Cassandra Nelson '23 Recruiting Profile

Being active and constantly being in sports has always been a big part of my life. From doing club to community center sports, I have always been involved.  Never did I think I would get hurt and have to sit out until it happened and I tore my ACL and meniscus for the first time. Then, it happened again on my other leg 6 months later.  When tearing both ACLs and meniscus it set me back and I was not able to compete in anything or do much. In rehab I did a lot of strength training but it was not enough and that is when I decided to do xc my 8th grade year and ever since doing it I have fell in love with the sport and doing long distance. It was a very long and painful process of recovery but I was dedicated to get myself back into sports. XC was only a plan to keep me in shape but after running the first year and getting that runners high, I knew this was what I wanted to do with my athletic career.  My high school coach was very good at recruiting me in middle school and I was very excited to go and compete with the higher level, and kids who would push me to be the best runner I could be.  With the hard work and training I did to get back to athletics after my injuries it has changed my view on life. You have to work hard for things that you want even if you are starting from the top or from the very bottom in my case.  I have always been dedicated to working hard and setting goals for myself. My coaches are very supportive and have shaped me into the kind of runner I am today, and I hope that I can take my abilities to the next level and become an even better runner with another team.