Courtesy Photo Alpena junior Samantha Zolnierek, center, leads Alpena’s girls cross country team through warm-ups before a race this season. Zolnierek, who is one of Alpena’s captains, is finding other ways to contribute and lead this season after being sidelined from running due to injury.

ALPENA — Samantha Zolnierek is used to being on the move.

She’s used to running fast, winding her way through a cross country course or giving it her all on the track, competing in grueling distance races.

But after being thrown a curveball this spring Zolnierek, an Alpena High School junior, has had to learn to slow down.

Zolnierek is a captain for Alpena’s High School’s cross country team, but she won’t compete in any races this season. An unknown injury keeps her from doing what she loves and there is no set timetable for her return.

But Zolnierek has found a different way to lead this season. Instead of competing with her teammates, Zolnierek supports them from the sidelines and does whatever is needed to help the team.

“I’m holding it together, but deep down I’m trying to stay strong for our team as a captain and guiding them, but missing what I love is hard,” Zolnierek said.

Everything seemed to be falling into place for Zolnierek to have a standout season in 2022.

As a sophomore last fall, she was a part of Alpena’s varsity seven and posted the fourth fastest time of the season at one of the Wildcats’ late-season meets.

This spring, she had a strong track season, regularly scoring for the Wildcats in the distance races.

But at some point during track season, soreness came and didn’t go away, prompting Zolnierek to seek medical attention. As of now, doctors are still trying to figure out the nature of her injury and how to help her heal.

“I felt like I was doing good until a certain point and I think that’s when the injury came on,” Zolnierek said. “During May, I was racing and I noticed some pain. I just thought I was sore because I was racing a lot. I was putting on a lot of miles.”

Now sidelined by her injury, Zolnierek has embraced her role as a captain wholeheartedly. She’s been at practice every day, leading her teammates through warm-up exercises and helped coach Joe Donajowski and his assistant prepare for meets.

“She was elected by her captain and she really took that to heart; approached it just as a captain would,” Donajkowski said. “She knows she can’t set an example by racing, because she’s injured, but she hasn’t missed a practice, she’s there to encourage everyone else and helps out wherever she can.”

Part of being a captain also means giving the Wildcats pre-race pep talks before meets, offering insight into what runners may expect to see during a race.

“I think I can talk to them more from a student (point of view) instead of as a coach and see things from their own (point of view) or what they’re going into,” Zolnierek said.

While she waits and figures out what comes next, she’s spent time biking and strength training to stay as ready as possible and hopes is a return in time for track season.

Despite the injury, Zolnierek said she’s glad to be dealing with it now, rather than during her senior year. This year’s cross country team has no seniors, which means the Wildcats stand to return their entire roster in 2023, including Zolnierek.

Until then, she’ll continue to work hard, continue to lead and continue embracing her role as a captain.

“It feels good (being a captain). It’s a different position, but I’m ready for it and it’s a good change that I needed,” Zolnierek said.