Featured Story
For The Love Of The Game
Two things St. Luke’s freshman Thomas Arnold loves to do most are run cross country and play soccer. That’s why he was left with a gut-wrenching decision this fall: Which sport should he participate in at St. Luke’s?
Arnold competed on the St. Luke’s Cross Country Team throughout middle school and was a very successful varsity runner in eighth grade—finishing seventh in the 2017 FAA Championship race. The New Canaan resident supplemented his running with soccer outside of school, playing for New Canaan Football Club but had a burning desire to play with his friends at St. Luke’s.
With a heavy heart, Arnold decided to leave the cross country team and play JV Soccer.
Many student-athletes have to make tough decisions and this proved to be a good one for Arnold as he enjoyed a superb season on the field. Playing predominantly as a midfielder or striker he led the team in scoring as the Storm finished the season with an overall record of 7-4-1. JV Head Coach Billy Babayo said: “Coaching Thomas was an honor as he is always willing to listen and learn. He had a fantastic season for us and scored a number of important goals, but what was most impressive was his overall character. He is a very respectful young man and works extremely hard and possesses the attributes every developing athlete should have.”
The season was barely over when Arnold swapped his soccer cleats for running shoes. At the USA Track & Field Connecticut Junior Olympics, he recorded a personal best time of 16’56.7 in his first 5K race on November 11—just 8 days after playing his last soccer game for St. Luke’s. He finished sixth overall and qualified for the Region 1 race at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx on November 18.
On a very challenging course and in a field of 94, Arnold qualified for the USATF National Junior Olympics Championship, finishing 19th with a time of 17’53.6.
This was the first time the young runner had qualified for the national race and he did so despite spending many months recovering from a lacerated kidney just two years ago. Arnold picked up the injury playing another sport he loves, Rugby, and fought a long, hard battle to come back stronger than ever.
The national race in Reno, Nevada on December 8 provided the runners with some very slick conditions as temperatures plummeted well below the norm. Arnold finished 32nd in his age group and 88th out of the 245 runners aged 15-18.
St. Luke’s Cross Country Head Coach Corliss Spencer couldn't be prouder of her former athlete: “It is so rewarding to see Thomas progress through our program and go on to qualify for the USATF National Junior Olympics Championship. He did all this while representing St. Luke’s in another sport he loves which is so cool. I have huge respect for what he accomplished in both.”
Faced with a tough decision, Arnold went with his heart and played (and ran) for the love of the game.
Back
Arnold competed on the St. Luke’s Cross Country Team throughout middle school and was a very successful varsity runner in eighth grade—finishing seventh in the 2017 FAA Championship race. The New Canaan resident supplemented his running with soccer outside of school, playing for New Canaan Football Club but had a burning desire to play with his friends at St. Luke’s.
With a heavy heart, Arnold decided to leave the cross country team and play JV Soccer.
Many student-athletes have to make tough decisions and this proved to be a good one for Arnold as he enjoyed a superb season on the field. Playing predominantly as a midfielder or striker he led the team in scoring as the Storm finished the season with an overall record of 7-4-1. JV Head Coach Billy Babayo said: “Coaching Thomas was an honor as he is always willing to listen and learn. He had a fantastic season for us and scored a number of important goals, but what was most impressive was his overall character. He is a very respectful young man and works extremely hard and possesses the attributes every developing athlete should have.”
The season was barely over when Arnold swapped his soccer cleats for running shoes. At the USA Track & Field Connecticut Junior Olympics, he recorded a personal best time of 16’56.7 in his first 5K race on November 11—just 8 days after playing his last soccer game for St. Luke’s. He finished sixth overall and qualified for the Region 1 race at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx on November 18.
On a very challenging course and in a field of 94, Arnold qualified for the USATF National Junior Olympics Championship, finishing 19th with a time of 17’53.6.
This was the first time the young runner had qualified for the national race and he did so despite spending many months recovering from a lacerated kidney just two years ago. Arnold picked up the injury playing another sport he loves, Rugby, and fought a long, hard battle to come back stronger than ever.
The national race in Reno, Nevada on December 8 provided the runners with some very slick conditions as temperatures plummeted well below the norm. Arnold finished 32nd in his age group and 88th out of the 245 runners aged 15-18.
St. Luke’s Cross Country Head Coach Corliss Spencer couldn't be prouder of her former athlete: “It is so rewarding to see Thomas progress through our program and go on to qualify for the USATF National Junior Olympics Championship. He did all this while representing St. Luke’s in another sport he loves which is so cool. I have huge respect for what he accomplished in both.”
Faced with a tough decision, Arnold went with his heart and played (and ran) for the love of the game.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
