Erika Peoples

Top Ravenwood runner Erika Peoples trains for cross country and track every single day.  “For me, going out for a run is all I need to be happy,” Erika states.  Her commitment has paid off as last season Erika came in 15th in the state meet.  She has also been named All-State as a freshman and sophomore in both cross country and track.  Last year Erika won two invitational meets, but she is focused on the first meet of the year which takes place this Friday in Louisville.  Her personal best times are as follows:  5k – 19:54, 1600 – 5:19, 3200 – 11:30 all in her freshman year.

Erika credits Ravenwood cross country coach Pete Mueller for her success.  “He always has a positive attitude, and that is contagious.  He helps everybody with everything.  I feel so lucky to have him as a coach.”  As the only child of Carol and Brian Peoples, Erika appreciates the special attention from her parents.  “We are so close.  I tell them everything and they love to celebrate the good times, and guide me through the bad.”

The dream scenario for Erika is to run for big division 1 school on a scholarship and major in physical therapy.  She also has an interest in the smaller colleges in the mountains of North Carolina.  “I can’t imagine a more peaceful and scenic place to run.”

When not running or studying, Erika spends a lot of time going on church mission trips and working with the United Way through Brentwood Methodist Church.  She also enjoys shopping, especially for Nike Tempo Shorts.  She has over 40 pairs, and her quest is to have every single color they come in! 

 Kelly Bickel

Devotion, hard work, and the dream of competing in the 2016 Olympics are the reasons for Kelly Bickel’s success.  Wanting to kick it up a notch and run in a collegiate caliber event, the 400 meter hurdles at this summer’s ESPN Rise Games, Kelly trained for a month – everyday for hours at a time.  “It was exhausting, and I banged up my legs, but I placed 12th in the nation and I am so proud of myself.”

Kelly’s specialty events include the 400 meter, 200 meter, 4x400 relay, and of course the 400 meter hurdles.  She trains year round with Gary Kinder and the Kindersport team out of BHS, and competes in Nike National meets throughout the country during the school year.  Kelly’s dream scenario is to run for Samford University on a scholarship, study to be a teacher, and compete in the 2016 Olympics after graduating.

In the few minutes a week Kelly calls her off time, she uses at her church – Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, where she is very involved with her youth group.  Her parents, Kathy and Kent Bickel are especially vital to the BHS track program as they take all the pictures and videos at the events.  “My parents have helped me so much; they would never miss one of my meets.  Coach Seig and Gary Kinder also mean the world to me.  It’s going to be so hard to leave them behind when I go to college.”

Kelly would like to pass on some words of wisdom to the kids out there getting cut from teams, “I was cut from my middle school track team.  That’s ok, I ran by myself, got on the high school team, and hopefully that middle school coach will be watching me run in the 2016 Olympics!”

Conley Chitwood

The versatile Conley Chitwood is looking forward to a record breaking cross country season as Ravenwood’s top runner.  Last year Conley placed 28th at the state cross country meet, admittedly not his best run, and was named All-Region.   His personal best time in a 5000 meter run is 17:02.  Also a distance runner on the track team, Conley placed 10th at the state track meet in the 3200 meter run with a time of 9:47.  In the mile run he has a personal best time of 4:36.  Milesplit.com has predicted Conley to place 10th in the state.

Though he hopes to run in college, Conley’s goal is to receive an academic scholarship to a big SEC college and major in engineering. 

Other school activities for Conley include being a member of Mu Alpha Theta, the Student Council, and maintaining a 4.35 GPA placing him in the top 10 of his class.  He also boasts of his ping pong and trampoline skills, and the guitar shows he performs in his basement for his dog Cocoa.  Tennis was once a passion, but sadly had to be given up for track.  He still plays with younger brother Austin, and with parents Bill and Carol.

Conley’s claim to fame is working at the Cool Springs Smoothie King.  “Everyone knows the Smoothie King guys!  I just wish there were some sort of smoothie Olympics, cuz I would win it with my perfected Angel Food smoothie.”

 Steve Wade

2010 shot put State Champion Steve Wade had a busy summer competing across the globe in track & field meets.  At the Caribbean Invitational he set a new U.S.A record in the discus throw.  Steve placed 1st in shot put and 2nd in discus at the Nike Track Nationals in Oregon, where the BHS team placed 4th in national team competition.  Steve is currently ranked in the nation’s top 10 for shot put. 

All Steve’s efforts are on the football field now as a second year starter at defensive tackle.  In the 2009 season Steve had 47 tackles and 2 sacks, and is looking forward to the frightened looks from the opposing offence being one of the states strongest tackles.

Steve states he has had the rare opportunity of having his dad, also Steve as his throwing coach.  “Sometimes it can be hard, seeing other kids get away with little things.  But I know all the times my dad pushed me harder is why I am so successful today.”  Steve’s aspirations are to attend a big college on a track & field scholarship, then train for the 2016 Olympics.  When not on the fields, Steve likes to eat, hug him mom Cherie, hang out with friends and ride dirt bikes.

Steve sheepishly admits to doing damage with some of his throws.  “One time I picked up lighter discus without knowing it and threw it across the field, over the fence, into the BHS parking lot and it smashed into someone’s car.”  For now cars in the BHS parking lot are safe, as the only thing Steve will be smashing up this fall are bodies on the football field.