IT TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF PERSON TO CONTINUALLY EXCEL ON THE TRACK, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE TOUGH COMPETITION THAT CONROE ISD OFFERS ON A YEARLY BASIS.
Among the imposing roster that Willis features, senior Daniel Nickel has made a name for himself.
Originally a football player for the Wildcats, Nickel eventually found himself gravitating towards the track and field program.
“My story in the sport began my sophomore year,” he said. “Football just wasn’t my thing anymore, since I suffered some concussions. From there, I think that track is where I thrived. The one-on-one coaching was definitely a little different for me, and I felt much better about it. I made varsity that year and haven’t looked back.”
Given his considerable speed, Nickel competes in the 100m, 200m and 400m dash for Willis. He has a proclivity for the 200-meter dash in particular, due to the “sweet-spot” distance he knows that he can excel in.
“Ultimately, I plan on breaking the school record in the 200m this year,” Nickel said. “Down the line, I hope to acquire my first Division I offer, while I compete for the team. I don’t really have any hobbies outside of this sport. I dedicate all my time to track, so I hope something like that will happen.”
Since this is his final year with the program, Nickel reflected on what the sport has meant to him and what he will do in the future.
“It means everything to me,” he said. “I feel like I’ve built something here, and I hope to leave a legacy for other kids to look up to. I want to prove that anything is possible. My first 100m time was 11.90 seconds during my freshman year, and I recently ran a 10.80 despite having a bad start.
“That sets me up for a great season, and I want to show that you can do anything when you put your mind to it.”
The Wildcats reached the Regional Meet a year ago and brings back the majority of that roster this Spring.
If the rest of the Willis team share a similar passion as Nickel, the Wildkats should be in for a thrilling performance down the stretch.