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Forever a Marshall Tiger: Sukalski keeps moving forward in pursuit of greatness

Independent file photo Marshall’s Bellamy Sukalski competes in the 4x800 meter relay event during their home meet on May 23.

After Bellamy Sukalski crossed the finish line at the Class AA state track and field meet on June 11 in the 4×800 meter relay, the Marshall senior took a few moments to catch her breath before watching her teammates compete. One by one, Sukalski’s teammates finished their legs of the relay before they all looked at the board to see where they placed.

Marshall would finish third with a time of 9:37.30 in the event, as Sukalski earned a medal for the second time in her career and marking the final race she would compete in as a Marshall Tiger.

Sukalski was reflective and emotional after the race. 

“It was unreal because we just got third place,” Sukalski said.“I cried but not a lot because we just got third. It really hit me though when I got home and really knew it was over.”

Sukalski, a Marshall native and recent graduate at MHS, grew up in a sports family playing several different sports. Her father, Trent Sukalski, coached basketball for many years and her mother, Pam Gladis, played four different sports in high school. Sukalski would follow in their footsteps by playing volleyball, basketball and softball. At the age of 11, Sukalski made a major decision and decided to no longer play volleyball.

“I was so bored playing volleyball,” Sukalski said. “I said I am going to quit volleyball and run cross country. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. Coach [Marie] Sample reached out to me and I started running with the girls that summer heading into the seventh grade.”

In her very first year of competing in cross country, the team qualified for state. Sukalski remembers her first race at state and it was also her closest friend Claire Boersma’s last race as a Marshall Tiger.

“I will always remember my seventh grade state meet because I was close to our senior Claire Boersma and she was the first one to see me when I finished,” Sukalski added. “I burst into tears at the finish line because I knew we didn’t get a chance to medal and I really wanted to get her up on that podium one last time, knowing it was her final race.” 

Boersma, a graduate of Marshall High School in 2016 and a newly graduate of Augustana University, spoke on her bond with Sukalski. 

“I remember her being really fast for her age,” Boersma said. “She got along with the team very well from the start. I took her under my wing because I understood how overwhelming it could be to be a seventh grader on varsity. I have so much respect for her then and now because of her work ethic, we’ve developed a sisterly type of relationship.” 

As Sukalski was explaining that emotion, it correlated with the time my team was in the playoffs for basketball and I shot 1 for 12 and had eight points with five rebounds in a playoff loss. I cried in my mother’s arms but not for selfish reasons of not playing well, it was because our season had ended and my senior teammates would never suit up for the team again. That emotion and pain felt by Sukalski motivated her to want to medal after being so close in her first year. Sukalski would also stop playing softball after her seventh grade year and put her full focus into cross country and track and field. 

Unfortunately, Sukalski would not medal in any cross country state meets in her high school career, but her 4×800 meter relay team for track and field would place eighth and medal in her freshman year of high school. It would take three more years for Sukalski, in her senior year, to medal again. 

As Sukalski got older and teammates started to change and get younger, the task in front of her was to be more of a leader for her team. This was something Sukalski struggled with at first, especially exhibiting the balance between being comforting and tough love.

“When I started my junior year, all of my teammates were seventh and eighth graders, I really struggled to relate/interact with them because I was the same way at that age,” Suklaski said. “I wouldn’t have called myself a great leader junior year but I was better prepared my senior year. I let go at times and became a kid again and found a way to be more relatable to our team. We had a lot of fun this year.”

Sukalski’s graduation day was the same day as sections to see if she would qualify for state in her events. She explained how crazy that day was.

“I had to wake up at 5 a.m to get on a bus to go to Waconia,” Sukalski said. “As soon as my races were over, my mom and I drove back so I could be there in time for graduation. Overall it was a pretty exciting, overwhelming day.”

Both of Suklaski’s parents echoed sentiments on how proud they are of their daughter for medaling, competing at the highest level and going off to college. 

“I’m very proud of all of her accomplishments in the classroom and in athletics. Super excited and proud of her going to Winona State University to continue her education and athletic career,” Trent Sukalski said.

“I am extremely proud of how well Bellamy balanced her academics and athletics. She has set herself up to be successful as a collegiate student-athlete. I’m excited for her next chapter,” Gladis said.

On the day of her final race, Sukalski was joined by Miracle Tucker, Taleigha Bigler and Allyson Sample in the 4×800 relay. Sukalski mentioned that she spent so much time stressing out before a race when she was younger but now on her final race day she believed in her preparation and training, nothing to stress over anymore.

Sukalski added a message for the teammates she is leaving behind and the impact coach Sample had on her. 

“Coach Sample really pushed me when I was young,” Sukalski said. “We would butt heads because we’re both feisty. I really couldn’t be the runner I am without her pushing me and believing in me. They [my teammates] know that they can call me anytime. I will definitely stay in touch with them and surprise them at a meet.” 

Sukalski has committed to Winona State and will continue her career in cross country and track and field. She is happy for the new journey and doing something she loves in a new environment at Winona. Track and field has been a passion of Suklaski’s ever since that first summer with coach Sample. Sukalski added that life wouldn’t be the same if she’d never started running. Although she’s moving on and furthering her athletic and academic career, Sukalski will forever be a Marshall Tiger, running her way into greatness. 

— Chris Drummond is a sports reporter for

the Marshall Independent.

Email: cdrummond@marshallindependent.com

Follow his social media sites and podcast shows:

Instagram: CDsports28, link to

website, podcast shows in my bio

Twitter: Ksusportschris

LinkedIn: Chris Drummond

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