Bethlehem Catholic graduate and distance runner Rowan Pepe will continue her academic and athletic career at Misericordia University this year.

“I went to a few different schools, but something about Misericordia just clicked,” Pepe said, “and it’s close to my grandparents.”

Pepe received a letter from the university during her junior year in high school and filled out some information about her sport and her major, physical therapy, but she did not hear back until she decided to contact cross country and track coach Chris Wadas directly.

“He emailed me back. I met with him multiple times at orientation and on my overnight over Thanksgiving break. By then, I was pretty much sold,” said Pepe. “Then I visited over the summer and toured the campus.”

Pepe had the opportunity to ask questions about training and workouts, and found them to be similar to her training and workouts at Becahi.

“I felt like that would be good,” she said. “I really liked him, and the cross country team is definitely like a family, and they support each other, and I’m coming right in from that.”

Pepe is currently on a 55 miles per week program.

“I’m actually getting used to it,” said Pepe, who will leave for college on Aug. 18.

“I’m counting down the days to meet the team. I really want to meet them and be part of a team. A lot of them are physical therapy and occupational therapy majors. I’m so excited to start and dive right in.”