Every week during the regular cross-country season, we highlight one girl and boy as our FROSH of the Week.  These are runners who will eventually be the Class of 2019.  Our old motto, "The Future Runs Now" is still very much intact as we follow the storylines, careers and future of these honored freshmen.

This week's Girl FROSH of the Week is Key West's Nicole Matysik.

Nicole has burst onto the Florida running scene after winning this past weekend's Wickham Park Jamboree on a slow, boggy, rain-drenched Wickham Park XC Course in 19:20. She is currently ranked 7th in 2A according to FACA Pollster Mike Becker.

Check our our post race video interview with Nicole and we think you'll see a very determined, focused, hard-worker who will entertain us with her capabilities in the years to come.

Coach Terence White discussing Nicole's performance this past weekend, "We knew Nicole was in good shape and was going to run well, but we weren’t sure how she was going to perform in her first race against very strong competition.  I was hoping she could be in the top 5.  It was a pleasant surprise to see her with the leaders mid-race.  Her surge after 2 miles allowed her to gain some separation from a very tough Lauren Archer and was the difference in her winning the race."

Nicole is also a real team-player.  Coach White says, "Nicole’s work ethic and racing ability have been great but equally impressive is Nicole as a person.  Nicole is humble and kind.  During practice she is just another kid on the team.  She’s always doing anything she can to make practice fun for her teammates.  Nicole is our resident baker and brings Chia muffins to practice for everyone." 

Nicole adamantly admits, “I love running for Key West.  Running with the team always pushes me to do better and everyone on the team is great.”

This week's Boy FROSH of the Week is Bolles Charles Hicks.

After making a statement at the middle school level where he won the FLYRA 3K earlier this spring in 9:22.81, Charles has immediately stepped up his game placing third in a highly competitive field at the Ridgeview Bob Hans Invitational in 16:47.29.  This is currently one of the top 30 times in the Sunshine State and leading the Class of 2019.

Coach Mike Rivera on Charles, "All the boys had been eagerly waiting all summer for this first race of the season so that they could cash their training checks.  I always tell them that the summer months are the months of promises.  Charles was coming off of a great track season where he placed 10^th in the 2A 3200 with a 9:56 and then capped it off with a Middle School State Championship in the 3000.  Charles is a great competitor.  As a very young 9^th-grader, he is not afraid to mix it up with runners who are far older.  He is super talented, but very humble at the same time.  A current 7^th grader has a chance to reach our 7^th grade record that is held by Charles.  Someone was joking with Charles about what he will do if it is surpassed.  All he said was, “Coach, it will make the team better.”  He is part of an outstanding freshmen class at Bolles and they all get excited when they look down the road at the endless possibilities within their reach.

Charles was eager to see what he could do against the high school competition on his first meet out.  He states, "The Ridgeview Bob Hans Invitational was the ideal way to kick-off the XC season with a personal best time and a win for the team.  The first race of the season is an inevitably nerve-racking experience, knowing that how you run will set the base for the rest of your athletic year and your future in cross country.  My favorite aspect of cross country is the ever present feeling of comradery on our team.  This is the case because there is nothing quite like a deadly 8-mile run in the North Carolina mountains to bond over.  Watching the Bolles Boys XC Program transform into a team that is competitive with powerhouse teams in the state on a weekly basis has been both a rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable experience.  None of it would be possible without the guidance of Coach Rivera, Coach Stam, and Coach Morris.  There are no coaches I would rather run for and no team I would rather run with…….GO DOGS!

 Bolles Boys XC Team in the Mountains of North Carolina - Summer 2015

Congratulations to Nicole and Charles, our first honorees as DyeStat Florida's FROSH of the Week.

RELATED - SEE ALL FROSH OF THE WEEK FOR 2015 | 2014 | 2013

There are many factors that come into play when determining the "Frosh of the Week", including; time, place, rank against other freshmen, and overall impact they have on their team. We will not highlight the same Frosh more than once and the honors are purely subjective. If you wish to nominate your athlete for "Frosh of the Week" please e-mail me [email protected] with their name and why they are deserving of the honor.