DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Daytona State Women's Cross Country has signed the first two women to compete in the inaugural season in the fall of 2018: Moriya Patsch, a 2017 graduate from Seabreeze High School, and Janie Davidson, a 2017 Spruce Creek High School graduate, have committed to run for the Falcons in what will be a historic season for the school.
Patsch is the daughter of Barbara Huebsch and Kevin Patsch. She will be majoring in nursing, and has already completed a year at Daytona State College.
While attending Seabreeze High School, Patsch contributed to a team that won the 4A Region Championship in 2015 and earned a trip to the state meet where they placed 14th as a team. She was honored with the Coaches Award and named co-captain her senior year.
Davidson is the daughter of Ruthie and Jeff Davidson and will be pursuing a nursing degree while at Daytona State. She is a four year varsity letter award winner in track and cross country and won the Most Inspirational Award and Coaches Award.
During her time at Spruce Creek, Davidson was a member of the 2015 and 2016 Five Star Conference champion team, and also the 4A District 2 Championship team for the same years.
Coach Judy Wilson was immediately impressed with both Moriya and Janie for their desire to represent Daytona State in the sport of cross country.
"In talking with each of them, I could tell how much they wanted to continue their running careers and be in a team environment again," Wilson said.
"I explained that we wanted a competitive program and that we will be striving to not only go to the NJCAA championship, but to see how high we can place there," Wilson said, adding, "I think they both went out and ran a road race the next weekend."
Coach Judy Wilson was immediately impressed with both Moriya and Janie for their desire to represent Daytona State in the sport of cross country.
"In talking with each of them, I could tell how much they wanted to continue their running careers and be in a team environment again," Wilson said.
"I explained that we wanted a competitive program and that we will be striving to not only go to the NJCAA championship, but to see how high we can place there. I think they both went out and ran a road race the next weekend."
The cross country program begins in August of 2018 for both men and women and both squads will compete against teams across all levels, from NCAA Div I, II, and III, and NAIA, as well as other local NJCAA schools.