Nathaniel Mangold '22 Recruiting Profile

Growing up, I was a multi-sport athlete and I was talented in every sport I played with soccer being my favorite. I started playing soccer at the club level at 9 years old.  It was my passion.  I come from an athletic family who often entered local 5K races/walks.  I was 7 when I asked my dad if I could run the Reggae run with him, a particularly hilly race, as I wanted to be a part of it.  He said,  "Sure.   If we need to take a walk break, just let me know. "  I didn't need one and he was amazed as I hurdled the traffic cones going up the last 1/2 mile hill.   I was hooked and asked if I could actually sign up for some races.  I've been running ever since.  In Junior High, I joined a club cross country team Junior Panthers.  We practiced 2 nights a week and I had to juggle running with my club soccer.  Our team was fairly competitive with the limited amount of practice we had and this taught me how much fun running as a team was.  

The summer before my Freshman year of high school, I surprised my family by announcing I was giving up soccer to run cross country.  I figured I can always play soccer with my club, but to run as a team I had to run for my high school.  I've been running ever since and haven't returned to my club soccer team.  Running became my new passion.  I have searched out clinics,  extra training, and became a year-round runner.   I run cross country in the fall, Polar Panthers running club in the winter, track in the spring and conditioning for cross country in the summer.   I am constantly working to get stronger and faster with better form.   The beauty of running is the competition, not just who you are running against, but the competition against yourself.  My challenge is to do my best on every given day, set a new PR, and push the rest of the pack(team) to do their best.  

To be able to get to this point in my running career, I have had to overcome some health issues in my life.  I have battled an autoimmune disorder since I was little.  I would get run down, have no energy, and end up with a painful herpes outbreak that would leave my lips about 6 times their normal size.  They would crack, bleed, and be quite painful.   My nerve endings would be very sensitive, so while playing soccer every hit would be excruciating.  I would have these outbreaks a couple of times a year.  I had them in both track & cross country seasons my freshman year and then my Sophmore cross country season. My parents tried everything to figure out what was going on. I saw many doctors and attempted multiple remedies.   After watching my run times increase during hot weather, it became apparent to my parents that there was something with the liver.  After much research,  they discovered it was the MTFR gene mutation.  I take many supplements and herbs every morning when I get up and every night before I get to bed.   I give myself a shot in the leg every day to keep from having an outbreak.   All this has worked to keep me healthy for the first time in years.  I was really looking forward to track season, being the healthiest I have ever been, but then the season was canceled because of COVID-19.   My pre-season time trials had me at a 5:12 mile and 11:08 2 miles,  I was ready to build on those times and felt confident I would have broken the 5:00 minute and 11:00 minute marks by the end of the season.  It was really disappointing. 

 I would love to continue my running when I get to college be it track and/or cross country.  Additionally, my education is extremely important to me.  I really want a career in Mechanical Engineering which will take a lot of work.  This has been another challenge for me that I have overcome significantly.  I was diagnosed with dyslexia and placed on an IEP.  I was homeschooled until my freshman year.  After much tutoring, Brain Balance training, and pure will, I increased my IQ 15 points and actually was kicked off of my IEP. This was one time I was excited to be kicked off of something.  I went to Elder not having any close friends there, having never been in a structured classroom all day for five days a week, and coming off of an IEP.  I started with one honors class as I wasn't sure what I could accomplish,  I had taken honors Algebra my 8th-grade year, and I knew I was strong in math.  I gradually have increased my honors classes and this year I have two AP classes.  

Finally, I love to travel and to cross-train.    I have skied black diamond trails in Colorado and Wyoming.  I love hiking during all of my camping experiences.  I have also been on several cruises where I have zip lined and explored many countries, such as Mexico and Jamaica.  I also have been to Italy and Ireland.  I was able to see the Sistine Chapel and the Trevi Fountain.  This was the most remarkable way to learn about historical places.  I most recently went to Florida over the winter where I was able to find a half marathon in the offseason.  I ran it in the sand and boy did my calves ache.  It was an exhilarating accomplishment at 15 years old.  I look forward to many more adventures in my sports, travels, and educational career.