Dickinson High blind runner earns Buddy Hurlock Unsung Hero award
Anthony Papiro's parents and brother stood on the rocks that line the finishing chute of the cross-country course at Brandywine Creek State Park. They scanned the switchbacks that led to the uphill finish until Papiro's black-and-baby-blue Dickinson singlet emerged.
His left hand held a yellow piece of fabric connecting him to his former middle school coach Anthony Swierzbinski. They crossed the finish line together in a course record time for Papiro.
Visually impaired since birth, Papiro completed his seventh and final cross-country season at Brandywine in the state championship meet last November. He has been recognized as the 2023 Delaware Sportswriters & Broadcasters Association Buddy Hurlock Unsung Hero Award winner. Named for the News Journal sportswriter who died of a brain tumor at age 40 in 2012, the award recognizes someone who has battled adversity while setting an example for others.
PREVIOUS REPORTING: How this blind runner made it to Delaware high school's cross-country championship meet
Papiro will be honored at the annual DSBA banquet on Feb. 19 at Riverfront Events at the Hyatt Hotel on the Wilmington Riverfront alongside Smyrna volleyball, the team of the year, and Delaware Military baseball coach Aaron Lewis, the coach of the year. The winner of the John J. Brady Award as 2023 Delaware Athlete of the Year will be announced at the banquet.
In races and training runs, Papiro and his guide hold a piece of fabric that has loops on both ends, tethering Papiro to his guide. Papiro relies on guide runners to call out turns, divots, roots, hills and other obstacles.
Papiro and his younger brother Nicholas were born with a rare form of congenital blindness called Leber's congenital amaurosis. The disease affects the retina, causing severe visual impairment that typically worsens over time to total vision loss. In a clinical trial, Papiro received gene therapy injections that have stabilized his vision. But his field of vision is very dark and narrow.
In his first races, Papiro was one of the last runners. By the end of his high school career, he ran a 21:58 5K personal best at the New Castle County Championships, which earned him a spot on Dickinson's state championship team.
In the state meet at Brandywine, he carved off almost two minutes from his previous best time on the course, finishing in 22:59.
Papiro wrestled in elementary school but going into middle school wanted to try something different. His parents, Ed and Kristin, were OK with him changing sports, but said he had to do something and commit to practicing and doing his best in whatever came next.
As he fell in love with running, the challenge became finding guide runners available and fast enough to help him progress in practice and competition. Swierzbinski, Papiro's middle school French teacher Holly Walker and a fellow small business owner Ed met at the barber shop, Anthony Campanella, are among those who have guided Papiro.
"It's a great community of people," Kristin said. "We've just met some of the nicest people ... so encouraging. It's a great group of kids."
Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on X @holveck_brandon.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Dickinson blind runner is Buddy Hurlock Unsung Hero Award winner
