The 5-foot-7, 120-pound senior raced to the State Open individual championship this past season with a time of 15:47. Van der Els also won the Class LL state championship in 15:52 and finished third at the New England Cross Country Championships. He cross
Van der Els has maintained a 3.12 GPA in the classroom.
He has served as a summer camp counselor and has volunteered on behalf of the Pura Vida club, which helps feed disadvantaged children internationally.
