Q&A with Sophomore Cross Country Runner Josh Tupper

This week, LRSC Patch takes a look at a young and up-and-coming cross country runner in sophomore Josh Tupper. Tupper's story is not a traditional one of a lifelong runner, but of a kid that just loves to play sports.

Tupper took some time to talk to Patch about the sport, his history in athletics and the future in this week's Q&A.

LRSC Patch: When did you get started with competitive running? When did you realize you liked it and were good at it?

Josh Tupper: In eighth grade, I broke my face and that was another concussion. I had many concussions. I couldn't play football or wrestling anymore. So, I tried out for cross country and did pretty good freshman year.

Patch: How did you sustain that injury?

Tupper: Playing baseball in fall ball.

Patch: Last year, this year, what would you say are some of your highlights and lowlights of the two seasons you've had so far?

Tupper: Beginning of last year, I had shin splints, which really held me back. But, at Owen J [Roberts], I got fifth on the team on varsity and it actually counted. I ran varsity with the team the rest of the year and contributed.

Patch: Obviously you've got to be fast to run cross country. How do you personally achieve that?

Tupper: Basically, I just work as hard as I can. It's something my dad put into my head when I was little - to always try hard at everything: school, work, it doesn't matter what it is.

Patch: What's your personal best time?

Tupper: 17:15.

Patch: By the time you get out of here as a senior, what would you like your best time to have been?

Tupper: Definitely under 16.

Patch: Do you play any other sports?

Tupper: I play basketball and baseball.

Patch: You still play baseball after you broke your face?

Tupper: Yeah.

Patch: So, what was that like - driving the courage to get back up and play after something like that?

Tupper: It wasn't very hard. I just wanted to play sports. I was a little scared in the stretch zone, but I managed to have the third best average on the team and started, so that was pretty good.

Patch: What about Spring-Ford in general. What are your thoughts on the school and the people here?

Tupper: It's a pretty good school. It's one of the richer schools in the area. There are very nice people here. From seeing the other schools, there's a lot of wack people that I know of. Our school is pretty good in that aspect.

Patch: What about your favorite school to go up against in any sport?

Tupper: [Perkiomen Valley] or Boyertown.

Patch: Why?

Tupper: I just know kids from those schools. Got to get back at them.

Patch: What would you like to be able to do in general here at Spring-Ford - do you have any goals you want to fulfill?

Tupper: Basketball - make the varsity team. I'm going to try this year, but definitely next year, hopefully. Baseball, I just want to play varsity and win PAC-10 championships - well, in each of the sports.

Patch: What's it like to be participating in such great sports programs like basketball and baseball?

Tupper: We have a great baseball program. I grew up watching my brother. It's pretty exciting, because he was coached so well. In basketball, we almost won the PAC-10 championship when my brother played. I'm really close to the basketball coach, so I'm looking forward to that.

Patch: How much older is your brother than you?

Tupper: He's 21.

Patch: So, is that a nice inspiration for you to have watched your brother thrive? Does he give you tips and stuff like that?

Tupper: Yeah. Pretty good. He taught me how to play all sports. We would always play in the backyard. I was always active with him.

Patch: If you could go back to last year and give yourself some tips on getting better at cross country this year, what would it be?

Tupper: Probably run during the summer. I wasn't really expecting to run cross country. I went to the neurologist and they said I couldn't play other sports. I just went straight into cross country, tried my hardest and ended up hurting my leg real bad, but as the season progressed, I made varsity.