Trojans’ Thompson pumped for next chapter at Grand View
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Nick Thompson is ready for what's to come.
The West Marshall cross country and track and field senior is solid in his future, having signed with NAIA school Grand View University to participate in both sports starting in the 2022-23 season.
After making three consecutive state cross country meets and running in the 1,600 meter run at state track and field last season, Thompson said it's a big weight off his shoulders to have this figured out.
"It's a pretty big stress reliever," Thompson said. "You don't have to keep going around like, 'Oh, I've got schoolwork, but on top of that I have to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing for the next four years.' Now that I've got it figured out, it calms it down a lot."
The weather-impacted spring season has been a stop-start one for everyone, but Thompson experienced another bump in the road recently with soreness in his lower back, forcing him to miss the Trojans' run in the Les Penick Relays hosted by BCLUW. Early in the season, though, Thompson has expanded his range of events for the Trojans, running the 800 as well as taking part in the 4×400 relay and the distance medley relay.
Thompson said adding to his versatility and his continued participation in track and field will be important at Grand View, where the Vikings like their cross country runners to take part in distance events.
The facilities and courses on offer at Grand View for their athletic programs was a big selling point for him, as well as the knowledge he already had of the program due to his older brother Jake's experience as a member of the track and field team.
"My older brother went there for four years and so I went to a lot of his college track meets and stuff," Thompson said. "In the college search, I went to a couple places then went to Grand View and this is where I wanted to be, where I needed to be."
His academic path is clear too - Thompson plans on studying law enforcement and has had conversations with other members of the track team who share the major.
He said he has high hopes for the education side of things and was confident in what he's heard so far.
"I know a couple of people who went through the law enforcement program who were also on the team," Thompson said. "It's a good idea to see where I'd be at to see how much class I'd be missing, if I needed to miss meets maybe or what I need to do where I'm going."
For the rest of the season, the goal is to try and return to state track and field - something the senior is confident in. But after a break in the summer and some time to "be a kid for a little while," he's got workouts to do before he heads down in early August. He'll be headed there along with West Marshall student and Marshalltown bowler Dru Wilder, one of Thompson's friends from school, who will bowl at Grand View.
Thompson said going on a new adventure with Wilder there will make the transition easier.
"Moving somewhere else for the first time by yourself is not something everyone is looking forward to, but having him to be there with me and I'll be there with him, hopefully we'll meet a lot of people from the combined sports we're in," Thompson said.