Athens' Lunger verbally commits to Saint Francis
By: Kevin L. Smith | Sayre Morning Times | November 1, 2017 | Photo courtesy Kevin Smith
ATHENS — Emily Lunger has played three different sports - which are soccer, basketball and track - in her high school career at Athens.
While all three sports are ones Lunger loves to play, she was faced with the difficult task of choosing which sport she wanted to play in college.
The choice has now been narrowed down to one as Lunger chose to compete in track and field at Saint Francis University, a NCAA Division I program in the Northeast Conference.
After competing in states her junior year, Lunger knew track and field was the right sport to pursue further opportunities in college.
“That decision was really hard because I honestly love all three sports,” she said. “I kind of decided at the end of my junior year that I would focus more on track for college.
“I thought that would be the sport to open more doors for me.”
It looked at first as though the Athens senior would consider soccer or basketball for college, but track peaked her interest late in the game.
“It was more of my decision, but my parents have always said I’ve been phenomenal to watch in track,” Lunger said. “I think I made the right choice.”
So, is soccer or basketball still on the backburner going into collegiate athletics? Not in the slightest for Lunger, who will have more than outdoor track to focus on with the Lady Red Flash.
“Track will be my main focus (in college) because I’ll be competing in winter track along with outdoor track in the spring,” she said. “I’ve never done winter track, and that will be new for me, but I’m looking forward to it.”
A three-time state medalist, Lunger was also caught in a pickle with schools. Not only did she consider Saint Francis, but she also had Duquesne, another D1 school, as an option. But, the Lady Red Flash outweighed her interests over the Lady Dukes.
“It was a tough choice, but I fell in love with Saint Francis coaching staff and the campus,” she said. “The school is very family-like, and I love that.
“It was tough between the schools. Both are phenomenal schools and had great teams, but I narrowed it down to Saint Francis.”
Lunger’s biggest events while competing with Athens are the 200 and 400 dash along with the high jump. Those three events, with a possible relay sprinkled in, are what she’s hoping compete in at Saint Francis.
Lunger finished fifth overall in the 400 at states her freshman year. Last season in her junior year, she took third in the 4x400 relay and sixth in the 200.
“I was talking to the Saint Francis coaches and she thinks I’d do well in all the events,” she said. “They’ve seen me compete in those events and was impressed by my performance.
“We’ll see what events they throw me into.”
Lunger will always appreciate what Athens has done to prepare her for college competition, especially when it means she’ll be a D1 athlete.
“It makes me happy,” she said. “It’s sad that I’m a senior and it’s my last year at Athens, but overall I’m looking forward to the challenge of being a college athlete.
“My hard work and accomplishments in high school has paid off.”
With Lunger now on the road to competing at the highest level in college sports, it means her training will have to be taken up a notch.
“I’m definitely going to do a lot more summer training,” she said. “After states this upcoming season, I may go with Breana (Gambrell) for relays and national events to prep myself for competition in college.”
Lunger intends to major in marketing while attending Saint Francis.
