Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2020

YELLOW JACKET KUNDO PUSHING THROUGH TO FINISH WELL Walking with foot issues can be irritating. It’s a game changer — or more aptly put, a race changer — if you’re a distance runner. That’s been the case for Olivia Kundo ’20. An award-filled freshman campaign followed by two seasons on the shelf because of injuries had her wondering if she’d ever contribute to the Lady Jacket program again. Now, after intense rehab coupled with lots of faith, patience, and encouragement, Kundo is ready to bring her career to a close on a high note. The Liberty Center, Ohio, product came to the University with an impressive high school resume, which translated to an impressive rookie season. Kundo was tabbed the Ohio Division II/NAIA Cross Country Freshman of the Year and earned All-G-MAC honors. On the track, she earned NCAA Indoor All-America honors as a member of the school’s record-setting distance medley relay quartet that finished third in the country at the national meet. “Leaders like Carsyn (Koch-Johnson ’18) and Olivia (Esbenshade ’17) knew how to push us in practice,” Kundo said. “We knew we couldn’t accomplish what we did with just one or two of us on board, but it had to be an entire team effort.” Her sophomore year arrived with great expectations and then, it happened ... the dreaded foot injury. Kundo couldn’t run for what would end up being the better part of two years. “I learned a lot of patience and trust in the Lord,” she said. “He’s still good even when things aren’t going the way I expect them to go. Now I’m able to encourage other teammates not to give up through injuries.” This past fall, Kundo was able to work her way back into the cross country team’s top seven. Now, with a clean bill of health, she’s focusing on her favorite track events in her final year of competition — the indoor mile and the outdoor 1,500 meters. While Kundo has plans of running faster on the track, life is beginning to pick up speed as well. She’s scheduled to g r a d u a t e with a middle childhood education degree on May 2 and then will be married one week later to Yellow Jacket men’s distance running alumnus David Pelletier ’19. That’s a lot to look forward to, but Kundo excitedly admits that Cedarville University has prepared her well. “From daily chapel, to the education program, to the cross country and track teams, to living in the same dorm all four years, the entire experience has really transformed my life,” she said. “The natural discipleship that comes with living with 25 others girls in the same hall has been the most transforming thing for me.” And, being part of the Lady Jacket program has provided the same result. “I and all of my t e amma t e s w a n t to use the abilities that God gave us, recognizing He is the one who gave us our talent,” she said. 40 | Cedarville Magazine