Q: How did you end up at Wheaton and what were some of the things that helped you make that decision?

A: As a third generation Wheatie, I had no choice but to consider Wheaton. And initially I was happy to consider Wheaton and move on to other options. But I realized I wanted a college experience that would give me the opportunity to grow my faith and to develop deep Christian relationships. Academics and athletics were important, but they were never the ultimate factors in choosing Wheaton.

Q: You have been a member of both the cross country and track teams at Wheaton. What are some favorite memories you have on the course, track or just in general with your teammates?

A: At the 2018 CCIW Conference Indoor Track Meet our men’s team came in with the goal of taking third for the first time ever. But to do so we were going to need to take down Carthage and it was going to be a dog chew (as Coach would say). With two events to go (the 3k and the 4x400 relay) we were down on Carthage by just a few points. All five of us racing the 3k for Wheaton were doubling or tripling back from other events but knew we would have to run close to our personal bests if we were to have any chance at getting third. We all went out just doing everything we could to help the next guy get into a position to score. As we got further into the race we dropped one by one until it was just Simon Peterson. From behind I saw him kick down the final straightway and jump into Wally’s arms, getting us the points we needed. There aren’t many opportunities that you get to do something special like that with a whole group of your teammates, to put it on the line for each other knowing some of you will fail but together you can succeed while your whole team is there cheering you on.

Q: In March, you competed at the Wartburg Final Qualifier and set a school record (for the second time) in the men’s indoor 5,000-meters. Less than a week later, it became known that Wheaton Athletics and NCAA Championships would not be contested for the remainder of your senior year. What thoughts did you have when you heard that the remainder of the season was canceled and how has that impacted you?

A: Honestly, when I learned the season was cancelled I was filled with gratitude. I was thankful for the opportunities to compete, to pursue my goals, and to be on such a great team for four years. Ending with a successful season could be frustrating, given the big goals we had for outdoors pf pursuing a national qualifying time. But the support of my teammates and my coaches for four years just left me with incredible gratitude. At the end of the day losing a season is what it is, we can’t change it but we can be thankful for the time we had and we can keep moving forward.

Q: What impact, if any, has Coach Bradley or Wally [David Walford] had on you in your four years at Wheaton.

A: Both Coach Bradley and Wally have been examples of what it means to pursue God diligently and humbly. Neither of them are perfect people or perfect coaches (I don’t think they would hide that) but they have really shown me (as an imperfect person and imperfect athlete) how to humbly and diligently pursue God. Having coaches that sincerely care about their athletes beyond their performances and who consistently show up and make sacrifices for them has been a lesson in what it means to live as a follower of Christ. I could tell any number of stories about either of them, but they would all come back to this.

Q: You are an English and Philosophy double-major at Wheaton and an Academic All-CCIW award winner. What have you enjoyed about your academic experience at Wheaton?

A: As challenging as it has been, the rigor of my academic experience has helped me to make the most out of my four years at Wheaton and to seriously consider how my faith interacts with the world. Having teammates and coaches that all bring their own perspectives created an environment where I could consider what I studied in a broader more grounded context. What has been best by my academic experience is testing what I study in the classroom against what I encounter in the world.

Q: Have you found any challenges juggling a double major and also competing in cross country in the fall, indoor track during the winter and outdoor track in the spring?

A: Balancing two majors and essentially being in season all year round has forced me to know my priorities. There have been plenty of times where I have overcommitted to athletics or academics and as a result relationships or my spiritual life has suffered. It has required constant awareness that saying yes to one thing will always mean saying no to something else. As a serious athlete at a school that prizes its academics it has been particularly difficult to not say no to God for the sake of success in other areas.

Q: What are your plans following graduation?

A: After graduation I am really hoping to find something new to pursue athletically (marathons maybe?) and hopefully get a job (what an economy). I want to take the skills I’ve developed in my studies at Wheaton to work in non-profits or a mission oriented company. I am still waiting to see what exactly God has planned for the next season of my life but I want to do work that touches lives and works towards bettering our world.