Spotlight on Henry Laste
What is your favorite aspect of Cross Country at the high school level?
It's been with all of my best friends, some of them I've known since grade school but most I met and developed close bonds with through cross country.
How did you get involved in running?
My parents signed me up for races all the time when I was a little kid, and I always told myself I liked distance running. It made sense to join initially because it was something I was ok at.
How much training would you say you do in a season?
Besides the break I take for wrestling season and the break I took after having a concussion, training almost never stops.
What’s been your biggest feeling of accomplishment thus far?
Qualifying for the state meet as a team. It had slipped away from us the two years before and literally brought us to tears of happiness.
How did you first hear about UW-Oshkosh?
It kind of got thrown around when considering schools because I knew nothing about most schools except Whitewater and Madison, also it was listed as having a major I'm interested in.
What attracted you to this school?
The location and campus, it's enough distance from home and halfway up to my family's cottage up north so I can come home or vacation at leisure, and the campus seemed friendly.
Biggest hopes/ fears going into college athletics?
I hope that I'm able to get up with the top guys on the team so I can eventually run in bigger races, specifically I want to race in the Roy Griak again and Oshkosh takes only their top ten.
Words of advice for other high school athletes?
Prioritize what you care about, if you don't like something you're doing don't waste your time or anyone else's that has to deal with you as an uncommitted teammate. That being said, still have fun. You gotta have fun no matter what.
Anything else?
Down with Arrowhead
It's been with all of my best friends, some of them I've known since grade school but most I met and developed close bonds with through cross country.
How did you get involved in running?
My parents signed me up for races all the time when I was a little kid, and I always told myself I liked distance running. It made sense to join initially because it was something I was ok at.
How much training would you say you do in a season?
Besides the break I take for wrestling season and the break I took after having a concussion, training almost never stops.
What’s been your biggest feeling of accomplishment thus far?
Qualifying for the state meet as a team. It had slipped away from us the two years before and literally brought us to tears of happiness.
How did you first hear about UW-Oshkosh?
It kind of got thrown around when considering schools because I knew nothing about most schools except Whitewater and Madison, also it was listed as having a major I'm interested in.
What attracted you to this school?
The location and campus, it's enough distance from home and halfway up to my family's cottage up north so I can come home or vacation at leisure, and the campus seemed friendly.
Biggest hopes/ fears going into college athletics?
I hope that I'm able to get up with the top guys on the team so I can eventually run in bigger races, specifically I want to race in the Roy Griak again and Oshkosh takes only their top ten.
Words of advice for other high school athletes?
Prioritize what you care about, if you don't like something you're doing don't waste your time or anyone else's that has to deal with you as an uncommitted teammate. That being said, still have fun. You gotta have fun no matter what.
Anything else?
Down with Arrowhead
SPotlight on ALi Gartner
This year, the Track and Field team celebrates one of its finest athletes, Ali Gartner, who recently signed with Central Michigan University to continue both her education and her stellar performance in shot put. Ali shared her thoughts with us below.
What is your favorite aspect of track at the high school level?
My favorite aspect of track in high school is the fact that you put your own amount of effort and work into getting the results you want and having a lot of self motivation for it. Teammates are also a huge part of track at this level to motivate you and make the sport fun.
How did you get involved in shot putting?
I initially got involved with throwing in middle school and was motivated to do it for my other sports, but it ended up becoming my favorite out of all of them.
How much training would you say you do in a season?
We try to balance throwing and lifting every other day in our practices on days we don't have meets, if not a combination of both in one day.
What’s been your biggest feeling of accomplishment thus far?
I think the most accomplishing moments for me so far is know in I can go to college doing something I love, which is also something I never expected.
How did you first hear about Central Michigan?
I heard about Central Michigan for the Biomedical Sciences first in my search for schools that emphasize that specific major and then looked into their athletics.
What attracted you to this school?
I was mostly attracted to the town as a whole feeling like a home away from home, but also when I met with the team I had a lot of fun getting to know them and learning about throwing in college. Everyone was so inviting which really convinced me to go there as well.
Biggest hopes/ fears going into college athletics?
I think one of my biggest fears is being able to manage my time between academics and athletics and not becoming overwhelmed through it all.
Predictions for this season?
This season I just hope to have the chance to make it to the state track meet again!
My favorite aspect of track in high school is the fact that you put your own amount of effort and work into getting the results you want and having a lot of self motivation for it. Teammates are also a huge part of track at this level to motivate you and make the sport fun.
How did you get involved in shot putting?
I initially got involved with throwing in middle school and was motivated to do it for my other sports, but it ended up becoming my favorite out of all of them.
How much training would you say you do in a season?
We try to balance throwing and lifting every other day in our practices on days we don't have meets, if not a combination of both in one day.
What’s been your biggest feeling of accomplishment thus far?
I think the most accomplishing moments for me so far is know in I can go to college doing something I love, which is also something I never expected.
How did you first hear about Central Michigan?
I heard about Central Michigan for the Biomedical Sciences first in my search for schools that emphasize that specific major and then looked into their athletics.
What attracted you to this school?
I was mostly attracted to the town as a whole feeling like a home away from home, but also when I met with the team I had a lot of fun getting to know them and learning about throwing in college. Everyone was so inviting which really convinced me to go there as well.
Biggest hopes/ fears going into college athletics?
I think one of my biggest fears is being able to manage my time between academics and athletics and not becoming overwhelmed through it all.
Predictions for this season?
This season I just hope to have the chance to make it to the state track meet again!