It started as something to do to keep in shape but turned into an athletic choice for Ada senior Saul Palma. “I started running some mornings this summer just to kind of keep in shape and then started running a little more in the evenings and it just felt good, so I decided to run cross country this fall instead of playing football,” said Saul.

And Cougar cross-country and soccer coach Cole Jones is sure happy he did. “He’s done pretty well for a first-timer, but he’s really been one of our team leaders and has helped the team do better this year,” said Jones.

But Saul’s true sports love is soccer which he has played since he was little. He plays defender on the team and says that’s where he found some strong role models. “Last year we had a lot of good senior players and they were all role models for me on how to be a good leader. I’d like to be a leader that others can look up to like I did last year with those seniors. A good leader gives 100 percent effort, does everything right and motivates and teaches the younger kids,” explained Palma.

Saul and his younger brothers all play soccer on a club team named El Rayo that is having some success this year and all three will play on the school soccer team together this spring which excites Saul. “We’re all pretty competitive so it will be neat having all of us play for the Cougars this year.”

Outside of athletics, Palma is very active, belonging to the Spanish, math and science clubs while also enjoying studying forensics. But the other activity he belongs to maybe his favorite outside of soccer. “I’m also a member of the Rough Riders which is kind of a spirit squad that supports the football team. Though I’m not playing, I still like to support the team because I played with these guys,” said Palma.

There have been pluses and minuses to the cross-country experiment this fall says Saul. “It’s been a little hard adjusting to the long distances. But it’s also nice to have a fall where I’m not all banged up from football,” chuckled Palma.

After high school, Saul says he’ll probably attend hometown East Central University and study architecture.