Finding a family
BUTLER TWP – Moving around never bothered Ralph Losch. The son of a 26-year Air Force veteran and later a Navy man himself, Losch spent time in Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Bosnia and Missouri.
When he moved his family to Butler in 2012, where his wife, Mary Mustello was born and raised, he was a little concerned how his kids would adjust. Another town, another set of friends.
Both of his daughters, Butler sophomore Anchor and freshman Kasea Belle, found a home in the JROTC program.
Belle, who is a distance runner on the track team, felt like she found a family.
“When you see people four days a week and chill out with them and get to know them well, I wouldn't be close to half the people I am without it,” she said.
The Raiders team, which Belle Losch is apart of, spent four days a week leading up to a March 25 competition at Slippery Rock University. They finished in second place and Belle earned the Ironwoman Award.
Belle earned that by doing more situps (78) and pushups (78) in a 2-minute span.
The Raiders competition consists of a Modified Army Physical Fitness test (2 minutes of push-ups, 2 minutes of sit-ups and a 1-mile run), construction of a one-rope bridge, 5-kilometer road march and one option events. Option events include the shuttle run, logistics relay and knot-tying relay.
“It was a great feeling to see such a young group of kids do everything they could,” Ralph Losch said. “It was kind of moving. I'm really proud of Butler and my daughters.”
Ralph Losch and Mustello both graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Great Neck, N.Y. Mustello, who is in the Naval reserves, missed the ROTC competition because she was on a ship doing her duty, is impressed with the program.
“I think her training is more intense,” said Mustello, who graduated from Butler in 1982. “After the three weeks of summer indoctrination, it's pretty much academic from then on. This is physical training all year. I think it's great and gives them extra confidence. They are using their body and their minds.”
Thursdays and was after school Wednesdays and Fridays.
Getting up in the morning, followed by an intense workout took some getting used to.
“It was new and hard at first. Whenever you do a PT test, two minutes to do pushups, situps and run two miles then come up here (the track) and do hard workout,” Belle said. “It was difficult because your legs were already tired. You have to keep pushing through and that's what makes you better.”
It was also a lesson in discpline. Ralph Losch left it up to Belle and Anchor to get up on their own.
“She's tough. I try not to baby them too much,” Ralph said. “They get up on their own and have to be ready when I'm ready to go. They've proven to be reliable and do well on their own.”
After school, Belle would also typically get another workout in.
In the fall, she competed for the Golden Tornado cross-country team and finished 137th at WPIALs.
During the spring, she's been adjusting to running shorter distances.
Having that workout structure isn't something Butler distance coach Mike Ceybert sees much.
“Now, it's more about quality over quantity,” Ceybert said. “It's like a lost art. They get up and work so hard in the morning. They don't just get up and go through the motions. They get up and run hard, which is a cool thing.”
