a student club or organization.
The award honors a varsity student-athlete who has made a positive impact on their team and the Tennessee Tech community as a whole, through his or her dedication to demonstrating leadership traits, such as:
- Keep learning, growing and improving;
- Follow through with excellence
- Accomplish more than expected
- Inspire and motivate others.
Photo by Jonathan Caudle
