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Douglas signs for St. Scholastica

Todd Rose | Daily Press Derek Douglas (front, center) pictured with parents Tammy and Steve (front), Escanaba Ath;etic Director Tony Perino, coaches Dave Wilson and Scott Dykema and Mo the Eskymos after he signed his letter of intent to attend and compete at the College of St. Scholastica Thursday afternoon in Escanaba.

ESCANABA — Escanaba’s Derek Douglas will have a full plate of school and athletics next year after he officially signed his letter of intent to run cross country, indoor track and outdoor track at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN Thursday afternoon in Escanaba.

“I’m really happy with my decision to go to St. Scholastica,” said Douglas. “I really like their coaches there, and I think they’re going to be a great fit for me.”

The school, Douglas commented, was not one he had had on his radar. That was until last year.

“They contacted me last year saying they were interested in me running for them,” he said. “I went and visited them … and found out they had good science programs.”

The science programs turned out to be an important factor for Douglas as he will be studying pre-Dentistry.

With three different competitive seasons on tap for next year, Douglas is set for the challenge.

“I’m going to be running and competing like all year-round,” he said. “I’m going to like it a lot. I’ll be running and training with a team all year-round instead of by myself.”

In his time as an Eskymo, Douglas has competed in the 400m, 800m and the mile in track. With one more season at the high school level, he has specific goals in mind for those events.

“I’m hoping to be around 50 seconds in the 400,” he said. “Then (I want) to break two minutes in the 800, which would break the school record here. And then I want to get as low under five minutes as I can for the mile.”

While Douglas is ready for the additional challenges presented by the increased level of competition at the collegiate level next year, he is also ready for one last hurrah in Escanaba.

“I’m really excited. I’ve been training for a while,” he said. “I can’t wait to start competing.”

As he prepares for this season and what lies ahead, Douglas expressed his gratitude to those that have supported him.

“I want to thank my friends for coming and supporting me today, my parents for pushing me all these years and my coaches who have also helped me a lot,” he said.

One of those coaches is Escanaba track coach Scott Dykema, who has had the chance to watch Douglas grow over the years.

“I’m very excited for him,” said Dykema. “He’s a worker, this young man. I’ve been coaching him, actually, since fourth grade … I could see it right away when he was in fourth grade, and his work ethic is great. He’s not one of those kids that’s going to sit around and get lazy.

“They’re (St. Scholastica) getting a great athlete there, and I can’t wait to see what he maxes out at.”

Dykema is also excited to have Douglas for one more year, mentioning his qualities as a ‘leader by example.'”

For Escanaba Athletic Director Tony Perino, watching students like Douglas take their first steps into the future is a rewarding thing.

“It’s always exciting when you have a student-athlete — and we’ve had quite a few — that make the leap not only to post-secondary education but athletics as well,” Perino said. “You’re just elated and happy for them.

“To do cross country, indoor and outdoor track is a full slate, but I think mentally and academically he can handle it, physically as well … He’s going to do great things.”

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