Oct 15, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

Name: Ethan Syner

School: Uniontown

Class: Senior

Sport: Cross country

Syner’s week: The Red Raiders’ captain traveled the course around Connellsville Middle School in 16:39.20 to win the Fayette County Coaches Association (FCCA) Cross Country Championship last Thursday.

In a hotly-contested race, Syner edged Connellsville freshman Ellic Pritts and Belle Vernon junior Leonidas Soto.

Pritts was second in 16:43.10 and Soto third in 16:45.40. The trio broke the previous course record of 16:48, which was set by the Falcons’ Zach Bigam in 2021, but by winning the race, the mark belongs to Syner.

“Having Ellic (Pritts) and Leonidas (Soto) there to push me helped me to break the course record at Connellsville,” Syner said. “I wasn’t going into the race looking to do anything but win. After coming in third place last year in the county meet, I was really pleased to win it, especially since it’s my senior year.”

Getting started: Syner wasn’t dreaming as a young boy of running cross country, but some influence from a Uniontown alumni who competed in the sport got Syner involved, and the rest is history.

“Amy Foster, who is the wife of our assistant coach, Joe Foster, played a major role in me joining cross country. She really pushed me to be part of the team. My sister, Haylee (Syner), who was a swimmer for Uniontown, was dating another swimmer, Logan Garner, and he knew Amy, which is how it all came together.

“I did track in seventh and eighth grade, and I did cross country in eighth grade before joining the high school team. I was pleased with my times as a freshman, but it was tough making varsity because our team was really good that year.”

Syner’s father competed in track & field, but he was a sprinter, which makes him the lone distance runner in his family. Syner also runs track & field and competes in swimming, but cross country is his main sport.

Back to White Oak: Syner turns his attention to the WPIAL championship meet, which is scheduled for Oct. 23 at White Oak Park. Syner placed eighth in the Class 2A district race last season to qualify for the state meet after running 16:18.60.

Uniontown qualified for the state championships as a team, but Syner’s finish would have sent him to Hershey as an individual.

“I am looking forward to the WPIAL meet,” Syner said. “I would like to run in the 15s. I think if I do that, I should be up there in the race. I definitely want to go back to the state meet, and I would like to place this time.”

Skilled with his hands: Syner gets noticed because of his ability to move his feet quickly over long distances, which is also highlighted during meets because of his unorthodox selection of socks, but he works well with his hands, as he is in the Machine Production Technology program at the Fayette County Career & Technical Institute (CTI).

The program teaches students to use manual and computerized equipment to cut, mill, grind or shape metal and non-metal in a state-of-the-art facility at Fayette County CTI.

The knowledge Syner has gained at Fayette County CTI was instrumental in him working in his field over the summer, and he plans on going into engineering for his career.

“The program I work in at Tech (CTI) will help me get into the door of becoming an engineer,” Syner said. “It was also nice to work a job that was in my field.”

Syner has the ability and work ethic to continue his studies and also run cross country in college, but he is unsure if he will go that route. He has been contacted by collegiate coaches, and if he has a solid showing at the WPIAL and state meet, more interest will come his way.

“I was thinking about maybe going to a junior college because it’s cheaper, then going to a four-year college to finish up my degree in engineering,” Syner said. “It’s flattering to have coaches reach out to me about running for them in college. I’ll just have to weigh my options when the season is over.”

Scout’s honor: Syner is in the Boy Scouts of America and currently working on his Eagle Project to become an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank that can be achieved in youth advancement as a member of the Boys Scouts of America. To become an Eagle Scout is not an easy task, as only four percent of scouts have earned the rank since its inception in 1911.

Compiled by Jonathan Guth