Overcoming The Odds

There's an inspiring story out of the Pioneer Press in the Twin Cities this morning about incoming Dartmouth kicker Foley Schmidt. A couple of excerpts from the story:

The former Cadets quarterback and all-state kicker has a severe form of Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes that requires 24-hour monitoring of his blood sugar, which Foley does with a grab bag of syringes, meters and juice boxes.

and ...

Sleep time is a completely different realm, however. Foley, whose body excessively burns calories, must be awakened every hour to ensure his glucose does not drop enough for him to slip into a diabetic coma.

Schmidt, a talented ice hockey player and nationally regarded club soccer player when he was younger, will be one of four kickers bidding for the wide-open Dartmouth job next fall according to coach Buddy Teevens, who told the paper:

"Foley's been very forthcoming, and I have a lot more respect for him for the sacrifices he's made to compete at this level. It tells me this is someone who can be successful in any part of his life because that internal drive and discipline."

Today's Daily Dartmouth has a story Dartmouth grads who will or might be headed to Beijing this summer for the Olympics. One grad who has clinched his berth is former cross country runner-turned-triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker. As the Ivy League website notes, Shoemaker is being featured on a Wheaties box cover.

Shoemaker's brother, Jake, is among Dartmouth's cross country recruits for next fall. Continuing a series of postings on incoming recruits, here are those coming for cross country:

Men

• Brad Kenimer, Alexandria, Va.
• Matt Miner, Ashland, Ore.
• Gabe Pacione, Hamilton-Wenham, Mass.
• Ethan Shaw, Falmouth, Maine
• Jake Shoemaker, Sudbury, Mass.
• Dylan Summers, Kingswood, N.H.

Women

• Marissa Greco, Hopewell Valley, N.J.
• Laura Hempel, Rickards, Fla.
• Amy Schuman, Phillips Exeter, N.H.
• Elizabeth Short, No. Reading, Mass.
• Christina Supino, Bishop Guertin, N.H.