Mikhail Skapinski '22 Recruiting Profile

I was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia and raised in an orphanage until age 4, when I was adopted and became a US citizen. I initially did not have any aptitude for sports, but I did have a passion for them. My mother and I worked hard to bring me up to speed for my age, but I did not stop there. I excelled at every sport I tried within a few years. 

In middle school I was talked into trying out for the "Moore Mile" race and found that I have a love for track, as well as being very good at it. I took that love into high school and found a love for the field of track and field, as well. Hurdles became a passion.  Then we moved, again, across the country to Florida, (we moved from New York to California in middle school).  It was very difficult to continue with football in Florida, as I was entering in the middle of my sophomore year. I decided to concentrate on only track and field and have been on my high school's track and field at both schools, as well as joining the AAU to keep up my training year round.

I  assisted in training youths in sprinting while I was on vacation. I was practicing at a local track and spoke to the leagues coach, when she asked me to speak to the youths, as well as helping them work on technique.

I have a love and passion for engineering, so I would like to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering while still being very involved in track and field.