How did you hear about it?
“I was checking out the weekly articles on Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness websites and stumbled upon it. I read that it was a competition and figured I would be spontaneous, so I entered it just for fun not thinking it would go anywhere.
What are the requirements?
“The only requirement is that you must be a male college student in America.”
How much do you train for it?
“My habits or training have not changed while being a part of this competition. The goal of the competition is to find the fittest man, so it took previous years of dedication and training.”
What can Bryan do to help you win the title of “Fit Man on Campus”?
“The staff at Men’s Fitness narrowed the contestants down to the final 16 guys. The rest of the competition will be based on how many views and votes the finalists can get from America. This is where I am going to be in need of help. The other finalists are all from major state schools with tens of thousands of students. It is going to be hard to get votes and views with such a small school as a starting point, but I am excited about the challenge.”
How long have you been running cross-country?
“I have been running cross-country for nine years now. It’s crazy to think that almost half of my life has been dictated and guided by ‘the run.’”
What got you interested in cross-country?
“I did not even know what cross-country was when I signed up for it. My twin brother and I walked home everyday in middle school, and one day he had an application to join the cross-country team. I was not going to let him do something that I didn’t get to do, so the next day we both showed up for practice not knowing what we were getting ourselves into. The coach welcomed everyone and told us that we would only be doing a three-mile run today. My brother, Ben, looked at me and asked, ‘What did he just say?’
I told him, ‘I guess we are going to run three miles.’
‘Why?’ he asked.
I simply said, ‘I’m not really sure, but you got us into this!’ We both ended up being pretty good and I have stuck with it for some crazy reason ever since.”
What made you choose Bryan?
“The head coach of Bryan, Rodney Stoker, was a former teammate of my high school coach when they were in college. I had met Coach Stoker a few times through high school, but he started pursuing me as an athlete mid-way through my senior year. I knew absolutely nothing about Bryan, but was willing to come check out the campus. The size of the school was what drew me to it. The camaraderie that I saw among the guys team was contagious and I wanted to be a member. The first year was a tough transition, but looking back over the years I can confidently say it was the best decision for school.”
Favorite thing about Bryan?
“I believe that it takes a really special person to make it through a four year term here at Bryan. This place is challenging because of how much religion surrounds you and the rules that many people are not accustomed to. But I signed up for that. There were no secrets, and because of that I love how real Bryan is, in the sense that life is not all about the party or getting crazy with your friends. There is a great chance to mature and grow at Bryan, and have some of what I believe to be the most ‘real’ fun in my life. There are memories and friendships I know I will carry from here for the rest of my life thanks to my teammates, coaches, teachers, and the staff at school.”
What year are you?
“I am a senior academically and a junior athletically. I will be coming back to Bryan for a fifth year to finish up a full term of running.”
What is your major?
“I am majoring in Corporate Communications with a minor in Missions. I someday want to use the skills I have developed at school to become a life and fitness coach for obese and unhealthy people.”
Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
“People that get know me quickly learn that I am a closet nerd. I love sitting down just about anywhere with a good fantasy book and just getting lost in the world I wish I had been born into. But seriously, I enjoy reading all things fantasy. I also like spending time with my ‘brothers.’ My teammates are my best friends and relaxing with them or going to try some foreign cuisine is always fun.”
Favorite movie and why?
“Favorite movie and favorite band are two generic questions I have never been able to answer. I can tell you my favorite animal is a bear, my favorite Marvel superhero is Deadpool, my favorite D.C. hero is Flash, my favorite food is Thai, and my favorite way to train is MMA.”
Favorite quotation?
“When there is nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire.” Why? “This quote challenged me, my junior year in high school when I first heard it, to be a better person and pursue my passions.”
Favorite Bible verse?
“Isaiah 61:1-2 ‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.’” Why? “I first heard this voice while spending a month in Thailand my senior year in high school. God placed a yearning on my heart to help and encourage oppressed people – whether oppressed by another person or themselves.”
Best part about being an athlete?
“The best part about being a runner is the qualities from it that have leaked out into my life. I have been a competitive and recreational runner since I was 12, and the lessons I have learned would have never come to me if not for running. I have learned to be more disciplined in all of my endeavors and to enjoy the simplicity of life that I should never take for granted. There is nothing more simple, but demanding, than a 10-15 mile run in the mountains.”
Worst part?
“The worst part of being a runner is the dedication it takes to be better than what I am. In all honesty there are thousands of better runners than me in the world, and if I relied solely on talent I would not be an asset to the team. I have to do all the extra things outside of running in order to be good. Going to bed early, eating healthy, and not using my legs for other fun things are a few sacrifices that have to be made. I miss hanging out late and eating junk food, but I know it is all worth it.”
Do you have any siblings? Do you get along with them?
“I have a twin brother named Ben, and we could not be more opposite people. We joke that if we were not siblings, we probably would not be friends. But because we are twins, we have this deep bond that sometimes we don’t even understand. Our differences literally draw us together and make us the ultimate team. I also have three older sisters. I did not appreciate them growing up, but looking back on my life I definitely owe them for many characteristics that I have today. They taught me how to properly treat girls and that family, in the end, will always be there for you. I love them more now into my twenties than I have ever loved them before.”