Former Mountain Brook Junior Olympian passes the torch

Mountain Brook High School has garnered a national reputation for its cross country team. Coach Greg Echols has been leading this program for many years. To go back even further, he is a product of the Mountain Brook school system and was the Trey Hardy, an Olympic decathlete, of his day in Alabama.

But little did Echols know that some of the first Brookwood Forest students who were part of his Junior Olympics program would later bring him their children. Susan Berry Molloy is one of those stars who has come full circle.

How did you decide to come back to Mountain Brook this year?

I grew up in Mountain Brook, graduated at Mountain Brook High School in 1983 and was very familiar with Mountain Brook and its school system. We have been away for 25 years moving to various states throughout the country raising three kids. These last four years, we lived in Phoenix where we did not at all feel a sense of community or true hospitality. And having our last child at home, we felt it was important to her – and us – to get back to a friendly, caring community that has a strong school system. Since my husband and I both have family back here on the east coast, we felt Mountain Brook was the best fit for what we were looking for.

You and I were part of the Mountain Brook track program, starting with Coach Echols at Brookwood Forest and his Junior Olympics in the summer and as a part of the Indoor Track State Championship winning team. How have these experiences influenced your life away from Mountain Brook?

Coach Echols was the PE teacher at Brookwood Forest Elementary School in my seventh grade year. He saw that I, along with many other students at Brookwood Forest, had ability to do well in track and field, so he started a youth track club in the summer time and recruited me along with several other students to run and compete in the Junior Olympic programs. Those summers with him brought me confidence with myself and taught me to work hard and be a great teammate. But one of the most important things Coach Echols taught me those summers was to have fun while trying to reach your goal. And as long as you are doing that, you will be successful! I have used that philosophy with all the students I have taught and coached these past 25 years.

As part of being involved in your community, you started two track clubs in two different cities. What motivated you?

Coach Echols was my inspiration having grown up in his youth track club. My children showed an interest in running and since there was not a youth running club in the area, I began one in Denver, and when we moved to Richmond, Va., I began another one there. My clubs competed in the same Junior Olympic summer meets that I grew up with.

Did you have any reservations about bringing your daughter to Mountain Brook High School?

Even though we knew she would have some adjustment issues with having to move away from her friends –as most every child does – we felt that it would not take long for her to make new friends and see all the positive things about Mountain Brook.

When did you know that Jessica had so much potential?

Ever since she was 5 years old, I knew she would be good at whatever she chose to do because she loves to compete! She always competed with her older brothers growing up. When she was 6, she ran her first race, the 100 meter, and, when she did not win, she didn’t give up. She worked even harder at practice the next day. She is always setting new goals for herself.

Do you have other children and how old are they?

We have 21-year-old son, Nicholas, who is a fourth year at University of Virginia and a 19-year-old son, Kevin, who is currently attending UAB.

You’ve raised three children in several different cities. What are some positive things that you have noticed about Mountain Brook High School?

Mountain Brook High School is so well balanced. The high school is so versed in so many different areas where so many of the schools we have been in the other states only have a couple of strengths to their programs. Mountain Brook, of course, is known for its academics, but is highly recognized for its sports and arts programs, too. And as far as the students, they really stand out for their very polite behavior!

Did you have hills in Arizona like you do in Alabama for Jessica to train on?

Phoenix has many mountains surrounding the area where her high school track team would train a few times a week. Many of the hill workouts were similar to Mountain Brook.

When you are not at a track meet or walking your beautiful golden retrievers around Crestline, what do you like to do for fun?

Since I have only been here a little over a month, I don’t have that established yet. I love horses and previously worked at a therapeutic horse ranch for exceptional students and would love to work at a similar place if there is one local.