By Jacob Heid

Sports Editor

Rosholt senior Sophia Bablitch has had a successful high school career as a runner. 

With her second-place finish at sectionals on Oct. 21, Bablitch makes her fourth-consecutive state appearance at the WIAA state cross country meet. 

She is also a successful track athlete in the spring.

Bablitch also plans to run cross country and track at the University of Minnesota while pursuing a journalism and communications degree. 

Here is more on the Rosholt senior:

What is it like making state cross country every year of high school?

“Looking back, making it to state XC every year in high school is very meaningful to me when I think about how different of a runner I was from freshman to senior year. Each year, I have progressed more and more, and as special as making it for the first time three years ago was, I think my freshman self would be proud of how far we have come and improved. I am very grateful to have made it all four years of my high school career.”

Do you have a nickname that family or friends call you?

“My nickname that my family members started to call me was Phia, and that eventually was caught on by my teammates and friends.”

If you weren’t into running, what other sports would you play?

“Other sports that I have done as a runner are basketball and XC skiing, but if I had to pick a sport to do instead of running, I would definitely choose gymnastics. I tried gymnastics when I was four years old, and to this day, wish I could’ve stayed with it. I love watching gymnasts, and I respect them so much with how strong their upper bodies are and believe they have a lot in common with runners with how fit they have to be to perform well.”

What is a daily routine for a successful runner like yourself?

“One of my important daily routines as a runner is drinking my 73-ounce jug of water. I have a cute orange jug that I carry around with me almost everywhere and have gotten into the routine of needing to drink the whole thing every day.”

What is a bucket list item of yours?

“A bucket item list of mine is to run a marathon when I am not a competitive runner anymore. Running a marathon someday would be an amazing accomplishment and experience to have fun and enjoy the sport of running.”

Who is one person you’d like to meet?

“One person I would like to meet is Molly Seidel. Molly Seidel has been someone I have been following along with for a long time and look up to. She is from a small division 3 school just like me and holds many of the Wisconsin state records I look at every year in dreams of getting close to. She is an amazing example of a small-town girl making it big and seems very humble and sweet.”

Do you have any plans for after high school?

“After high school, my plans are to attend the University of Minnesota to run cross country and track and study journalism and communications.”