St. John鈥檚 Emmanuel Sgouros has the drive to compete on the world stage
HOUSTON (BVM) 鈥� Every athlete has a dream of success in their respective sport. For Emmanuel Sgouros, that dream became a reality when he was awarded the 2021-22 Gatorade Texas Cross Country Player of the Year.聽
鈥淚t was a big deal,鈥� Sgouros said. 鈥淚鈥檓 usually not too big on the awards but when I was a freshman looking up to older guys who got it [Gatorade POY] that was a goal of mine [to win it]. It just proves all the hard work I鈥檝e put in鈥鈥檓 proud of it.鈥�
The 6-foot-1, 145-pound senior is just the second athlete from a private school to win the award. Sgouros would cap off his final season with a time of 15:06.8 in the Southwest Preparatory Conference Championship.聽
Along with that championship, Sgouros also finished 10th in the Eastbay Cross Country Championships running a time of 15:29.4. He鈥檇 also go on to win the St. John鈥檚 Maverick Ramble and set records in the 1600 and 3200-meter events.
Emmanuel Sgouros finishes 10th overall and 1st for the South Region at the @Eastbay_XC National Championship!
— SJS Athletics (@stjohnsmavs)
However, before he could win the awards that he has today, Sgouros was growing up in Greece. Although he was born in the United States, Sgouros attended sixth and seventh grade in Greece and still spends some summers in his father鈥檚 home country. But he鈥檇 return to the U.S. and attend St. Johns High School. Already a well-established runner, Sgouros was eager to learn from head cross country coach Richie Mercado.
鈥淗e was actually a very good runner in middle school,鈥� Mercado said. 鈥淗e came over to us and ran well. With the pandemic and the combination of all the time he spent over in Greece, he was doing more running, he was working with a guy he still works with today. He put in a ton of work so that聽 [2020-21] cross country season he was shattering every record. And this year he built off that even more.鈥�
Mercado was able to help Sgouros unlock more of his throughout his early career too.聽
鈥淚鈥檇 say Coach Mercado [has helped me a lot],鈥� Sgouros said. 鈥淐oach Mercado was a big part of making me into the runner I am today. He showed me a lot of things about the sport that [I didn鈥檛 know about].鈥�
Sgouros not only has the drive and focus for running, but he also carries those qualities with him when he isn鈥檛 competing.聽
He鈥檚 averaged an A in the classroom and Sgouros has also served as a mentor for middle school runners. He also volunteers for the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.聽
鈥淚鈥檝e never had anyone this focused and driven,鈥� Mercado said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the way he鈥檚 in the classroom. He works hard and he鈥檚 really good at managing his [time].鈥�
Along with Mercado鈥檚 help, Sgouros鈥� parents have helped him become the dedicated athlete he鈥檚 become today.聽
鈥淢y parents did a good job instilling the value of work ethic in me from a young age,鈥� Sgouros said. 鈥淭eammates and my coaches help me [too]. It鈥檚 really about being the best runner I can be. I鈥檓 going to do everything I can and [I don’t see a reason] to take a short cut.鈥�
Being so focused and mentally driven has helped Sgouros become the outstanding athlete he is today. In fact, it has helped him receive a scholarship from the University of Texas to continue his athletic and academic career.
Got a good one joining the squad 馃, the Baltic Junior 3000m Champion, also brings a stellar 4:09 mile time to the Forty Acres!
— Texas T&F/XC (@TexasTFXC)
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big school, with a big tradition in sports, especially track and field,鈥� Sgouros said. 鈥淎 lot of great athletes have gone through there. So hopefully I can go there and do some good things and hopefully we鈥檙e successful at the NCAA level.鈥�
Sgouros is currently wrapping up his senior year with the Mavericks. But he still has huge goals he wants to accomplish that he has his eyes set on.聽
鈥淚 actually ran for Greece in the Junior Balkan Championships,鈥� Sgouros said. 鈥淗opefully I get to run for Greece again in, hopefully, the Olympics. That鈥檚 the main goal.鈥�
Whether or not he runs in the Olympics and represents Greece, Sgouros will continue to push forward and with his work ethic he has, anything is possible for this exceptional athlete.
鈥淭he sky’s the limit for Emmanuel,鈥� Mercado said. 鈥淗e sets goals and tends to reach them鈥�Every athlete right after college says, 鈥業鈥檓 training for the Olympics.鈥� That’s great to say, but [in reality] they鈥檙e not going to make the Olympics. He has a realistic shot.鈥�
