By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

If you live anywhere inside or near the village limits of Mogadore, there is a good chance you know who Cameron Brady is.

Maybe not by name alone, but surely by his face.

He is the one you have seen running through the various back streets all summer long.

The one tirelessly working to prepare for the 2025 high school boys cross country season.

With a 300-song playlist hooked to his hip to keep him company, Brady ran at least 60 miles per week the entire off-season.

And though he began his runs alone, they oftentimes turned into non-verbal social events.

“People who knew me would see me running and would honk, yell hello or just wave as they drove by,” Brady said. “It happened a lot.”

The waves were simple gestures of friendliness, but they also just as well could be tips of the cap as a sign of respect for a decidicated and self-motivated teenager choosing his summer time to run through grueling heat when so many alternative options are in front of him.

For Brady, though, all the miles to prepare himself to be in the best possible shape to help his team this fall was truly the only option on his heart.

It has worked out well.

Brady has helped the Wildcats run to strong showings on a weekly basis, turning in quality times along the way.

His personal-best run sits at 17:25.3, which is the second-best time in school history, trailing only Kevin Somerville’s 16:56.0 from 2003. The feat compliments a list of accomplishments that also includes being a three-time All-Portage Trail Conference performer, league Runner of the year and regional qualifier.

It is a list that head coach Diana Morris likely could have predicted when she first had a discussion with Brady to run cross country after she coached him to a strong track and field season during the spring of his seventh-grade year.

“Cameron stood out early on in track for being very coachable, determined  and competitive,” Morris said. “He didn’t run distance early on, but it was soon obvious that he would excel there.”

Like most veteran coaches, Morris was spot on and Brady has done nothing but deliver to the program ever since.

Not only as the team’s primary runner, but also as one of the team’s primary leaders.

“Cam is also a natural leader. Being the oldest in his family, he’s been in that role with his siblings, too,” Morris said. “In his early high-school years of cross country, Cam had to earn a spot for the postseason seven, and he rose to the occasion.

“This season is his senior year and he is captain of the five-strong boys team,” Morris added. Each and every day we know we can count on him to lead well and give his best effort not only in the physical workout, but also with his attitude. He looks for ways to truly know the underclassmen and has a knack for figuring out how to motivate them individually. Cameron has continued to be a joy to coach, and we are very excited to see all his dedication pay off this season.”

Brady’s extensive experience have also helped set a tone for himself during races, but also his team.

“I just try to stay calm. I try not to overthink things,” Brady said. “I visualize the course and stay focused. It takes a lot of discipline and mental toughness, but I just keep my eyes looking ahead and run the race.”

It’s not much different than his summer days running through the village of Mogadore.

Even the same friendly greetings await him as he crosses the finish line of another race where they all know who Cameron Brady is.