Cole Gildersleeve '25 Recruiting Profile

When I was 9 years old, I signed up for a kids triathlon. I was a swimmer at the time and thought it would be fun and that I’d do well.  What I learned was that I was competitive at swimming, biking is fun, and that I was a runner. The feeling I got when I took off running was amazing and I’ve been running ever since. Academically, I want to continue to strive to be a scholar athlete and top 10% of my class. In the future I want to work in chemical and computer engineering while continuing to compete in XC and Track. Over my high school career I've had to overcome many adversities, and I believe that grit is my best trait; August of freshman year I tore my ACL playing soccer and required surgery, I was then told by a former coach that I would not be welcomed back to running, as I was damaged goods. I took that personally and worked my ass off for 9 months recovering in the gym, and as soon as I could on the treadmill. By the time sophomore year rolled around I was ready to prove anyone who doubted me wrong, and that's exactly what I did, XC season i was 2nd man on the team and was a 5A state qualifier. Then again sophomore track season, I was unfortunate, and was taken out and tripped up from behind on the final stretch of the district 800, I was sitting in first so close to achieving my goal. Of course I was upset, but I used that anger as fuel and went for it all on the mile later that meet and successfully qualified, eventually making it to regions. I am a passionate and dedicated student athlete that is looking forward to running at a highly competitive collegiate level. I am a mid-distance specialist, and looking forward  to goals for this coming 2024 track season I look to improve to a sub 4:20 and a sub 1:55, based on my current training plan I firmly believe these goals are attainable and will further help me in the recruiting process. Today, as an athlete I strive to always be coachable, and to get one percent better everyday. Our circumstances do not matter, it is our reactions that determine our outcomes.