Kyle Fujitsubo is more than the captain of the SF State men’s cross country team – he’s the team’s sense of humor and personality.

“He gets everybody in a good mood at practice,” said teammate Max Fernandez, who is also Fujitsubo’s roommate. “He’s not only funny but he’s a leader on the team, too.”

“He always gets everyone in a good mood and he jokes around a lot,” Fernandez said. “but during the races, it’s all serious. He’s a good guy to have on the team and look up to. He always knows what to do. He never has a terrible day, he might have an off day but he always stays positive.”

“He’s a good leader but knows how to have a good time,” said Kyle’s teammate and roommate Mark DePasquale. “Kyle has a good mix of being a leader and kind of the funny guy on the team.”

But perhaps it is Fujitsubo himself who best describes his personality and what that brings to his team. “I get people talking,” Fujitsubo said. “I love talking to people, it’s one of my favorite things to do. I think [talking] helps with the team. Just being able to talk to each other, trust one another and know each other.

“Because if you don’t know the people on your team and what they’re all about, you’re not going to [catch] that extra guy in front of you because it hurts too much. If you have team unity, you’re all on the same page, you bring it out to the table and you talk about things, then I think you’ll be able to draw strength from one another. It just makes things interesting; people enjoy things more if it’s fun to be out there.”

Fujitsubo, originally from Rancho Murieta, a town just outside of Sacramento, was unanimously voted team captain this year by his teammates, according to DePasquale.

This decision was made because Fujitsubo’s personality is that of a lighthearted jokester who knows when the serious work has to start.

“Kyle is one of those guys who is a tireless worker. He would run 100 miles a week if we let him,” head coach Tom Lyons said.

“Whenever we put on meets or set up something for practice, Kyle is always the first one to offer his help and be there to help. He’s a very vocal leader, and genuinely very nice and inclusive across the entire team,” Lyons continued.

And Lyons is not alone in this opinion.

“He does everything that is asked of him, and is very open to any and all feedback,” said assistant coach Pete Cushman.

And this hard work has payed off – Fujitsubo has lowered his 8-kilometer time from 27 minutes, 39 seconds to 26:51 during this season, Lyons said.

Fujitsubo first came to SF State in 2006 after graduating from Sacramento’s Sheldon High School, thanks to the recruiting efforts by Lyons.

“I applied to Sac State, San Francisco State, and Humboldt State,” Fujitsubo said. “Tom e-mailed me back like three days later and he called me on the phone. He’s real engaging, which is awesome.”

“I wasn’t a standout runner in high school. I was like third on my team so... I just wanted to run and he liked that.”

Fujitsubo first became a running enthusiast in sixth grade at T.R. Smedburge Middle School, when he completed a mile run in 6:48. This success led him to joining track in eighth grade.

In high school, Fujitsubo wrestled at the 125-pound weight class and competed at the state championship his senior year. He also played football as a running back.

His track coach, who was also the distance coach at his school, convinced him to try cross country.

Being second string on the football team and getting little play time, Fujitsubo decided to try the new sport out and has been hooked ever since.

“The team is what got me because I love talking and socializing, and cross country is the only sport where you can talk during practice,” Fujitsubo said. “You can’t be wrestling and like, ‘So, how was your day today?’” he said while pantomiming wrestling moves. “But when you go on an easy run or a double, you can talk about anything.”

His philosophy is evident to everyone around him.

“He enjoys being part of a team,” said Laura Fujitsubo, Kyle’s mother.

“He enjoys encouraging others as well. It’s one of those sports that doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of teamwork. But the more I learn about it, the more I see how much the teams support each other and work as a team. I think he likes that.”

“He’s someone I look up to because he always gets things done and he’s a very determined person,” said Jenna Fujitsubo, Kyle’s younger sister who is currently a freshmen at CSU San Marcos near San Diego.

Fujitsubo is currently a sophomore, but should meet the junior-level requirements by the end of this semester and hopes to graduate with a history degree by the end of spring semester 2010.

Fujitsubo is currently taking 17 units and working at Sports Basement, an athletic equipment store in the Presidio.

After school, Fujitsubo plans on getting his teaching credentials and go into a career as a high school teacher and coach; both of which are professions he feels fit his outgoing personality.

“I think he has the kind of personality that would fit very well with coaching. He’s outgoing and is very knowledgeable,” Cushman said.

Fujitsubo is part of a Sacramento running club called the River City Rebels, plans on competing with them after school and hopes to soon compete in a marathon.

Other than running, he is (not surprisingly) a comedy fan, often quoting lines from comedians and movies, according to DePasquale.

With the California Colliegate Athletic Assocaition meet fast approaching and the real competition gearing up, the SF State men’s cross country team will be fueled in large part by Fujitsubo’s energetic personality.

According to Cushman, “He’s always ready to perform well in the clutch, and it seems that this season will be no different.”