Kuyler Balleck '22 Recruiting Profile

    I joined track in 7th grade because I liked a girl that was on the team. I had no real goal besides getting the girl.  That all changed though after I won my very first race and felt that addictive rush of winning. I was hooked to that feeling and simply had to win in order to satisfy my competitive nature. I rushed through the rest of middle school going nearly undefeated in all my events. My work ethic was horrendous in school and in practice, as I was lucky enough to be talented enough in running that I didn't need to try in practice or school in order to win. I constantly talked to my friends even when there were other things I needed to prioritize such as school work or workouts, and when I did any assignment or workout I would give half effort. That all changed Freshman year. 

I had gone into that track season thinking it would be a similar experience to middle school and that I would not have to try as hard as others to win. I was completely wrong; the first high school track meet I went to was the polar opposite of my very first track meet. I was utterly destroyed by my competition in every single event.  It flipped my entire world upside down.  I was not mentally prepared to be beaten that badly after coming off of a winning streak.  I knew something had to change because I needed to win and my current routine was not working. I came back to the practice after that track meet with a more serious mindset, no more goofing around or slacking off in practice. I was no longer talking to friends and giving it my all during workouts; I would completely isolate myself mentally as soon as it was time to work. I was slowly becoming a serious competitor and eventually I overtook a senior in my school in terms of speed and was on my way to be the next track star for my team. Sadly, my freshman year did not end with a happy ending as the upperclassmen I was competing against were just stronger and faster. I used this as motivation to push myself even further and set sights on next year. 

Sophomore year started and I started working harder in and out of practice; I reached out to coaches for off season training advice, and lettered in my other sports such as football. With this new work ethic and training I set new personal records in 100 meter, 200 meter, triple jump, and 4x200 meter relay.  Though the COVID-19 pandemic started that year and ended my track season before our first meet, the hardest part of my sophomore year was when I was told we were moving to Alaska. I really enjoyed the town I lived in and the people in it but now I had to leave.  When the West Valley track season finally started after school closures were lifted, I had a newfound respect for my teammates and would do my best to support them while also pushing them to be better people and athletes. In doing this my teammates started supporting me as well and as a result of their support I was able to reach a new level and make it to state in and make it on the podium for my 200m (5th), Triple jump (7th), and 4x200 meter relay(3rd).

    Track has greatly affected me both on and off the runway; my work ethic is now the best it has ever been. I was able to join the National Honors Society my sophomore year and continue working towards better and better grades/achievements. I applied and was accepted into a competitive Certified Nurse Aide program which required 70 hours of lectures on topics such as mental health of patients, warning signs of injury and disease, and 80 hours of lab/clinical work that consisted of things such as how to properly assist a patient and how to take vital signs. I had to complete up to 10 chapters of homework alongside my highschool homework assignments every single night; I was required to work 10 hour shifts for a week straight and will be taking the certification test in December. I find myself pushing others and giving them something to work for and I can't stand watching another person struggle alone. I have become a more kind person and I am more socially outgoing. I can now find a reason for everything I do while creating bigger and bigger goals for myself.