The Commit: Zach Skolnekovich

The interviews continue to roll here at Etrain! Next up in The Commit series is Zach Skolnekovich who was nice enough to take the time and answer our questions.

Be sure to look out for another interview later next week! I am also preparing the "I Love College" series once again which should be ready in the next two weeks or so. A lot more to come!

Garrett: Let’s start by talking about your senior year performances. In cross country, you were runner-up in the PIAA XC Championships (AA) and qualified for Footlocker Nationals. You later earned personal bests in the 800 and 1600/mile during the spring season which was capped off with a runner-up performance in the 3200 and a 5^th place performance in the 1600 (both AA). Have you done anything differently in your training to get to this level of fitness?

Zach Skolnekovich: Yes, I increased my mileage and lowered my paces. In my freshman and sophomore years, I ran about 35-45 miles a week and six days a week. In my junior and senior years, I ran 55-65 miles a week and seven days a week. Also, I began to run faster paces during my maintenance and long runs. In addition to increasing my mileage, I lifted two days a week. 

G: You and Ben Bumgarner have often raced each other throughout your high school running careers (16 times to be exact). Is it fair to say that you two have developed a rivalry of sorts?  

ZS: Ben is a great runner, and he really burst onto the scene this past year. I am happy for him because I know all the hard work that he put in to get where he is. I wouldn’t necessarily say that it was a rivalry because I never liked to characterize a matchup like that. However, I really enjoyed and looked forward to racing him because I knew that he would bring out my best and that I would bring out his, and it was very fun toeing the line with him.

G: Quaker Valley has produced some top-tier teams and individuals over the past few years. What is it about this program that has led to so much success?
  

ZS: Two words: Coach Noyes. Noyes takes runners who ran a 5:50 mile in 8th grade, and turns them into a sub-5 miler by their senior years. Noyes also takes runners who ran a sub-5 mile in 8th grade, and turns them into a sub 4:20 miler by their senior years. He makes you mentally tough so when it comes down to the end of a race, you can push your body to the limit. Personally, Noyes was the best coach for me. He knew my abilities, limits, and how to get the best out of me. He would challenge me and play little mental games (as I like to call them) with me so that I would run the time that he wanted. To finish my tribute to Coach Noyes, he is the reason why our program and myself were so successful because he can take any average runner/team, and lead them to great feats.          

G: Let’s transition away from high school and talk about your college decision. Where will you begin your collegiate academic and athletic career? What will you be majoring in (if you have declared)?

ZS: I will be running cross country and track at William & Mary. I plan on majoring in finance, but will probably take general business classes my first year.

G: What were some of the other schools you were looking at? How did William & Mary stand out from the others?

ZS: I officially visited Penn State, NC State, Providence, Columbia, and William & Mary. I chose W&M because it simply felt right. I left both my unofficial and official visits wanting to commit on the spot (type of feeling). I could tell that W&M was the school for me because every conversation that I had about college ending with W&M.

G: Head coach Chris Solinsky was the first American to break the 27-minute barrier in the 10k. Did his credentials and experience as a professional influence your decision at all?

ZS: Yes, I would say they influenced my decision. For me, to be able to run under a coach with his credentials and experience is an incredible opportunity. Also, since he trained and competed at the highest level, I think our training will be top notch, and I will reach my greatest potential. Lastly, I think he will prepare our team for the mental grind that comes with competing in D1 athletics since he has had experience running D1 and professionally.

G: Have you discussed with the coaching staff what your training will be like? Was there a certain training philosophy the coaching staff had that you felt would be beneficial to your development as a runner?

ZS: I discussed my training with my coaches, and just got my training schedule for cross season. Coach Solinsky believes that the summer should be used to build a solid foundation that can be worked on during the season so there aren’t any planned workouts. Instead, he wants me to focus on my long runs, and throw in 2-4 progression runs a week. I think this will benefit me because it will make me strong so I can handle the jump to the 8k and 10k.

G: Did the idea of training and racing with PA alumni Cooper Leslie (formerly of Camp Hill) entice you to join the William & Mary program?

ZS: Cooper was actually my host for my official visit which made my visit very enjoyable because we got along well since he is also from Penn. To answer the question now, yes it did because I want to train and race with teammates that I get along with.

