More times than not, when an athlete from a local high school takes his talents to the next level, chatter is heard from all over the streets.

But, for one local cross country star hardly a word has been uttered — not even a whisper.

2010 Lake High School graduate Louis Szilagyi is a member of the University of Toledo men's cross country team and says the lack of recognition “doesn’t matter” to him.

“As long as I’m able to compete as well as I know I can and put in the training, I will be satisfied.  Recognition isn’t something that happens overnight. It is earned through years of hard work and success, and I still have a long way to go.  It will come.”

Louis Szilagyi (Photo courtesy of Zack Butterfield/University of Toledo SID)

Szilagyi, 18, a three-year letter winner in cross country at Lake and a four-year letterman in track, was very successful donning the navy and white. While at Lake, Szilagyi was crowned Suburban lakes League 3200-meter champion, earned first-team SLL honors, and was a two-time regional qualifier in the 1,600. Szilagyi qualified for regionals in the 3,200 and 4x800 relay his senior year in track and was a two-time regional qualifier in cross country.

However, all of this success didn't come overnight. Szilagyi's hard work and determination has carried him to the next level.  Without a rigorous work ethic, Szilagyi guarantees he wouldn’t be running D-I cross country for the midnight blue and gold.

“If it were not for all of the training in the offseason, putting in miles year-round, I wouldn’t be here.  There would be no shot at all — no way.”

During Szilagyi’s junior and senior seasons, Lake head cross country and assistant track coach Ken Mysinger formed "The Breakfast Club," a group initially consisting of Szilagyi, Mysinger, and a few other track and cross country athletes at Lake.  With the help of Coach Mysinger, Szilagyi and his friends would set out at 5:45 a.m. and run through local neighborhoods, such as Walbridge, Millbury, and Moline, until 6:30, then head to school for the day.  When the bell rang after school, Szilagyi would put his track spikes back on and run during practice.

"I said if you're out there in the morning putting in the time, chances are your competition is going to be home sleeping. That's going to make you one step ahead of them. If nothing else, it's going to make you mentally tougher. It has given him a base to work with," said Mysinger, who ran track collegiately at Bowling Green State University.

Using this mental toughness created from hundreds of early morning runs with “The Breakfast Club,” Szilagyi has overcome difficult challenges from intensifying training to injuries and has made the transition from high school to collegiate athletics.

“The training in college is totally different from high school — a lot more intensity, a little more mileage — and it takes mental toughness to get through it.  I must give to credit Coach Mysinger for the influence he has had on me.  Without him, I would not be running cross country today.

“In high school, Coach Mysinger really gave me a love for running.  He helped establish the connection I have with running and did a great job teaching me the importance of dedicating myself to the sport.”

“My first priority [as coach] was to have him enjoy running to the point where he wants to do it the rest of his life,” said Mysinger.

Szilagyi’s passion for running goes beyond the grasslands, paths and woods in which he spends most of his time.  Since high school, Szilagyi has been employed at Second Sole, a running specialty store at Levis Commons, owned by Matt Folk, who ran in this year’s Boston Marathon and is one of the top distance runners in the country.

“Matt has taught me a lot about running. It is great to be affiliated with someone who is so knowledgeable about running and has been so successful.”

Looking back upon his freshman year at Toledo, Szilagyi said he is proud of what he accomplished, having participated in three races, especially after suffering a frightening stress fracture in his right foot during the season, last fall, which kept him out of action for three months.

“Late in the season I was injured and from that point on, I understood the importance of training, because I had to train even harder.  Despite the injury, I have been running better ever since.”

Szilagyi ran in three races during his freshman season and can’t wait for his upcoming sophomore season.  Although the season doesn’t begin until August, Szilagyi said, “It will be here before you know it.”

A marketing and sales major, he is beginning to run at full speed again and is looking forward to the successes next season could bring.

“I’m already back to 100 percent. Hopefully, I can have an injury-free, healthy season and run some great times when the season opens up this summer.”

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