Running on Faith: ORU’s Avery and Deborah Mazzei Discuss their Championship Mindset and ORU’s Growing Track/Cross-Country Program
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Education Majors
American sprinter and Olympic champion Wilma Rudolph, when talking about her self-confidence, once said “I believe in me more than anything in this world.” Sisters Avery and Deborah Mazzei, both members of ORU’s Track team, have the same kind of self-confidence, but there’s more to it than just “me.” Yes, they believe in themselves, but as twins and teammates, they might also put it this way: “We believe in each other, and we trust in our faith more than anything in this world.”
“Running together,” Avery said, “is the best part of what we do. I know Deborah wants what’s best for me, and I want what’s best for her. As team captain, I can rely on Deborah for support in practice. She’s an encourager; that’s definitely her gift. When you have one person standing behind you and encouraging, usually the rest will follow.”
“Avery’s a very steady person,” Deborah said, “and I'm a little higher stressed. Together, we’re a good combination because she calms me down. She also holds me accountable to the little things that are part of our training. Yes, she is the captain, but she is also a great leader, and that’s why our teammates listen to her.”
Two Mindsets: Champion and Missional
Confidence and dedication made Avery and Deborah two of the top high school runners
in Oklahoma. Recruited from Jenks High School in Tulsa, Avery and Deborah came to
ORU to compete at the NCAA level. But they didn’t come to ORU just to run; they came
to ORU to help lay the foundation for a championship team.
“During our freshman year,” Deborah said, “our parents encouraged us to be strong leaders and to help create a championship culture. Coach Musukuma sold us on this vision for the program. He has the same championship mindset.”
“Over the last few years,” Avery said, “we’ve seen growth in our team. Right now, we’re close, we're connected, and we all want to compete for championships. This team believes in themselves. They want to get better and place better in conference.”
"I don't know how other runners do it without God. As athletes, we rely on God for strength. We rely on Him through the hard times. When practice doesn’t go well, I tell myself that God has good plans for me. This reminds me that track isn't my life. It's not who I am; it’s merely what I do. Running is one of my gifts, but I get fulfillment and acceptance from Jesus, not from running.”
For any athlete, championships are important, but with their high school success,
Avery and Deborah could’ve competed for championships at any university in America.
So why ORU Track? A big part of this answer: because faith is important when they
compete.
“I don't know how other runners do it without God,” Avery said. “As athletes, we rely on God for strength. We rely on Him through the hard times. When practice doesn’t go well, I tell myself that God has good plans for me. This reminds me that track isn't my life. It's not who I am; it’s merely what I do. Running is one of my gifts, but I get fulfillment and acceptance from Jesus, not from running.”
“Our parents taught us so much through running,” Deborah said, “and one of the things they taught us is that running is our mission field. People take notice when you’re good at something, and when people ask about it, we point to God because all the glory goes to Him. We wouldn't be here without God.”
Growing Off The Track
A championship mindset and a missional mindset … they’re both important to Avery and Deborah. As athletes, they believe that winners think a certain way and that Christ followers live a certain way. When it comes to living their faith, they say that since coming to ORU, their connection to God has only grown stronger.
“It's so cool to see so many students on fire for the Lord. The students at ORU are definitely chasing after God. It happens in my classes, where I hear students praying in the Spirit. When I hear this, I think, ‘Wow! They're really hungry for the Lord.’ That’s really impacted my relationship with God because seeing so much faith encourages me to go deeper too.”
“It's so cool,” Deborah said, “to see so many students on fire for the Lord. The students at ORU are definitely chasing after God. It happens in my classes, where I hear students praying in the Spirit. When I hear this, I think, ‘Wow! They're really hungry for the Lord.’ That’s really impacted my relationship with God because seeing so much faith encourages me to go deeper too.”
“Praying in the Sprit,” Avery said, “has helped me a lot. Maybe you don’t know what you’re praying for, but God always knows. He’s always working behind the scenes, and His presence has been a huge difference in my everyday life. This has been a journey from my freshman year, and when I think about God, I tell myself ‘Look how far you’ve come. Look how much everything’s changed.’ Today, life is just better.”
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 165 nations in the last 5 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
