Arcanum’s Marcy Bradshaw commits to run for University of South Carolina Upstate cross country, track and field teams

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ARCANUM – Arcanum senior Marcy Bradshaw will run at the Division I level in college having committed to the University of South Carolina Upstate on Tuesday afternoon.

Bradshaw, the daughter of Lori and Jeff Bradshaw, is excited about competing at the NCAA Division I level, but what really drew her to USC Upstate was its education program.

“A lot of people have asked me is it Division I, that’s the big deal about it, and I said it’s really more about the education program,” Bradshaw said. “I want to be a special ed teacher, and they have a good education program And then sports, they have a great sports program, too.”

Bradshaw will run both cross country and track and field for the USC Upstate Spartans, who compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

“Marcy has worked so hard,” Arcanum track and cross country coach Chris Kessler said. “That girl has set goals and has achieved everything she set out. She wanted to run for a D1 school.”

Kessler wasn’t so sure that Bradshaw’s focus should be on Division I schools, she said, but like always the Lady Trojan senior surprised her coaches and found a home at USC Upstate.

“She had so many colleges looking at her,” Kessler said. “Ashland wanted her really bad. But she wanted Upstate, and she academically worked very hard to get there, got what they needed from her. She was just ecstatic when she received word that they were taking her.”

Bradshaw is a two-time qualifier for the Ohio High School Athletic Association state cross country meet and has a personal best time of 19:39 in the 5K. Now she’s working toward qualifying for state in track and field this season.

While Bradshaw knows the level of competition in college will be very tough, that’s exactly what she wants.

“It will be hard,” Bradshaw said. “I don’t want being a college runner to be easy anyways. So I want a challenge and running Division I will be a challenge.”

As Kessler has found, it’s not smart to underestimate Bradshaw.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but that’s one girl that can handle that kind of a challenge,” the Arcanum coach said.

Arcanum senior Marcy Bradshaw committed on Tuesday afternoon to run cross country and track and field for the University of South Carolina Upstate. Pictured are (front row, l-r) mother Lori Bradshaw, Marcy Bradshaw, father Jeff Bradshaw, (back row, l-r) Arcanum cross country and track coach Chris Kessler and Arcanum Athletics Director Brian Sprada.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Marcy-Bradshaw-WEB-1-3.jpgArcanum senior Marcy Bradshaw committed on Tuesday afternoon to run cross country and track and field for the University of South Carolina Upstate. Pictured are (front row, l-r) mother Lori Bradshaw, Marcy Bradshaw, father Jeff Bradshaw, (back row, l-r) Arcanum cross country and track coach Chris Kessler and Arcanum Athletics Director Brian Sprada. Kyle Shaner | The Daily Advocate

By Kyle Shaner

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Kyle Shaner may be reached at 937-569-4316. Follow me on Twitter @KShanerAdvocate or get updates on Facebook by searching Darke County Sports or Advocate 360. For more features online go to dailyadvocate.com.

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