FAIRHOPE, Alabama — Fairhope High School’s Thomas Grace signed a letter of intent Wednesday to join the University of Alabama-Huntsville men’s cross-country team next year.

The Pirate middle and long-distance specialist is the reigning cross-country champion for Baldwin County and part of a senior class that has earned the county’s team title for the last three years running. Moving on to college, Grace said he definitely wanted to go where the team spirit and pride in all-out effort would be the standard.

“When you consider cross-country, UAH is really a powerhouse” he said. “They’re a two-time conference champion and won the region championship last year and second this year. So just to be part of a strong, competitive team like that is such a tremendous opportunity. And to have the chance to contribute to even more conference and region titles and trips to nationals for a program like that was just too good to pass up.

“Also, It’s exciting because that all comes with a group of guys who are also willing to work hard, want the same goals, demand the best from themselves. So I want that atmosphere and believe I can feed off that to work even harder myself and get stronger and faster as well.”

Fairhope athletic director Adam Winegarden said collegiate signings are special for the athlete, the school and the community and celebrate the importance of education.

“It’s two celebrations, really,” he said. “A celebration of a student's athletic career and all they have done to excel and get to a point like Thomas where there’s a lot of interest at the next level to invite him to be a part of that. But it’s also a celebration for all that you have accomplished in the classroom. So we’re very proud of him for all he has done and for getting this well-deserved opportunity. And we will look forward to him representing us, his family and the community of Fairhope.”

Grace said there alo many people to thank for his success. “Definitely coach (Tim) Yahr (Fairhope cross-country and track coach) and coach (Emily) Pharez. They taught me so much about the sport. Coach Yahr here at Fairhope and coach Pharez, my middle school coach, God, and especially my parents and my teammates for all they have done and my teachers for everything, too.”

Yahr added more on Grace's contributions to to the success of the Pirate thin clads. 

"Thomas Grace has been running hard and blazing trails for Fairhope High since the summer before his sophomore year. That summer Thomas asked for and ran more miles than the rest of the sophomores. He saw success that CC season as a scoring member of the County Championship team; the first of three for Thomas.  In his last County Championship as a senior in 2012 he not only contributed, he won the race going away. Thomas helped the Fairhope High team start the string of (Three) County Championships, he helped the team win their first Section Championship in four years, and he was instrumental in helping Fairhope's boys team place in the top 10 in 6A for the first time ever. Thomas was All County three years, All Section two years, and top-50 in the state 6A for two years. 

"Thomas entered his sophomore track and field season having had some success in cross country and he exited with a lot of success—he found his speed. Thomas was able to drop his 800 time down to a school record 2:04 and broke that record again as a junior with a time of 2:00. Thomas ran the 800 in the state meet as a sophomore and a junior, placing 11th in 2012. He is also County Champion in the 800.

"In the 1600, Thomas recently ran a 4:37 placing 11th in the State Indoor TF meet and missing the Fairhope record by one second.  Thomas has developed such speed to enhance his endurance that he has dropped his 400 time down to 52.63 which is below the state qualifying time and could have put him in the top 20 of the 400 at the state indoor meet.

"Thomas has worked almost non-stop and at a high level to develop into one of the best runners in the state of Alabama.  He can contend in any race or relay from 400m to 5K (3.1 miles).  Thomas will be a great addition to the University of Alabama-Huntsville distance corps."