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Gavin Connell receives ‘I AM SPORT’ award

Press photo by John Burbridge Charles City 2018 graduate Gavin Connell, center, leads a trio of Comets including juniors Mason Deeter, left, and Nick Litterer down the homestretch of the Class 3A Cross Country State Qualifier. All finishing with a 5K time of 16 minutes, 57 seconds, Connell, Deeter and Litterer qualified to state with respective 7th-, 8th- and 9th-place finishes.
Press photo by John Burbridge
Charles City 2018 graduate Gavin Connell, center, leads a trio of Comets including juniors Mason Deeter, left, and Nick Litterer down the homestretch of the Class 3A Cross Country State Qualifier. All finishing with a 5K time of 16 minutes, 57 seconds, Connell, Deeter and Litterer qualified to state with respective 7th-, 8th- and 9th-place finishes.
By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — It’s not uncommon for an athlete, upon being honored with an award, to thank his or her coaches.

Charles City graduate Gavin Connell was particularly grateful of his coach after being named the top honoree of the “I AM SPORT” award.

“He is the one who nominated me,” Connell said of Charles City head boys cross country and boys track coach Ryan Rahmiller. “When I read what he wrote about me when he submitted the nomination … it was amazing.

“It’s probably the reason why I won.”

Connell was among a group of Iowa high school athletes nominated for the “I AM SPORT” award presented by Mediacom. The award honors student athletes who are committed to giving back to the youth in their communities.

Connell, as mentioned in his bio, is an active member of his church, National Honor Society, and his community. An accomplished an aspiring musician, Connell teaches guitar lessons to younger students and operated the sound board as a technician for the fall play and the Jazz ensemble.

Connell has been involved with PAWS (animal shelter), volunteers for C & W Rustic Hollow Shelter, Spay Neuter All Pets and the Party Animals’ Charity Bicycle ride raising money for our local animal rescue organizations.

Connell has also been a volunteer at the Parent’s Support Group Memorial Garden, which is a developed park area in Charles City for parents who have had a child die.

And Connell can also run pretty fast.

Connell qualified for the State Cross Country Championships in each of his four years at Charles City High School, and placed a career-best 36th in Class 3A his senior race.

Connell also qualified for state in the 3200-meter run his senior track season.

Connell will continue his cross country and track career at North Iowa Area Community College, where he will study music.

“I’ve been taking piano lessons … it’s not that much different from playing guitar,” Connell said.

Finalists were determined by online voting.

“The top three were invited to the awards ceremony,” Connell said of the Des Moines Register Sports Awards Banquet held June 23. “That’s where they announced the winner.

“When I saw who I was up against, I didn’t think I had a chance … I thought they were more deserving.”

Connell, who trains outdoors during the frigid winter months as well as the current sultry summer conditions, will be vying for his third-straight five-mile overall title at the annual Firecracker 5 held adjacent to Charles City High School the morning of the Fourth of July.

“And I can’t wait to run my first college 8K,” Connell said of the standard collegiate cross country distance, which is just under five miles.

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