In fact, one look at the soon-to-be Cassadaga Valley senior probably boosts his competition’s confidence a little bit.

But about 51 seconds later, runners realize they severely misjudged Sample because he is the top 400-meter runner in the area, and he’s got his sights set on bigger things for his final season with the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley program.

Just ask him. He’s not afraid to say it.

Sample was born with arthrogryposis, which according to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, refers to the development of multiple joint contractures affecting two or more areas of the body prior to birth.

OBSERVER File Photo Falconer/Cassadaga Valley’s Rayven Sample, right, competes in the 400 meters at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships in Middletown earlier this month.

A contracture occurs when a joint becomes permanently fixed in a bent or straightened position, which can impact the function and range of motion of the joint and may lead to muscle atrophy.

“He was born at Olean hospital where the doctors picked it up and sent him to Children’s Hospital (in Buffalo),” Kathy Sample, Rayven’s grandmother said by phone Wednesday.

After Sample was about a month old, Kathy says she got involved because the hospital was taking a “wait-and-see” approach. She called Shriners Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania and began taking Rayven there for his care.

“As soon as Shriners got involved, they started doing surgeries. The first one was at around 3 months old,” Kathy said. “They took his ‘swimmer’s muscle’ (latissimus dorsi) and threaded it up through his side to anchor his shoulder to his arm. It came out so he could do everyday activities like raise his arm to drink and comb his hair.”

According to Kathy, Rayven’s mother was never really in the picture. Kathy and Tom Sample, Rayven’s grandfather, adopted him when he was 9 years old after his father, Tommy, passed away. They have been his primary caregivers ever since.

Surgeries continued throughout Rayven’s childhood and may continue into the future. Kathy said doctors don’t usually operate during growth spurts, one of which Rayven is going through now, and his most recent operation — on his thumb — was more than a year ago.

For Sample, some joints have a small range of motion and others have none at all. The most visually obvious of his affected body parts are his arms and wrists, which are bent and/or twisted at what appear to be seriously uncomfortable angles.

To perform athletically and in everyday life, Rayven has to go through a battery of stretches to keep from stiffening up. The intensive physical therapy and occupational therapy that he went through during his youth is over, and most of the exercises/stretches he does on his own.

Still, it is extremely impressive just how successful Rayven has been in athletics.

He played soccer for most of his childhood, even through eighth grade at Cassadaga Valley, but in high school has focused on track and field.

“This year I’ve really focused on running and I’m doing well with that,” Rayven said Wednesday. “I dropped soccer and did cross country as a freshman. Last year I also started indoor track.”

As a freshman, Rayven competed in the triple jump and the 400 meters.

“I triple jumped in modified and really enjoyed it,” Rayven said, “and I was one of the better 400s, but not the greatest.”

As a sophomore, Rayven primarily ran the 400 and the 3,200-meter relay, which is where he first got a taste of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Track & Field Championships.

Sample teamed up with Bryce Baglia, Collin Barmore and Andrew Young to run a 8:07.67 and finish 18th overall and fourth in Division II last spring at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

“The 4-by-8 is what really started it. Having a lot of guys who are driven and work every day in practice, that helps out a lot,” Falconer/Cassadaga Valley distance coach Nick Spry said earlier this week. “In other years, you only have one above-average athlete, but when you don’t really have the others around him to push him at practice, he doesn’t really reach the level that these guys reached.”

Underclassmen with another year of experience, Sample, Barmore and Baglia returned this season, and about midway through the year decided to give the 1,600-meter relay a try, adding Austin Johns to the mix.

The group did not disappoint.

“We were looking at the 4-by-8 again because we got fourth at states last year,” Falconer/Cassadaga Valley head coach Dave Nelson said late last week. “Probably around the weekend of the Falconer Invitational, that’s when I kind of knew this relay could be something special.

“Nick and I started to look across the state,” Nelson added. “Knowing I hadn’t moved Austin yet … he was ready so we moved him in and I thought we could definitely have something special.”

The foursome ran the 1,600-meter relay in 3:29.33 at the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Championships, almost 4 seconds faster than second-place Allegany-Limestone.

A week later, the group improved to 3:25.09, nearly 3 seconds faster than second-place Cheektowaga, to win the Section VI State Qualifier.

“We talked about it at practices. We’ll say, ‘If you two go 50-flat and two go 51 (seconds), we could run 3:22 or 3:23,” Nelson said. “I really thought we would probably go high 3:22.”

At Middletown High School, the team did one better. Johns, Sample, Baglia and Barmore finished in 3:21.11 to beat Our Lady of Lourdes by .4 seconds and capture the Division II state crown.

“Sitting at the state meet, the slow heat ran 3:24 so I was kind of a little nervous about what it was going to take to win,” Nelson said. “Those kids are gamers. When the moment comes … those guys really got themselves psyched up to really run well.”

While a state championship in a relay isn’t shabby, Rayven has higher goals.

He wants to be an individual state title winner.

Sample won the 400 meters at the CCAA Championships with a time of 51.27 seconds, beating Fredonia’s Oliver Madariaga by .24 seconds.

“His ability has gotten better every season,” said Spry who is also Rayven’s cross country and indoor track and field coach. “He surprises me. I expect big things out of Rayven, and he surpasses my expectations every season.”

A week later at Williamsville North High School, Sample finished second to Newfane senior Reese Casinelli. Sample finished in 50.27 seconds while Casinelli ran a 49.12.

“In 10th grade,” Rayven said, “the 400 got pushed back a little bit with the opportunity to go to states in the 4-by-8 relay.”

At the state meet, Sample finished 12th in Division II with a 50.81 while Casinelli was second with a 47.99.

“I hope to go down and do what Reese did this year,” Rayven said about his senior year goals. “He took second in Division II and competed in the Federation race. Watching his race was nuts. Seeing kids run that fast in high school is insane. There are college kids who don’t even run that fast.”

Rayven has set a goal of matching Casinelli’s 47.99 in the 400 meters next year, and those close to him know they shouldn’t doubt him now.

“I’m super proud of his achievements. He’s never let his handicap hold him back,” Kathy said. “It’s never been a handicap for Rayven.

“He’s just got to find ways to do things. There is always another way to do something,” Kathy continued. “Rayven has always found different ways.”

“More than anything with his condition is his mentality,” Spry said. “We don’t really address his disability at all, we forget about it.”

“Nick and I talk about when Rayven came to us to run track all the time,” Nelson said. “He told us what he wanted to do and you think, ‘OK, here’s a skinny little kid with this condition. We’re going to work you in.’

“Just to see him progress,” Nelson added, “he has been probably the most remarkable kid I’ve coached in 29 years.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

• Yes
• No