Ziggy Fisher: CACC Runner of the Year
by Stephanie Brogna ’20, Editor-in-Chief
Senior Zigmund “Ziggy” Fisher brought home a first place finish and CACC runner of the year award after running through eight kilometers of mud to the finish line.
Fisher, who has only been running Cross-Country for six years, says that the journey that he has been on through this sport has been beneficial for him. Before running, Fisher played lacrosse, and in order to create stamina for the game, his dad suggested trying out for his high school’s cross-country team. In the end, he found a passion for running and decided to “run” with it.
Through his college career, Fisher has placed in many races, but has also encountered set backs and failures in his running experience. He believes that those failures have helped him get to where he is today.
“My journey to where I’m not now has not been an easy one. Its been filled with bumps in the road, hills (literally) and setbacks. There are the kind of things that make evaluate yourself and force you to make changes in order to keep getting better,” says Fisher.
Through his college career, Fisher has grown close with his teammates and classmates. “Aaron, Alex, Jake and I were all apart of the same recruiting class. So we started together and have been through a lot whether that be hard workouts, long bus rides or bad races. No matter what we have been there for each other through thick and thin,” he says. “Plus when you’re running for a minimum of an hour every day together you learn a lot about each other and have some pretty interesting conversations a long the way. I would definitely say meeting those guys has been one of the highlights of my career here.”
Fisher will graduate in May 2020. He plans on securing a spot at the cross country nationals to get a chance to race against some of the fastest collegiate runners in the country. He also hopes to break 30 in the 10k, and looks to win the Penn Relays in the spring semester. Beyond Chestnut Hill College, Fisher hopes to secure a sponsorship and go on to the professional level. In the future, Fisher also wants to try to qualify for the 2024 Olympic trials in the half and full marathon.
His biggest motivation comes from the fact that he is not the best. Knowing this motivates him to continue working hard and pushing himself to be better than he was last week. It is also motivation to him that in the region and conference that he is one of the fastest runners.
“I know people are trying to beat me. Success is not just handed to you and I know the second I stop working that’s the second I stop winning,” Fisher says. He enjoys winning and seeing that he is able to place in the top positions out of a group of over 300 runners. He likes knowing that hard work pays off. “Its a combination striving to run better times while knowing I am still one of the best already,” Fisher adds.
Outside of running, Fisher admits that he is a “huge history nerd”. At Chestnut Hill College, Fisher is a History and Secondary Education double major with a minor in Special Education.
“I love learning and reading books about new things. Whether it be Genghis Khan, WWI, or the Civil War, I genuinely enjoy it all,” he says. For Christmas Fisher doesn’t ask for the “normal” things as gifts, instead he asks for books. He says that they keep piling up in his room.
In addition he also has about three years of cooking experience, and likes to make dinners ranging from burgers and hot dogs, to country club style catering. “ I’m pretty broke right now so it comes in handy when I have to use whatever food I have left in my fridge. So I can usually make some strange combinations into some good dinners. Overall it’s just really fun and I like impressing people with the things I make as well,” says Fisher.
Fisher and his teammates will conclude the fall season at the NCAA Regional Championships hosted by Chestnut Hill College on November 10 at Belmont Plateau.