G: What kind of legacy/impact do you want to leave when your time with W&M is done? What are some of your goals for the next four to five years?

ZS: For cross country, I want to win NCAAs as a team. I know people are reading this and thinking that this kid is crazy (which I am, I run long distance). However, our recruiting class and returning W&M runners are very strong. Also, I believe Coach Solinsky will be able to bring in some national caliber runners in the coming years. If you combine all of those factors, I can see us winning or at least coming close to winning it all in the next 3-4 years. On the track, I would really like to qualify for NCAAs and run in Eugene.

G: What is your advice to runners (or anyone for that matter) as they begin their college search?

ZS: My advice would be to keep your options open. It never hurts to have a variety of schools to choose from. Also, don’t overthink it. I know that it is easier said than done, but when the school is right, you will know it.

G: Finally, any shout outs?

ZS: Shout out to my former assistant cross country coach, John “Pacman” Yankello. He was my training partner for my junior year cross and track and senior year of cross. He paced and pushed me during many long runs and workouts. He was a major factor in my development physically and mentally, and I wouldn’t be the runner I am now without him.

The Commit

Shout out to Garrett Zatlin for putting together a really cool series, talking to Seniors about their college selections for next year. I think these posts turned out really well and figured I'd re-link them up since it's that time of year here where I start linking things apparently.

Matt D'Aquila
Nick Dahl
Dave Whitfield
Nick Feffer

You can check out Garrett's newest stuff at this link. His site is called The Stride Report and its pretty sick for any NCAA fans out there. I'd guess a large subgroup of readership is graduating to the NCAA ranks next season, some time to start studying up runners (and parents of runners).

The Commit: Dave Whitfield

By: Garrett Zatlin

Dave Whitfield took some time to talk about his college decision in another article of The Commit series! Take a look at our conversation below...

Garrett Zatlin: Before we talk about your college commitment, let’s chat about some of your recent performances. During the winter season, you actually played hockey while running track, right? Talk a little bit about trying to balance those two during your junior and senior years.

Dave Whitfield: Yeah, I did play hockey and track during the winter. My junior year, I played for my high school and also a club team. It was very hard trying to fit all that in with indoor plus school work. Typically, I had club hockey practice 2 times during the week, after my track practice (daily). Then on Saturday, I would have meets at Lehigh in the morning followed by a high school game at night. On Sunday, I usually got a longer run in before my second club hockey game of the weekend; also followed by a high school practice at night. This whole entire process was very tiring and time consuming, but it was 2 sports that I loved to play. After I ran 1:53 my junior season, I cut back on the ice time by only playing for my high school this year. This helped me focus on getting the proper rest while getting more base work in.

GZ: 2016 was your breakout year where you ran 1:53 to PR by 2.5 seconds and win the District 12 title. Did you know that you had that kind of speed in you? What did a time and win like that do to your confidence?

DW: That exact race was probably one of the best days of my life. It opened so many opportunities in my life that I am very grateful for. After my sophomore season splitting 1:58 at districts, I had a goal set in my mind. I definitely wanted to go 1:54 by my junior season, and sub 1:51 by senior season. I had no clue that I was going to run that fast at districts, but I knew a pr was coming. I always tend to run really well at districts. That race was a huge confidence booster and indicator that I can run with the top guys in the state.

GZ: You had a really nice season opener at Neshaminy where you ran 1:56. Are you happy with where your fitness is right now?

DW: I am pretty happy with my first 800 of the season. I was expecting right around a 1:56 or lower for the first open 800.

GZ: According to MileSplit, you’re the 3rd fastest returner in the 800 from last season. What are your expectations for the rest of outdoor in 2017? Do you feel like there is any pressure on you to perform at a high level?

DW: It's very humbling coming back as one of the top 800 runners in the state. I don’t really want to dwell too much on last years time because it's a new season. I feel like there is a little bit of pressure keeping up with the top of the state and continuing to drop hot times. However, when I step on the line, all the anxiety goes away and it’s just about having fun at that point. Getting sub 1:51 and sub 49 for the 400 would be ideal this season. Also, I must get a state medal!!! I’ve been way too close to receiving one and it's so aggravating, so hopefully I’ll get one this year.

GZ: Now that our high school discussion is over, let’s get into what we are really here for. Where have you committed to go after high school? Have you declared your major yet?

