ROCHESTER, N.Y. – This was supposed to be a "rebuilding" year for the Roberts Wesleyan University women's cross country team.

Acacia Barber and her teammates made sure that it wasn't.

After graduating three of the top five runners from the 2021 squad, Roberts overcame rival Daemen to win its eighth consecutive East Coast Conference championship and finished second at the NCAA Division II East Region Championships on Long Island to qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships for the eighth straight season.

Barber, a sophomore from Frewsburg, N.Y., played a huge role in the Redhawks' success. She led Roberts with a third-place finish at the ECC Championships on Nov. 5 and placed fifth at Regionals. Her performances earned her All-ECC First Team and First-Team All-Region.

Barber, who carries a 3.86 grade-point average in Exercise Science, was also named Roberts Wesleyan University's Female Scholar Athlete for November.

Barber came to Roberts after a standout career at Frewsburg where she won the Section VI State Qualifier in cross country as a senior and set school records in track in the 400- and 800-meter runs and as a member of the 4-by-400 relay team in track. She hopes to become a physical therapist after graduating from Roberts.

Barber shared her thoughts on being a student-athlete at Roberts. Her responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Who is your biggest influence in life and why?
"The biggest influence in my life is my mom, Heather. As a kid, I wanted to be just like her and do everything that she did like play the flute, be a teacher and run track. Now I see the kind-hearted, wise and Christ-loving woman she is and I want to be just like her in these ways."

How did you get started in cross country?
"I got started in cross country by accidentally signing up in sixth grade. I was so excited because I thought I was signing up for track and that I would run the 400 like my mom did. Then, she explained that cross country involved running in the woods and uphill, and I wanted to quit before the first day but she didn't let me. I am so glad that I gave it a shot and stuck with it."

What do you like most about cross country?
"My favorite part of cross country is how tight the team bonds are. Our team is more like a family, and these people are my lifelong friends."

How did you become interested in Roberts Wesleyan?
"I became interested in Roberts because I knew Kylee Odell and Abby and Bailey Gostomski from competing against them in high school, and they were all here. I had roomed with them all at states and was familiar with them and their good character, so I thought Roberts would have a good team culture to be a part of."

What do you like most about being a Redhawk?
" I love being able to recognize God's glory in everything I do, and being a Redhawk has helped me to boast not in my success, but God's faithfulness to me regardless of whether I succeed or fail. My toughest battles in athletics have been with this team, and they have shown me what it is like to truly be an overcomer, and I think that the Christian atmosphere surrounding being a Redhawk lets me give God the credit He deserves."

Do you have a favorite class/professor at Roberts? If so, what class and why?
"My favorite class thus far was Old Testament with Dr. Helms because it was interesting to learn the history surrounding the times of the Old Testament stories. I am also looking forward to more Exercise Science classes with Mrs. Pessagno next semester because I love classes that are hands-on and active, or learning about movement."

What are your favorite hobbies aside from running?
"Aside from running, I love gardening with my mom, playing guitar with my dad, and painting. I am also determined to be the best cook out of my two brothers and me!"

What is your favorite side dish at Thanksgiving?
"My favorite side dish at Thanksgiving is my mama's green bean casserole!"

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
"My favorite holiday tradition is going to my grandpa's cabin in the woods on Christmas Eve to play card games with the whole family, play guitar and sing Christmas carols, and eat LOTS of food. We all read the Christmas story together and sing old Christmas hymns."