No more Yunk runners for Belvidere North High School

By Kathryn Menue

Editor

BELVIDERE – An end of an era has come for Belvidere North High School.

Since the school’s opening in the fall of 2007, BNHS always had a Yunk runner to help lead the other runners to victory. Next school year, BNHS will feel the loss of having no more Yunk runners in attendance.

On Wednesday, April 13, family, friends, faculty, classmates, and teammates gathered in the forum room to celebrate the last Yunk runner, Eryk, as he signed a letter of intent to run cross country and track at the D1 School, Mississippi State University.

With Yunk’s parents sitting proudly beside him, BNHS Athletic Director Jody Flynn began the ceremony by listing Yunk’s numerous achievements, both on and off the track.

“If he didn’t take care of the academic side of it, he wouldn’t be sitting here today,” Flynn said.

Yunk’s achievements include being a National Honor Society member, a National English Honor Society member, a National Science Honor Society member, a National Spanish Honor Society member, a NIC-10 Scholar Athlete, an IHSA honor student, and a four-year honor roll student.

Yunk is also a member of the N and W clubs, a mentor, a member of the art club, a student ambassador, and a member of Blue Crew, which is the BNHS sports fan club that supports all BNHS athletics.

Yunk has been in varsity cross country for four years, is the varsity captain for his senior year, has been named MVP, has been to four state and all conference meets, has been to three all state meets, and has been a NIC-10 MVP for three years.

In track, Yunk has run varsity for four years and has done well in numerous state meets throughout his running career.

Yunk also ran for the Belvidere Tornadoes and was on the BNHS basketball team his freshman and sophomore year.

Before Eryk Yunk signed his letter of intent, Coach Troy Yunk had a few things to say about his son.

“It’s a special moment for me not only as his coach but as his father,” Coach Yunk said. “He doesn’t really take a day off. He runs with friends or he’ll run alone…and he’s a really good sport.”

Eryk Yunk displayed his sportsmanship in the fall NIC-10 meet, where he finished first. After finishing, he stood at the finish line and shook the hand of every athlete as they finished. Because of this, BNHS won the Sportsmanship Award.

Coach Yunk also described his son’s persistence. In several races, when Eryk fell behind in the race, he would close his eyes, put his chin down, and make up the lost yardage to finish the race strong, often jumping places, to the great dismay of the other runners.

Not only did Yunk’s family show their pride in him, but his friends and teammates did as well with several of them calling Yunk a “great athlete, great person, great role model,” and “a great leader.”

Yunk felt “very grateful” for all of the support.

“I just want to say thanks for everyone for coming out to support me,” Yunk said. “Thanks to all my friends for keeping me company on runs. I’m very grateful. This has been a dream of mine since I was 5-years-old. I’m so proud to be a part of Belvidere North. It’s been amazing that you’ve supported me for all that I’ve done.”

Yunk further explained that his friends and family are what help him run faster. When he feels as though he has nothing left to give, he puts his chin down and closes his eyes to visualize all of the important people in his life.

“You guys get me there to the finish line,” Yunk said.

As applause sounded around the room, Yunk sat between his parents and signed his letter of intent to become a Mississippi State University Bulldog.

With the commitment ceremony complete, Eryk Yunk joins a long line of successful Yunk runners as he makes the next step at the collegiate level.

Now, finishing his track season, hoping to qualify for his last high school state meet, Yunk is looking to end his senior year on a high note before moving onto Mississippi State University.

Aside from his athletic career, Yunk will pursue a degree in biology to be used toward podiatry school.