DW: I just committed to Virginia Tech not too long ago and planning on majoring in Statistics!

GZ: What other universities did you look at? What made Virginia Tech standout?

DW: I've talked to a lot of universities but the few that stood out were Miami (FL), Boise State, and Pitt. Virginia Tech really stood out to me because of the people on campus. When I took a visit down there, everyone was very welcoming, friendly, and it just felt like home. I love the campus itself and the rich school tradition it exemplifies throughout everything they do. The person that stood out to me the most was Ben Fleming, a kid already committed to Tech in my recruiting class. He welcomed me in and showed me all around campus. I got the true, sincere feeling of Blacksburg within a weekend span.

GZ: Have you discussed with the coach what your training will be like? Was there a certain training philosophy mentioned that resonated with you?

DW: As a middle distance guy, I won’t just be training with the cross guys but I’ll actually be racing at all the home meets next year. I won’t be running varsity but I’m really excited to get the base and endurance early on for the track seasons. I’m gonna be more generated to run the 800/1500 than anything, which I’m also very excited about. With all the great training in the fall, my open 800 will be better than ever.

GZ: You’ll be entering a program that just won the indoor ACC championships and has all five of their sub-1:50 guys returning for next year. Tell us your thoughts on being able to compete and train with such an elite mid-distance group.

DW: This opportunity to run and train with the best is a blessing in itself. I never thought I would be running at this level, ever! The thought of it seems pretty crazy but I’m going to be ready to give it my all. I’m going to try my very best to stick with them and hopefully fill their shoes one day.

GZ: What are you most looking forward to about training and competing at the next level? Is there anyone you are excited to compete against?

DW: I’m looking forward to traveling to all the different universities for meets next year. I’m definitely excited to get that needed base work in early on in training. Endurance is the number one thing I tend to struggle with during workouts and races. If I can get that attribute down, who knows what kind of runner I can be in the near future. 

I am really excited to race some of the big name PA Alumni that I tend to look up to even to this day. Guys like Kevin James, Matt Wisner, Dom Perretta, Justin Jones, and John Lewis are runners that I’ve learned from just by watching them race at high level meets. I am also very excited to race against one of my good friends/rival, Steve Mcclellan, next year. Every time we race it’s always a positive outcome for both of us.

GZ: What is the impact you want to leave throughout your collegiate racing career?

DW: Hopefully, I can be on the hot 4x8 and DMR at some point in my collegiate career. Also, I hope to be one of the best 800 guys to come out of Virginia Tech.

GZ: What advice do you have for current juniors that are going through the college recruiting process right now?

DW: Definitely, do not wait for coaches to contact you. There are so many runners in high school, college coaches don't get a chance to reach out to everyone unless you're one of the top in your event. Try to email the college of your choice as soon as possible. The earlier, the better. Another tip is to try to be as versatile as possible with the events that you run. It will definitely help you out in your college process. In my 4 years I’ve only been geared toward 1 event. If you have the opportunity to try new events, don't be scared to experiment.

GZ: What is one thing we need to know about you?

DW: If I’m not running, sleeping, or reading Etrain, I’m always low key playing PS4. So, without a doubt add me on PSN if you want to see how I get down after track hours. (Dwhitty07)

GZ: Twitter plug?

DW: Follow your finest Bonner boy @King_Dave57. If you have any general questions about track or anything, do not be scared to message me. Im literally on twitter 24/7.

GZ: Any shout outs?

DW: Shoutout to my wonderful coaches at Bonner, especially Coach Kevin Kee and Greg Thomas. Another shoutout to Ryan Rastatter, Sean Sullivan, Ethan Cook, Tony Harper, and Alaina Johnson for pushing me throughout my 4 years of high school. One last shoutout to my future Brokies next year at VT. Go Hokies !

The Commit: Nick Feffer

By: Garrett Zatlin

The Commit is back with another PA senior that has committed to running in college! Nick Feffer of State College was nice enough to chat and give us some insight on his college commitment. Enjoy!


Garrett: Let’s begin by talking about your most recent indoor season. At states, you decided to forgo the open 800 to stay fresh for the 4x800. Why is it that State College puts such a strong emphasis on the success of their relays?

