Anthony Caprara finishes career by going out on top

Press Sports Editor

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He’s a true student-athlete.

Gibsonburg senior Anthony Caprara, known just as much for his academic stature as he is for his running, just finished his cross-country career by finishing 19th in Div. III in 15:55.34, an admirable feat by running under 16 minutes.

It was quite the experience running with the best Ohio had to offer, he said.

“I loved it. As soon as we got there, everyone was warming up and getting ready, and the boys Div. III race was the first race,” he said. “There was so much anticipation in the air. I was so proud and excited to be there, and the time comes and we’re all on that start line. We’re ramping up – it was amazing – the silence (just before the start), listening to the official explain things, hearing that gun go off and having it begin.

“It was definitely amazing to feel pushed. The top five times broke the course record. You could feel that in every step. It was amazing to be a part of,” he said.

But it didn’t come easy for Caprara, who had to endure his share of setbacks before reaching the pinnacle.

“It was especially impressive given the circumstances that Anthony faced during his junior year. At the end of September 2023, he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot, just above the third metatarsal. His season ended, along with his goal of qualifying for state for the second consecutive year,” said Gibsonburg coach Beth Kohler. “Once he was cleared to run for track season, he worked himself back into shape, and he was eyeing the school record in the 3,200 meters. He was also gaining confidence that he could qualify for state in that event.

“Unfortunately, Anthony suffered the same type of stress fracture that had just shortened his cross-country season, only in his other foot. It would have been easy for him to feel sorry for himself and lose faith, but he was willing to once again train hard for his senior cross-country season, and this time we worked cross training into his regimen,” Kohler said. “His positive attitude paid off, and he not only qualified for state, but he broke a school record that had stood since 2007 with his time of 15:55.34.

“Anthony was not cleared to run until late June, so he had to view the early meets as stepping stones on his way to getting back into race shape. In fact, he didn't wear his racing spikes until October, because I wanted to give him the best chance possible of getting through the season injury-free,” Kohler said. “His first race was in October at the Dan Olien Invitational in New London, and Anthony proved there that he was ready to race up with the best runners in the state. He finished second overall in a strong field of runners and his time of 16:29 was only 3 seconds away from his career (personal record).”

On top of that, he won the Northern Buckeye Conference Meet twice, this year by 31 seconds ahead of the runner-up, and also took first as a sophomore, beating the next runner by 51 seconds. He also finished fourth as a freshman. “I’ve been running cross country since eighth grade. I’ve always just kind of had the natural inclination (to run). Even when I was young, people said, ‘I remember when you were a little kid running up and down the stairs (in the bleachers) at basketball games,’” he said. “In eighth grade, I would show up to practice; it was a daily grind, but it was in track season where I saw the fun in the competition. I love to push myself – it’s kind of accumulated. setting goals for myself. I just wanted to get back to where I was my sophomore year. Last year, I had a couple of injuries – a stress fracture in my left foot, and then in track, stress fracture in my right foot. I wanted to finish my senior year out on a high note.”

Caprara isn’t sure if he’s going to run in college, seeing as he’s going to have to focus a great deal on his studies. “My top choice is Ohio University, (but) I haven’t talked to their coach yet. They’re a Div. I school. I think that’s my top choice right now; it looks like the best for my field,” he said. “There’s Miami (OH) University, too and I’ll be taking a visit to Ohio Wesleyan, their coach has talked to me. My plan would be to do political science and journalism, or (maybe) to do pre-law.

“There has been some interest; people from different universities have reached out to me. I’ve looked into it, but I can’t say yet,” he said.

Caprara is one of the top students in the class, carries a 4.2 GPA and is the president of the National Honor Society and the Key Club.