When a past cross country coach phoned Great Bend’s Rubi Torres, she was surprised beyond belief.
Kansas Newman cross country coach Josh Schepis informed Torres she would be inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.
“Oh, my goodness, I was in shock,” Torres said. “You never think of the impact you might have. It was a surreal moment. I thought of my mom (Zila), who taught me to work hard in life. She was the best mom and now she’s the best grandma in the world.”
Torres will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Feb. 4, 2023 during halftime of the Kansas Newman/Kearney State (Neb.) basketball game.
“Coach wanted to be the person who delivered the great news that I’d be inducted. Torres said.
Torres visited Kansas Newman, Wichita State, Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State before signing with Kansas Newman, where she earned a bachelor’s in science degree in nursing.
“Newman has a great premed and nursing program, and that’s what I was majoring in,” Torres said. “I’ve always wanted to serve others in my career.”
Torres’ family has returned to her hometown while she secures her family nurse practitioner certification while working as a nurse at the Rice County District Hospital in Lyons. Rubi and her husband Kameron Spray are parents to 4-year-old Theo and 1-year-old Chloe.
Torres earned all-conference cross country and academic All-America honors at Kansas Newman.
“At Newman, we ran against Wichita State’s runners and other bigger schools,” Torres said. “We competed against strong competition. I loved my running teammates. I’ve stayed close to them over the years.”
Torres ran cross country for coach Todd Kaiser at Great Bend. The three-time all-state cross country runner was a fifth-place 5A cross country medalist (15;57) at Lawrence’s Rim Rock Farm. During her career, she won the WAC title. Great Bend won three Western Athletic Conference titles and two regional championships. Her school-record 4K time (15:16) broke Chelsea Clanton’s record. Also earning All-WAC honors were teammates Morgan Harwood, Kaitlynn Tuey, Ali Heilman and Hannah Wondra.
One of her career highlights was winning the Shrine Bowl cross-country meet prior to the Kansas Shrine Bowl at Hays. Torres won the race (12:37) competing against some of the best runners in Kansas.
Torres started running cross country her sophomore year after math teacher Josh Lee, a Great Bend track and cross country coach, talked her into trying cross country.
“Josh told me, ‘You need to run cross country. It’s more fun than running in circles.’ He convinced me to try out for cross country. It makes you realize how your teachers have a positive impact on you.”
Torres learned to love running cross country.
“I loved the mental aspect,” she said. “Running up and down hills with different terrain is different than running on a track. I liked that aspect. When you’re running, there are no worries. It’s just you and the course. It’s about you and what you want to achieve.”
Torres stayed busy at Great Bend High School. She ran track, swam and played soccer. She played the violin and piano, and served as sports editor for the school’s paper. She was an honor roll student who played in the school’s orchestra.
She’s trying to pass on her love of music to her children by playing the piano and violin at home.
“I share my passion of music by exposing my children to the piano and violin,” she said.
Torres has an amazing connection with Addy Nicholson, an all-state runner for the Great Bend cross country team.
When Nicholson was young, Torres served as the family’s baby-sitter. Now that Torres is the mother to two young children, Nicholson is returning the favor by serving as the family’s baby-sitter.
