After a successful season on the cross-countr
y team, Taylor Synnott rushed through the finish line in just 18 minutes at the Southwest P
reparatory Conference Championship. As spectators and friends roared from the sidelines, she won the coveted title of first place.
Prior to Upper School, Synnott had seen success both on the cross-country course and soccer field. She started club soccer when she was 7 and still participates in both her school and club teams. This year, Synnott is receiving a freshman varsity letter in two sports.
From the start, Synnott made a good impression on the head coach of the soccer team, Rachel Fabre. Fabre had seen Synnott run at some meets during her time at ROBS, and her success did not go unnoticed.
“She was special. When we competed against her in middle school, I got to watch her getting stronger, faster, and more confident over the years,” Fabre said.
Part of what has helped Synnott stand out is her work ethic.
“She’s just very focused, very determined. It’s hard to go from what she did in cross country and then try out and make another varsity team,” Fabre said.
Jumping back to the beginning of her freshman year, Synnott got off to a running start. She immediately caught her coaches’ eyes,
particularly girls’ head cross-country coach Haley Barrett.
“I knew that she would have it. Just knowing who she is as a person — self-motivated and wanting to push — I knew that she would want to be at the top again,” Barrett said.
Even with a wealth of experience, Synnott faced a new set of challenges at the Upper School.
“It’s definitely been a step up. It’s a little over three miles instead of the middle school two miles, so the training has gotten harder,” said Synnott.
Barrett understands the challenges that rising freshmen face and is prepared to help them make the adjustment.
“It’s a matter of extending their baseline and then making them faster during that effort. The longer intervals are the endurance part, and the shorter intervals are just the speed work,” Barrett said.
However, making such an adjustment presents challenges. At the Texas A&M meet, Synnott ran her first 5K. She was the first down the chute and led the pack for the first mile, but as the race progressed, she began to lose steam. In the end, she placed 18th. Even though Synnott hadn’t run her best race, she learned from the experience.
According to Barrett, Synnott’s work ethic and approach to adversity is part of what sets her apart from her peers.
“She competes in every interval, every rep that we do as if it is a race—like she’s out to win everything,” Barrett said.
Not only do Synnott’s coaches recognize her hard work and dedication, but so do her teammates. Freshman Ana Salavarria regards Taylor as a “very good teammate overall.” Salavarria also appreciates the encouragement that Synnott provides to other team members.
“She is honestly just really fun to be around,” Salavarria said. “She’s really supportive of everyone on the team.”
As an extremely athletically accomplished freshman, Synnott has blown away every teammate and coach at SJS with her drive but also her sweet and caring attitude, demonstrating the star teammate she is alongside being an athlete.
