Whiz Kid: Senior Track Star Nancie Sophias

The expectations are high, and the pressure is mounting, but that is how Fort Lee’s senior Nancie Sophias likes it.

She said, “It’s not about being the best but doing the best that I can,” and Sophias is testing that philosophy this year in a lot of different ways. 

Nancie is one of the top female track stars in Northern New Jersey and has also set numerous school records for the Lady Bridgemen. But in addition to these accomplishments, Sophias also dedicates herself to a class schedule filled with college level courses, is Vice President of her senior class, the secretary of the student council and the President of the Greek Club.

Typically, such a high number of commitments could easily overwhelm a high school student, but Sophias is different. Through her time at Fort Lee, the goal-driven Nancie has been able to find a unique mixture to fit in everything that she cares about.

“[It is] good in a way because if I am able to balance all of that out,” Sophias said, “[Then] I’ll be more prepared for college.”

But it is the people around Nancie that has made this Fort Lee student into the person she is today.

With a big Greek family surrounding her and support from all around the world (she has family in Australia, Chicago and Greece), Sophias feels encouragement from those closest to her.

“My family is priority to me,” Nancie said. “I love track, I love school, but when it comes to family, and health and happiness, that always comes first.”

Her parents are usually in attendance whenever their daughter competes and even family members who “don’t understand the sport,” still serve as pillars to a rising young woman in today’s culture.

Every day before school, Sophias wakes up early and serves meals to her fellow students at Fort Lee’s Breakfast Bar. She also assisted at St. Michael’s Villa, a center for retired nuns in Englewood Cliffs, where Nancie learned more about herself and found a larger calling to help others.

“I remember just being there making [the nuns] smile and it gave me such a warm feeling in my heart,” Sophias said looking back. “I knew that in the future that is what I want to do: I want to make people smile and happy.”

She leads by example and often thinks of what she can do for others. Whether it is cutting bagels at a school breakfast, or helping a teammate focus at a meet, Nancy feels confident doing her part.

“During the meet if I see a freshman nervous I will go over and talk to them,” Sophias said. “The team is close and since the meets last so long you’re able to talk to [a lot of] them.”

But going the extra mile is something that this student athlete is very proud of. Nancie even dedicated a medal that she won last year to an uncle who was battling an illness. The event did not have medals to award and the gesture that Sophias had planned looked bleak.

“For some reason they ran out of medals,” Nancie said looking back. “I told the people there that I wanted to give it to my Uncle [George] because he was going through cancer. They found a medal for me to give to him and he was so happy…that he started crying of happiness.”

With everything she has done during her four years at Fort Lee High School, Sophias hopes people will remember her legacy for how much she worked to get where she is.  

“The person who works hard but never was about shoving it in someone’s face,” Nancie said on how she hopes people will view her years from now. “I want to leave a legacy as a good influence to others.”

 Sophias quenches her thirst for learning more and enjoys the opportunity to do so.

“I like learning new things,” Nancie said, “because that is what makes [life] interesting.”

Sophias says she tries to keep all things separate, like track and school, but sometimes it is tough to do. For example, Nancie once had an important track meet and a vital final to study for the next morning.

“I forced myself during the county meet to study for it,” she said of the memorable experience where track and school intersected. “It was so difficult.”

During this calm period of her year when indoor track has ended and the spring season has not started yet, Nancie finds herself with a lot more time on her hands than she's accustomed to. Where practices could take hours and meets could last until 11 o’clock at night, Sophias normally doesn’t spend much time at home.  

But these days, Nancie relishes the chance to be with her family more. Instead of just a few minutes after a meet, Sophias can now talk more with her mother, someone that Nancie is very close to.

And soon, Nancie will be starting what will be her final season of track at Fort Lee High School. She wants to begin running again but understands the process from her previous years.

“You need recovery, and I’ve learned from past experiences,” Nancie said of the process. “Even though I want to run, I can’t.”

But when she does, Sophias yearns for the chance to finish strong on the track and in school.

“Even if I have to make sacrifices with hanging out with my friends and things like that, I have to give it all I have,” the student athlete said. “[That means] to do my best with sports, school, to get into the college I want and do the best I can.”

Nancie hopes to continue running in college, considering schools including Fordham, Rutgers, Syracuse and Villanova.

“I want to be able to run track but my main goal is to go to medical school because I really like helping people,” Sophias said of her future.

So whether it is in the classroom, or on the track, doing community service or just making someone smile, Nancie is truly a Fort Lee Whiz Kid.  

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