Grand Rapids Community College Women's Cross Country

Sharon M. Becker was named the Women’s Head Cross Country Coach in the Fall of 2021. Becker has been with the GRCC program since August of 2016 when she and her family moved (back) to the Grand Rapids area.  Becker earned a degree in Public Health Education (Minor in Substance Abuse Education) at Central Michigan University. As a coach and athlete, she is most interested in the benefits of athletics on an athlete’s personal life. Self-growth- academically, spiritually, and athletically- is among the strongest benefits she could list.  Her passion is to motivate, encourage and teach others to set challenging goals, persevere through adversity and to challenge each of them to strive beyond any current limitations. Becker enjoyed running from a very young age. As a freshman in high school (West Catholic) she was able to achieve much success in XC and Track & Field. She then became a member of Central Michigan University XC / T&F Teams (where she met her husband Tim Becker, who was on the Men’s CMU Team).  Becker is an artist and crafter who enjoys graphic design, metal-stamping, jewelry making, painting and creating artwork using a variety of methods, tools, media and canvasses. Passions and Values: “As a coach and athlete, I am most interested in the benefits of athletics on an athlete’s personal life. Self-growth (academically, spiritually, and athletically) is among the many benefits I could list. Even though I have witnessed, heard and was inspired by many great “sports stories”, my own, personal experience as a young athlete living on the West-Side of Grand Rapids are the only evidence I need to motivate, propel and share my passion for coaching and running. I am very grateful to many people (like my family and coaches) in my life who helped me when I was young.” Coaching Experience: 2021-Present: GRCC Women’s Head XC Coach (Men’s Assistant Coach). 2016-2020: Grand Rapids Community College Assistant XC Coach. 2012-2015: Fowler High School’s Boys & Girl's XC Coach. 2008-2013: Fowler High School Assistant Track & Field Coach. 2006-2012: Fowler Middle School Boy’s & Girl’s Cross Country Coach. GRCC Season Finishes: 2023:  MCCAA/Region XII Championship (Oct. 31) -- Men- | Women-  NJCAA DII National Championships (Nov. 14) -- Men-  | Women-  2022: MCCAA/Region XII Championship (Oct. 31) -- Men-  | Women- NJCAA DII National Championships (Nov. 14) -- Men-TBA | Women-  2021: MCCAA/Region XII Championship (Oct. 31) -- Men-  | Women- NJCAA DII National Championships (Nov. 14) -- Men-  | Women-  2020: MCCAA/Region XII Championship (Oct. 31) -- Men-  | Women- 1st of 6/1st of 6 NJCAA DII National Championships (Nov. 14) -- Men-  | Women- 1st of 9/1st of 9 2019: MCCAA/Region XII Championship (Oct. 26) -- Men-3rd of 8/3rd of 8 | Women-3rd of 7/4th of 8 NJCAA DI National Championships (Nov. 9) -- Men-Individual Only | Women-23rd of 38 2018: MCCAA/Region XII Championship (Oct. 27) -- Men-3rd of 8/3rd of 13 | Women-Individual Only NJCAA DI National Championships (Nov. 10) -- Men-20th of 36 | Hannah Jefferis - 21:16 (70th of 294). 2017: MCCAA/Region XII Championship (Oct. 28) -- Men-3rd of 13 & 4th of 14 | Women-3rd of 13 & 5th of 14 NJCAA DI National Championships (Nov. 11) -- Men-24th of 44 | Stephanie Thomas - 19:20 (35th of 309), Jessica Sluiter - 20:20 (108th), Cierra Ensign - 20:25 (119th). 2016: Region XII Championship (Oct. 29) -- Men-3rd of 12 | Women-8th of 10 NJCAA DI National Championships (Nov. 12) -- Men-16th of 40 | Jackie Jernigan - 20:21 (placed 98th of 313), Jessica Quist - 20:58 (146th)

Sicilia brings 11 years of coaching experience to the Raider staff with one as a student assistant for Calvin Colleges 2001 D3 National Runner-Up cross country team and ten as the track & field coach at Calvin Christian High School in Grandville, MI.   Sicilia ran cross country and track at Ogemaw Heights High School (97) in West Branch, MI and continued his athletic career at Calvin College (02).  Following his collegiate career, Sicilia continued to compete running on the Gazelle Elite team and Team Striders for nearly ten years. While his competitive career has ended, he still competes in several road races each year, and has completed 8 Riverbank Runs in under an hour and a half.    Coach Sicilias personal running highlights include: achieving All-State Honors in the 800m run in high school, being a member of the 2000 NCAA D3 National Championship cross country team, running a national qualifying time in the 3000 meter steeplechase in 2002, meeting his wife Lindsay (a three-time USATF Championships qualifier) on the Calvin track team, breaking 15 minutes in the 5k in 2003, finishing 11 in the 2006 Detroit Marathon, and breaking 17 minutes in a road race while pushing his four-month old daughter in a stroller.   Coach Sicilias training philosophy is based on building strength through slowly increased mileage, tempo, progression and hill runs, and a mix of aerobic and anaerobic intervals.  His coaching philosophy stresses building a team-first atmosphere through open communication, shared experiences outside of running, hard work, and pack racing.             Coach Sicilia lives in West Michigan with his wife Lindsay of 11 years and has three energetic children: Carly (7), Logan (5) and Cole (2).   Sicilia is entering his tenth year as PE teacher and middle school athletic director at Excel Charter Academy in Grand Rapids, MI.Matt Sicilia