SWR track star headed to High Point University
There won’t be much of an offseason for Ryan Udvadia when he arrives at college next fall.
The standout distance runner from Shoreham-Wading River signed a National Letter of Intent this week to attend High Point University in North Carolina. He plans to compete in cross country, indoor and outdoor track — the running trifecta.
“I’m pretty sure I can handle it,” Udvadia said after a signing ceremony in the school library Thursday. “I just got to keep up my school work. I’m looking forward to it.”
Udvadia is the latest in a long line of talented distance runners to come through the Shoreham program. He’s excelled in all three seasons, most recently winning the 3,200-meter race Saturday at the Small School County Championship. He’ll compete this weekend at the Section XI State Qualifier, where he’ll look to earn a trip to states for the second straight year in both the 3,200 and 1,600.
Udvadia said the college search turned out to be easier than he expected.
“Luckily I found this school and started talking to them in early July,” he said. “It all worked out really well.”
DePaul University was another school he had been looking at before deciding on High Point. The process of searching for a school picked up intensity toward the end of last school year, Udvadia said. He fielded emails and filled out questionnaires before the recruitment from coaches picked up in July.
“They would send me messages on Facebook with their email,” he said.
A nearby Long Islander currently competes for High Point. Adam DeVito of Miller Place competes in jumping events for the High Point track team.
The cross country portion of the college season will represent a new challenge for Udvadia. Most races are 8K, as opposed to 5K in high school.
“It’s going to be harder training,” he said. “I’ll be prepared for it.”
