March 26, 2018 at 11:30 a.m.
Monk to run track at York College
Monk to run track at York College
Monk announced last Wednesday that he has committed to York College, a private NAIA institution in York, Nebraska.
Monk, a three-sport athlete, readily admits track was not initially his first choice, but circumstance fell into place leading him to York.
"The majority of this past summer I was trying to get a football scholarship," he said. "It just went to track when I actually got a scholarship offer, so I took it."
Monk said he is familiar with the York College campus, having attended Bible camps there since his freshman year. Two years ago, he said he toured the facility and talked to school's wrestling coach. At that point he inadvertently caught the attention of the school's track program.
"The track coach (Justin Carver) was also there," he explained. "He made me run a little and told me to come back senior year, which I did. He didn't even make me run. He basically pulled me aside and offered me the scholarship and said he actually looked at my football highlights and that's what really brought us here."
Monk has been running hurdles for the Hodags the past couple of seasons. He finished fifth in the 110-meter high hurdles as last year's Great Northern Conference Meet and just recorded runner-up finishes in the 55 and 200-meter hurdles at the Lakeland Co-Ed Indoor Invite last Tuesday. At this point, however, it's unclear which events he will run in college.
"Hurdles would be what I'd like, but whatever they tell me to do, I'll go out and do," he said.
RHS head track coach Aaron Kraemer, who has also worked with Monk during the football season, said the senior's best traits can be summed up in two words - determination and desire.
"Once you have figured out what your goal is you're determined to get to that goal and you have the desire to keep pushing and pushing and pushing no matter what the obstacle is," Kraemer said, addressing Monk at last week's press conference. "For you, the obstacle being the hurdle is a good analogy there. You overcome your obstacles and I expect you to do the same thing when you go to York."
The Panthers started the outdoor portion of their schedule this past weekend at the Oklahoma Baptist Invitational. During the indoor season, York finished fourth in the 11-team Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference meet, fifth out of 14 teams at the National Christian College Athletic Association national championships and 15th out of 63 teams at the NAIA national championships.
Monk on Wednesday thanked a number of people who have helped him reach this point.
"I just want to thank my parents for pushing me to get to this point, academically and athletically, and all the coaches that I've had since peewee football up until this point," he said. "They pushed me to get better every single day. Then my teammates for making it fun, actually. It's been exciting, a little stressful at some times, but it's still exciting."
Monk said he plans to major in physical education at York.
"It's a great way to get into coaching and give back to the sports that gave me so much," he said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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