Derek Hietpas '16 Recruiting Profile

A personal statement is not easy to create by any means, it requires you to remain humble but at the same time brag about your own abilities. I am Derek Hietpas, a 2016 graduate and long distance runner from Little Chute High School in Wisconsin. I have always dreamed that one day I would go to college and get a degree but at the same time do what I loved the most and run. This is why I hope to continue my journey in the near future at a college that will let me fulfill my dream.

I remember when I was a little kid and I used to play soccer and football. I wasn’t always the fastest or the strongest, but I could outrun anyone on the field.  That is when I realized I had another calling. I joined Cross Country and Track in 7th grade and it was obvious that I had found something I loved! My freshman year I earned the opportunity to run on the Varsity team in my first high school race. I finished the season with a PR of 17:19 and was our third runner on our team that would later take 6th at the state meet. This success left me thirsty for more and drove me to work harder. That following spring I qualified my freshman track season for the 3200m run at the WIAA State Meet. My sophomore year I trained harder than ever for Cross Country, waking up at 6 am just became habit. Our team managed to qualify again for the WIAA Cross Country State Meet and I helped them secure a 5th place finish. This past winter was the harshest Wisconsin had ever seen with a record setting 51 days below zero.  I trained all winter despite the weather and that training really helped me develop my mental toughness. I qualified for State track again in the 3200m run that spring, which made all those blizzardy runs pay off. I continued working hard during the summer building on the experience I had gained. This fall I qualified as an individual for the State Cross Country meet.  My cross country times have continued to improve and I finished the season with a PR of 16:03.

As I mentioned earlier, I run both Cross Country and Track. I lettered both my freshman and sophomore year in both sports and also this junior year for Cross Country. I’ve been an all-conference performer every year in both of these sports.  In school, I am estimated to get a 30 on my ACT (which I will be taking in March) and have received many academic honors for my work in the classroom.

In order to improve my running abilities I will attend running camps, lift weights, and work with coaches to further develop my training and mental toughness. I have strived to make myself a better leader on and off the course. This year, as a junior, I was voted a captain of my Cross Country team. I hope to continue growing my leadership skills. This upcoming winter will be my hardest offseason training yet. I believe my hard work will allow me to achieve my academic and athletic goals.

Thank you for your consideration.

Derek Hietpas