Haley Smilow
ASU Student Journalist

A Scottsdale Christian Academy family's sports legacy

October 23, 2020 by Haley Smilow, Arizona State University


Meredyth McClue and a couple other cross-country runners after a race. (Photo provided by Meredyth McClue.)

Haley Smilow is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Scottsdale Christian Academy for AZPreps365.com.

Having a sibling is pretty normal. Going to school with your sibling is a little rarer. How about going to school with your whole family? For the McClue/Ramier family, that's an everyday certainty.

Molly Ramier is coach of the Scottsdale Christian Academy cross-country team. And on the team is two of her cousins, junior Meredyth McClue and freshman Seth McClue.

 "We've always had a big presence in the school," Ramier said. "Now that it's coming back to the next generation and Seth and Meredyth are rising up, it's exciting."

For the past 15 years, someone in the McClue/Ramier family has graduated from SCA every year.

 "It feels like the whole atmosphere of SCA is a home because we know everyone," Meredyth McClue said. "We are able to have lots of connections with everyone at SCA, and I guess that makes a difference."

The Ramier/McClue family has had cross-country runners, basketball players, football players and cheerleaders. Seth McClue is following in his older brother's footsteps by playing basketball. Meredyth McClue is also a two-sport athlete.

But both the McClue siblings have a love for cross-country. "I've been running since eighth grade," Meredyth McClue said.

Ramier added that the McClue siblings and herself are the first family members to take cross-country seriously.

Being a family that runs together has brought all three closer. "Molly has been my coach since sixth grade," Seth McClue said. "I feel like she can push me more than if we weren't related. She really understands if I can keep going or not."

"Seth and I have always been really close," Meredyth McClue said. "Running is just another activity we do together, but it wouldn't pull us apart if we didn't run together. Because Molly is a lot older than I am, it has brought us closer."

                          Meredyth McClue and Molly Ramier pictured together after a race. 

The McClues and Ramiers spend a lot of time on the track, but they each have hobbies of their own. All three family members enjoy hanging out with friends and keeping active by hiking, playing basketball or going to the gym. They also are passionate about their relationships with God.

 "I think it comes down to just trusting God," Meredyth McClue said. "It helps knowing that you are able to do it, and it directs you towards a more positive attitude. My faith has given me a lot more joy and reflects the attitude of the practice."

"God has given Seth a huge talent, and it's so exciting to see him take that talent seriously," Ramier said.

Although Ramier is well out of college, Seth and Meredyth McClue already are thinking about the next steps. Meredyth McClue isn't sure whether she could get a cross-country scholarship but knows if she works hard, she could run in the future.

 Seth McClue, on the other hand, is only a freshman but he already is thinking about college.

"I'm thinking cross-country and track for college," Seth McClue said. "I am going to see more in the next two years whether or not that's something that's possible, but I am excited to see how close I can get."