Nathaniel Merrell '25 Recruiting Profile

Competing in sports has always been important to me.  I played baseball, basketball, and ran track in grade school.  Starting in 7th grade, I joined my high school cross country team.  My older brother was also on the team, and I drew inspiration from his college running aspirations, which eventually led him to run at a DII University.  Despite initial doubts, I surpassed his junior year times, becoming a cross country team captain in my junior year with notable achievements, including a 17:10 5K, a second-place conference meet finish, and qualifying for the State meet as the second-place individual qualifier in my section.  I also run track, and was All-Conference in the 3200 as a freshman, and Honorable Mention All-Conference in the mile as a sophomore. Beyond running, I also played basketball in High School, committing early mornings nearly year-round to basketball workouts until junior year, showcasing consistency and dedication. I attend DeLaSalle, a college prep high school, maintain a 3.5 GPA, participate in a sports leadership academy, and engage in other extracurricular activities.  This foundation positions me well to balance academic and athletic dedication at the collegiate level.  I hope to continue my running career in college, as I really value being part of a team not only for the competitive aspects but also to develop meaningful relationships.