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From the Bench: BHS Alum Matt "Daddy Dearth" is New WVWC Record Holder, Two-Time All-American

By Jeff Toquinto on April 09, 2017 from Sports Blog via Connect-Bridgeport.com

No one could ever accuse Bridgeport High School alum Matt Dearth of not taking what he did then or even now as a student-athlete seriously. It earned him a state championship and other honors while at BHS and it’s recently earned him more than just solid showings in the classroom and in the competitive setting at West Virginia Wesleyan.
 
Last year, Matt Dearth affectionately became known as “Daddy Dearth” by his teammates on the Bobcats’ Division II Track & Field and Cross Country programs. And according to his coach, it’s a term of endearment.
 
“He’s one of key leaders on the team and real serious about things; probably more serious about the things he’s involved with than most college students and it’s working for him and it’s working for our program,” said long-time WVWC Coach Jesse Skiles. “I can assure you the athletes call him that out of respect.”
 
When asked about the nickname Dearth, who once had a tight cropped hair style and a smooth face as a 2014 BHS graduate, just laughed.
 
“I’m pretty sure I got it last year from a couple of my teammates and, honestly, I like it. I’ll be running sometimes and I’ll hear my teammates yell that and it gives me an extra gear,” he said. “People on the outside might take that nickname the wrong way, but it’s a compliment and I take it that way.”
 
He should. You see, “Daddy Dearth,” now sporting a goatee and a tight cropped cut on the sides with a flush of hair straight up in the front, is doing what a good daddy should do. He’s setting an example for others in the program to follow.
 
A week from Friday, the junior did more than set an example. He set a track record for the West Virginia Wesleyan program.
 
Dearth topped the 10,000 meter record that was held by Nate Edwards, who Skiles said actually was able to coach Dearth during his freshman season in Buckhannon before moving on to coach at Glenville State.
 
“Nate is one of this programs all-time great; he was four-times an all-conference performer,” said Skiles. “It’s a name that’s revered in our program for him to break that record was a big deal and I know it was a big deal to Matt because he and so many others look up to Nate and his accomplishments.”
 
Edwards was the school from 2008 until 2012. It was in his senior season, in a meet at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, where he set the school standard of 31 minutes, 23 seconds.

The new standard was set at Washington University of St. Louis, a program Skiles said that is littered with talented distance runners and was the Division III champions last year. Dearth, who finished seventh overall in a talented field, crossed the line in 31 minutes and 18 seconds.
 
What’s impressive is that Dearth ran the event in a lot of pain. Nothing of a particular nature, but something he said many distance runners encounter.
 
“I started out on pace and felt pretty good, but then I felt like a bear jumped don my back in the middle of the race and when it happened I kind of was in no man’s land. My legs felt heavy and tired; I’ve ran into it before,” he said. “There were a lot of good runners in a pack and I finished out the race with them. They kind of carried me through, which was important because my body was shutting down the last mile.”
 
Eventually, Dearth knew he was the new king of 10,000 meters at West Virginia Wesleyan. While not surprising, it was a while before it sunk in.
 
“I wasn’t really surprised because I knew I’ve gotten myself in the proper shape to do it, but realizing I had broken the record didn’t set in until next day,” said Dearth, who runs the 10K and 5K. “I’d be lying if I told you it wasn’t a pretty good feeling.”
 
Skiles said Dearth deserved it because he earned it. He said few athletes he’s ever encountered have the drive to do everything right in a meticulous manner that almost guarantees that he’ll have a strong showing in every event at every meet.
 
The record-breaking event was not the exception.
 
“He’s a student of the sport … He’s a high volume runner that does 90 miles a week. He does what he’s asked to do from a training standpoint and, even though he loves the sport, when he’s told to back off for recovery he does that too. We knew we were getting something special when he came to Wesleyan,” said Skiles.
 
Dearth was one of two standout athletes for the Indians and Coach Jon Griffith at BHS. The other was Abe Merinar, who initially signed to run at Ole Miss and is now a member of the Colorado State program.
 
“Those that only watched who won may not have paid attention to Matt, but if you understood the sport and watched you knew he was going to be special,” said Skiles. “Matt and Abe were part of a process worked incredibly well by (Coach) Jon Griffith to resurrect the program there. We’ve certainly benefited from it and Matt’s part of that benefit package.”
 
Here’s the thing – Skiles things he’s got better times ahead in track and better time ahead for the cross country program. And for those who think that he’s sacrificing time in the classroom to excel at sport, think again.
 
In February, for the second year in a row, Dearth was named a United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division II Scholar Athlete All-Academic team. The requirement to be considered is to have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 and finish among the top 30 percent of eligible runners at his or her regional championships and/or the top half of the field at the NCAA Championships.
 
No problem for Dearth, who also serves as a WVWC captain.
 
Despite all that, perhaps the biggest praise is from Skiles. Skiles has been around the Wesleyan program now for a quarter of a century. In fact, he began coaching before the 21-year-old Dearth was even born.
 
“Matt is one of my all-time favorite kids and we’ve had a lot of good kids. He’s just such a team guy and performs the way you want everyone to perform … We’ve had a pretty good run here lately and he’s a big part of that because he’s the guy that ties the knot together,” said Skiles.
 
While everything is in order for Dearth, who is on track to graduate in 2018 with a degree in computer information science, he said he’d like to get one thing done next year during the upcoming cross country campaign to start his senior year.
 
“I missed qualifying this past year by one spot. You want to qualify and you want the team to qualify so to know I was so gloss is frustrating,” he said. “I’ll use it as motivation to get one more shot. I’ve got to use the basis that Coach Griffith set for me at Bridgeport and what Coach Skiles has taught me here to get to where I need to be.”
 
While that’s his plans for the future while in school, Skiles thinks Dearth would make an excellent coach. Dearth said it’s not something he’d rule out.
 
“I’ve thought about it a little bit. I love running in general so much and the impact that it’s had on me that I’d like to see it have the same impact on others. It’s something I may consider,” said Dearth. “That’s still a ways off so there’s nothing certain yet.”
 
For now, he’s only thinking about his next day at school and his next meet, which is April 20 at Duke University. Until then, he’ll get in his 90 miles a week and he hopes that his plan of attack that he’s utilized in college and high school will keep working.
 
It should. After all Father, or in this case “Daddy” knows best.
 
Editor's Note: Top two photos of Matt Dearth courtesy of WVWC athletic Web site. Bottom photo by www.benqueenphotography.com.


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