SKANEATELES - “I'd say he's the squeaky wheel that's verbally sending out the right messages to the other little wheels.”
Being called a squeaky wheel isn't always a compliment, but coming from veteran coach Jack Reed, Matt Parker will take it.
Parker, a junior on the Skaneateles boys cross country team, is starting to be known for more than being a son of an Ironman and the starter of an Ultimate Frisbee club at the high school. A runner since seventh grade, Parker is taking on a leadership role that is sparking the Lakers this season.
“I think he's meant a lot to the team,” Reed said. “The past couple of years the boys really haven't had a leader. They were young, there really weren't any experienced older guys to show them the ropes, so that hurt them. Right now I think he's the one that's pulling them a along pretty well.”
Though Parker plays down his role as a leader, Reed noticed he was staying behind to encourage the other runners. Most likely, his leadership was an acquired quality - he has four younger brothers and sisters.
“I guess I was kind of brought up that way to look out for everybody,” Parker said. “Nobody has really appointed me team leader or anything, and I don't really see myself as that. I'm just there to help the team. I want them to do well.”
Still, his focus on the team rather than the individual might come as a surprise. The 16-year-old's sports - cross country, wrestling and track - are mostly individual sports. Parker's father - ear, nose and throat doctor Michael - has been competing in Ironman triathlons since he was a pre-teen. He hopes he has been a good influence on his son's athletic career and otherwise.
“I think there are always opportunities to influence your kids,” he said. “Setting an example is at the top of that list. I think I have a pretty good work ethic, athletically and professionaly. Hopefully that's rubbing off on all my kids.”
Dr. Parker sees the similarities to what his son is trying to do on the cross country team and what he does as an Ironman.
“It doesn't feel different to me,” he said. “Running is still a pretty individual sport. At the high school level, you have the opportunity to participate as a team, and Matt is just optimizing that. There is a group of us that shares strategies (for the Ironman). It's not as different as you might think it to be.”
Last Saturday, Dr. Parker finished 871st out of 1,689 athletes with a time of 11:06:59 at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii (German Normann Stadler won the grueling race in 8:11:56). A 20-year triathlon veteran, it was his sixth trip to Hawaii. It's something Matt Parker would like to do one day.
“It is a goal for me,” he said. “I have every intention of doing it at least once. I've been biking a lot with my dad, and I'm a reasonably strong swimmer. I'm working on the running right now.”
Parker will probably have to wait at least a little while to attain his Ironman goal. He will be running for another year at Skaneateles. Parker is the third runner on the team, ranked 45th among Section III, Class C boys behind teammates Sam Smolenski (13th) and Calvin Davis (25th).
The Lakers are hoping to finish third at the Section III meet next Saturday at Long Branch Park. Tully is the clear favorite, but an improving Skaneateles team could be a surprise.
Parker is right where he wants to be for now, but it might be a different story in the spring. He's taken on another leadership role - forming the Ultimate Frisbee club - so the track and field team may be missing one runner in 2007.
“Since I'm in charge of that I've got to be there to initiate the practices,” Parker said. “I might not be doing track this year, but I'll still be running.”
Parker, a junior on the Skaneateles boys cross country team, is starting to be known for more than being a son of an Ironman and the starter of an Ultimate Frisbee club at the high school. A runner since seventh grade, Parker is taking on a leadership role that is sparking the Lakers this season.
“I think he's meant a lot to the team,” Reed said. “The past couple of years the boys really haven't had a leader. They were young, there really weren't any experienced older guys to show them the ropes, so that hurt them. Right now I think he's the one that's pulling them a along pretty well.”
Though Parker plays down his role as a leader, Reed noticed he was staying behind to encourage the other runners. Most likely, his leadership was an acquired quality - he has four younger brothers and sisters.
“I guess I was kind of brought up that way to look out for everybody,” Parker said. “Nobody has really appointed me team leader or anything, and I don't really see myself as that. I'm just there to help the team. I want them to do well.”
Still, his focus on the team rather than the individual might come as a surprise. The 16-year-old's sports - cross country, wrestling and track - are mostly individual sports. Parker's father - ear, nose and throat doctor Michael - has been competing in Ironman triathlons since he was a pre-teen. He hopes he has been a good influence on his son's athletic career and otherwise.
“I think there are always opportunities to influence your kids,” he said. “Setting an example is at the top of that list. I think I have a pretty good work ethic, athletically and professionaly. Hopefully that's rubbing off on all my kids.”
Dr. Parker sees the similarities to what his son is trying to do on the cross country team and what he does as an Ironman.
“It doesn't feel different to me,” he said. “Running is still a pretty individual sport. At the high school level, you have the opportunity to participate as a team, and Matt is just optimizing that. There is a group of us that shares strategies (for the Ironman). It's not as different as you might think it to be.”
Last Saturday, Dr. Parker finished 871st out of 1,689 athletes with a time of 11:06:59 at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii (German Normann Stadler won the grueling race in 8:11:56). A 20-year triathlon veteran, it was his sixth trip to Hawaii. It's something Matt Parker would like to do one day.
“It is a goal for me,” he said. “I have every intention of doing it at least once. I've been biking a lot with my dad, and I'm a reasonably strong swimmer. I'm working on the running right now.”
Parker will probably have to wait at least a little while to attain his Ironman goal. He will be running for another year at Skaneateles. Parker is the third runner on the team, ranked 45th among Section III, Class C boys behind teammates Sam Smolenski (13th) and Calvin Davis (25th).
The Lakers are hoping to finish third at the Section III meet next Saturday at Long Branch Park. Tully is the clear favorite, but an improving Skaneateles team could be a surprise.
Parker is right where he wants to be for now, but it might be a different story in the spring. He's taken on another leadership role - forming the Ultimate Frisbee club - so the track and field team may be missing one runner in 2007.
“Since I'm in charge of that I've got to be there to initiate the practices,” Parker said. “I might not be doing track this year, but I'll still be running.”