George School Athlete Named to All-State First Team Cross Country

George School Athlete Named to All-State First Team Cross Country

Jerrica Bauer ’16 has been named to the Pennsylvania Cross Country All-State First Team by a panel of coaches from across the state. One of only ten runners selected, Jerrica had a stellar senior season for George School, the Quaker boarding high school in Newtown.

“Jerrica is one of the hardest working and bravest athletes I have worked with in a long coaching career,” said Senior Director of Athletics Paul Weiss. “She has an innate intelligence for race planning and execution that is complimented by her ability to dig very deep and get well outside of her physical and emotional comfort zone in a race.”

Jerrica found herself at the front of the pack during a number of her races this season. She earned first place finishes at the Westtown Invitational, the William Tennant Invitational, the Friends Schools League Championships, and the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) state meet at Belmont Plateau. During the annual George School invitational—which gathered 600 runners from twenty-four area high schools—Jerrica earned a second place finish.

“I love running because it allows me to go on adventures, get lost in my thoughts, and feel my body move. On good days, running feels like flying,” said Jerrica. “I feel honored to be selected, because there are many high-achieving athletes in the state this year.”

A dedicated runner, Jerrica can often be found training outside of required practices—attending weekly optional practices and running and biking in her free time.

“This season was great because instead of focusing on simply getting faster, we worked a lot on improving running form. There was an emphasis on finding enjoyment in training and racing, which helped to relieve stress associated with big meets,” commented Jerrica.

And her dedication to training has paid off. Said Paul, “Most athletes, nearly all athletes, don’t regularly win races. It takes a very special focus, hunger, and intelligence to win multiple races in a season, and Jerrica is truly that special.”

An honors student, Jerrica is as dedicated in the classroom as she is on the cross country course. When she isn’t studying you can find her working with her peers as a peer tutor or meeting with other members of the Body Project, a club dedicated to promoting body positive attitudes on campus. In addition to her athletic and extracurricular interests, Jerrica is also a licensed lifeguard.

Founded in 1893 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), George School, a rigorous coed boarding and day school for grades nine through twelve, educates students from more than twenty-two states, fifty-two foreign countries, and a variety of ethnic, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds. Through its commitment to diversity and the Quaker values of equality, integrity, and peacemaking, George School inspires students to be led by their own truths while respecting and appreciating opinions and beliefs different from their own. George School was one of the first schools in the United States to implement an International Baccalaureate diploma program.