Mosbach to run with the Mustangs

SPRING VALLEY — Liz Mosbach said it’s weird because the last place she wanted to go to college was anywhere near where her brother T.J. was at. Turns out, that’s where she was destined to go all along.

The Hall senior standout has decided to attend Mount Mercy University and run track and cross country for the Mustangs and team up with T.J., who is a sophomore distance runner. In the end, to have him there proved to be a determining factor.

“The only reason I didn’t want to go there at first was because of him,” she said. “He told me stories how he loved it there. I guess it says a lot for T.J. to say he loves something. I gave him a chance.”

She’s not sure how she’ll handle having big brother watching.

“I guess I kind of want both ends of it,” she said with a laugh. “I kind of want him to leave me alone, but also want him to help me with everything, too. I don’t know. We’ll see how it goes, I guess, when I’m up there.”

Mosbach made her decision after attending Scholarship Day at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, campus, and talking to Mount Mercy coach Ryan Scheckel, who coaches both the men’s and women’s teams. She was happy to reach her decision because “it feels like it’s been forever.”

Among other schools Mosbach considered were Augustana College, Olivet Nazarene University, Bradley University and Illinois State University.

Mosbach is a three-time BCR Cross Country Runner of the Year. She reasserted herself as a northern Illinois elite by winning the 2011 Oregon Sectional with a time of 19 minutes, 18 seconds. While she did not medal as a senior at state, she placed 14th in 2010.

In track, she placed third in the IHSA state finals in the 400 meter in 2010. She was the 2011 BCR Honor Roll Leader in the long jump, 200- and 400- meters and anchored the Lady Red Devils’ state qualifying 4x100 relay.

Running is a passion for Mosbach, as it has been for her brothers, T.J. and Alex Flores (who ran at St. Ambrose) and will always be, she said.