As background here, I feel it important to explain my future plans. For my baccalaureate education I will be attending the United States Military Academy, a four-year baccalaureate program followed by 5 years of active duty service as an officer in our U.S. Army. This will be a difficult future, one that is almost impossible to prepare for. With that said, I would qualify it as true that participation in the track program at Imbler High School has prepared me for future success.
My introduction to track came as most do… Through another sport’s coach. My junior high basketball coaches were adamant that track makes for the most complete athletes, and the ball players with the best footwork. I figured that I’d give it a try, and upon my arrival to my first practice, I realized that track could be my number one thing. It was the first sport I’d ever encountered where hard work and intelligent training make up the entire competitive edge. This makes for the perfect environment to inculcate the value of work ethic — my entire incentive as an athlete was to push hard, unreliant on the hard work of other teammates or competitors. I’ve found a great deal of pride in being the last to leave each practice, and I’ve seen direct results in my performance.
Track additionally builds character in many youth competitors. My best example here comes in losing — as all great sporting lessons do. Throughout most of my senior season, I led my division in the state by over a foot in my primary event of triple jump. This culminated in my entry into our state meet as the top seed. In preparation for my event, I did everything right — ice baths, recovery, and focusing on the process rather than the final destination: the top spot on that podium. Even though I’d done everything right, things just didn’t click on the day of competition, and I found myself in third even though my PR would have won with cushion.
This loss instilled humility, and reinforced both personal discipline and work ethic. I use this example not to dwell, but rather to prove a simple point. It’s far too easy to focus on the successes of a small school’s program. Of course wins are great, but when we’re discussing a division that doesn’t often send kids to college on track scholarship, there is equal value to all programs and experiences in this sport. I’m very thankful for both the wins and losses, as each has allowed me to develop myself in the future goal of serving our country and those around me.
Nathan Bingaman
2022 Imbler Graduate
Triple Jump – State Track 2022
