St. John’s Emmanuel Sgouros has the drive to compete on the world stage
HOUSTON (BVM) — 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.
“It was a big deal,” Sgouros said. “I’m 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’ve put in…I’m proud of it.”
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.
Along with that championship, Sgouros also finished 10th in the Eastbay Cross Country Championships running a time of 15:29.4. He’d also go on to win the St. John’s 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! #GoMavs pic.twitter.com/McsnJ3DMnp
— SJS Athletics (@stjohnsmavs) December 11, 2021
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’s home country. But he’d 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.
“He was actually a very good runner in middle school,” Mercado said. “He 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 [2020-21] cross country season he was shattering every record. And this year he built off that even more.”
Mercado was able to help Sgouros unlock more of his throughout his early career too.
“I’d say Coach Mercado [has helped me a lot],” Sgouros said. “Coach 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’t know about].”
Sgouros not only has the drive and focus for running, but he also carries those qualities with him when he isn’t competing.
He’s 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.
“I’ve never had anyone this focused and driven,” Mercado said. “That’s the way he’s in the classroom. He works hard and he’s really good at managing his [time].”
Along with Mercado’s help, Sgouros’ parents have helped him become the dedicated athlete he’s become today.
“My parents did a good job instilling the value of work ethic in me from a young age,” Sgouros said. “Teammates and my coaches help me [too]. It’s really about being the best runner I can be. I’m going to do everything I can and [I don’t see a reason] to take a short cut.”
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 🤘@EmmanuelSgouros, the Baltic Junior 3000m Champion, also brings a stellar 4:09 mile time to the Forty Acres! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/oUgvGCbKvO
— Texas T&F/XC (@TexasTFXC) November 10, 2021
“It’s a big school, with a big tradition in sports, especially track and field,” Sgouros said. “A lot of great athletes have gone through there. So hopefully I can go there and do some good things and hopefully we’re successful at the NCAA level.”
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.
“I actually ran for Greece in the Junior Balkan Championships,” Sgouros said. “Hopefully I get to run for Greece again in, hopefully, the Olympics. That’s the main goal.”
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.
“The sky’s the limit for Emmanuel,” Mercado said. “He sets goals and tends to reach them…Every athlete right after college says, ‘I’m training for the Olympics.’ That’s great to say, but [in reality] they’re not going to make the Olympics. He has a realistic shot.”
