WARSAW – Emma Hayward had a nice introduction to life on the road this past season. Ending her cross country season on the LaVern Gibson cross country course in Terre Haute, life became a precursor for Hayward as the Warsaw Community High School senior has signed a national letter of intent to continue her cross country and track career at Indiana State.

The senior standout was a four-year-letter winner for Tiger coach Scott Erba’s cross country team and will earn her fourth in track this spring. Hayward reached the state finals four times with the cross country squad. An All-State Academic Honorable Mention selection this past season, Hayward twice earned All-Northern Lakes Conference Honorable Mention and each season concluded her years with her top times at the state meet.

While Hayward was able to find success on the courses and tracks for the Tigers, she was also able to master the twists and turns in the classroom, earning an 11.82 grade-point-average on a 12-point scale and is ranked in the top seven percent of a class of 477 seniors.

A member of the National Honor Society, Hayward also served Tiger Athletics through her efforts with the Tiger Student Athletic Board. In the community, she served with the youth group at Winona Grace Brethren and as a volunteer with the Warsaw Community Church.

Hayward will run for coach Kyle Walsh while majoring in Elementary Education. The Sycamores belong to the Missouri Valley Conference.