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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Running on a Bond
Central Indiana, IN
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By: Dax Lowery
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Photo(s) By: Walt Winter
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Brothers Joe and Nick Angermeier have helped bring a certain cohesiveness to the Mooresville track and cross country teams. While both have another sport as top priority, it is running that has made them even more competitive with each other.
Like many brothers, Joe and Nick Angermeier had the usual athletic battles growing up, each doing his best to outdo the other. Joe, the older of the two, always had the size advantage, but Nick more than held his own, depending on the sport.
That tradition continues to this day, much to the advantage of their Mooresville High School track and cross country teammates.
“Our goal is always to beat the other,” Joe said. “We’re both pretty competitive, and I think that helps us.”
Joe, a senior who specializes in the 800 meters during the spring, sets the pace during practice and helps keep order as the team leader, according to first-year boys track coach Clint Swalls. Nick, a junior mile-runner, has proven to be an unselfish teammate.
“Joe’s more of a leader (to the team), but being so close in age, (the brothers) take that role together,” Swalls said. “They look up to Joe, and he carries Nick around with him. When you see one, you usually see the other.”
Joe and Nick are used to seeing each other. They’ve shared a room for most of their lives, and, thanks to their dad, were usually teammates growing up.
“Even though we were different ages, our dad (Mark), who would be our coach, would bump me up to Joe’s age group; we’d always be on the same team,” Nick said. “He’s the perfect father – he’s always there for every event. He would push us enough but not too much that we’d burn out.”
Perhaps as a result, the two have become a nice complement for the other. Where Joe, 19, would have the upper hand in basketball, which he played during his freshman and sophomore years at Mooresville, Nick, 17, would get the better of his older brother in wrestling, where he was a state qualifier two years ago. It’s no different during track season as Joe sticks with middle-distance events like the 800 and Nick runs the mile and two-mile.
As seasoned teammates, the two can’t help praising one another.
“(Nick’s) a really hard worker – he’s really helped the team out. He started running cross country his sophomore year and he made an immediate impact with the team, and again this year,” Joe said. “He always finishes in the top three. He was also the cross country MVP this past year.”
Said Nick: “(Joe’s) an exceptional athlete, and that really blossoms in the 800. I don’t know if he’s finished worse than fourth this year.”
They didn’t plan on being teammates in the spring, although they both approached running in similar ways. Joe always ran to stay in shape for basketball season, but when he wasn’t happy with his minutes on the court, he decided to focus on cross country and track. “I found I could be more competitive in cross country,” he said. “The individual payoff was a little bit better.”
Nick was also running to stay in shape for his main sport, wrestling. “After my freshman wrestling season didn’t end the way I wanted, I started lifting and running,” Nick said. “I liked the running thing, so (Joe) said I should join cross country.”
Swalls is happy to be the beneficiary of that decision.
“We set goals for the season, and Joe does what he has to do to get there. He’s a good kid, one of those seniors who doesn’t think he’s above everyone else,” Swalls said. “And Nick’s such a tough kid. You can tell by the way he runs that he wants to make improvements. Wherever I need him, he’ll do it. He’s a great teammate.”
Joe Angermeier
On new coach Clint Swalls: “He wants to build the program back up. He always says he wants the program to be just as important as football and basketball.”
On why he favors the 800: “Because I typically go out fast in any race and I try to finish strong, too. The 800 is ideal for that.”
On his individual goals for this season: “To run under two minutes in the 800 and advance to the regional meet.”
On his future plans: He hopes to attend the University of Southern Indiana and run track.
Nick Angermeier
On new coach Clint Swalls: “One thing I like about him is that he’s personable with the team. A neat thing about him is that he takes an interest in you personally.”
On his individual goals for this season: “To break the five-minute mile. The individual goals (put forth by Swalls) really push everyone to fulfill their potential.”
On his future plans: He wants to focus on chemistry before going to medical school.
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