Nick Feffer: I think it has a lot to do with the culture of our team. Ever since I was a freshman, I saw the older guys doing what was best for the rest of the group. Cather took on an enormous quad to help us win Districts four years ago. Milligan skipped on individuals at indoor states so that our DMR would have a competitive shot. I felt that I was just doing what was expected of me by skipping the open 8. I wanted to give my teammates my best effort in the DMR and helping them medal was more important than trying to snag an individual place.

Also another more personal part of my decision was that I just didn’t think I could run as fast as I would be happy with from the “slow” heats. I might’ve been able to pull out a 1:55 or something and grab 7th or 8th but again, I decided it would be better to save energy for the mile leg of the DMR.

G: State College is considered one of the best programs in the state for developing 800 meter runners. Why is that the case and do you feel like there is any pressure on you to uphold that legacy?

NF: It’s just kinda been that way for as long as I can remember. My coach, Steve Shisler, has a special place in his heart for 4x800s; he’s on the PSU squad that holds the Penn Relays record. So that could be a factor. Otherwise, I think it’s because we are a low-mileage, high intensity program and that kind of training works well for 800s. In terms of upholding the legacy, I see it more as pride in a way rather than pressure. Knowing that some incredible 800 runners have come before me, I trust in my training and the results come in the races.

G: You’ll be entering this outdoor season as one of the top returners in the 800. Do you feel like there is any pressure on you to perform at a high level? What are your goals for your final season of high school competition?

NF: Yeah this is where the pressure comes in. I was ecstatic last year when I realized I was the top junior in the 800 at states (not by much), and I told myself then that I wanted to win the thing as a senior. I do feel like I have somewhat of a target on my back due to how close the race was last year, and with the Affolders coming in and Hoey looking more and more like an 800 guy rather than a miler, I know it’ll be a tough race. Looking forward to it being a fast one though. Timewise, I think I have a 1:51 somewhere in the tank, I just have to find it on the right day. 

G: Let’s transition away from high school and discuss your future plans. Where will you continue your academic and athletic career? Have you declared a major yet?

NF: I’m excited to be studying and running at Dartmouth College up in New Hampshire. I’ll be majoring in biomedical engineering, with a focus towards medical school post-graduation.

G: What other universities were you looking at? What made Dartmouth stand out?

NF: I was looking at basically all of the other Ivy League colleges and Penn State as well, due to location. I took a bunch of official and unofficial visits which were a blast (shoutout @Ryan Thrush), but I felt that Dartmouth had the best fit for me. I really liked the guys on the team and the trails around campus are great for training.

G: Have you had any discussions with the Dartmouth coaching staff about your future training? How will your training there differ from high school?

NF: From what I remember on my visits and conversations with Coach Harwick and Coach Phelps, the training won’t be too much different from my training at State High. A couple workouts a week, tempos and intervals, lifting occasionally. I’ll probably have to up my mileage a little bit though.

G: There are many PA alumni that are either currently running (or are committed to run) in the Ivy League. What are your thoughts about racing many familiar faces at the collegiate level?

NF: It’s a little daunting to be honest haha! It’s cool to see alumni running well and winning Heps and things like that. It’s a little scary knowing that I’ll be racing some PA legends but I mean there are always going to be fast kids in races, so the way I see it is I’ll just have more friends to talk to at meets.

G: Your 800 PR will make you one of the top half-milers on Dartmouth’s team. What kind of contributions are you looking to make in your first few seasons of competition?

NF: I was kind of happy when I realized that. One of the reasons I shied away from some other Ivy schools was their incredible depth in the mid-distance (@Columbia). I guess I don’t want to have to start from the bottom, so to speak. I’m really excited to have a part to play on the team from day one and I’d like to run at Heps in my freshman year. I’m not sure how reasonable that is, but it would definitely be cool.

G: What advice do you have for runners (or anyone for that matter) as they start their own college search?

NF: A few things...

1.     Start early. The recruiting process is pretty long and grueling and the more time you have the better.

2.     Reach out. This is the most important part. I didn’t get “recruited” by Dartmouth per se; I sent the coaches an email saying, “Hi I’m Nick, these are my times, can we talk?” and got the ball rolling from there. If you’re not fast enough to run for the school, the coach will probably tell you, but 1) you haven’t lost anything 2) you put yourself on the coach’s radar as someone who really wants to go to their school and that will sit well with them when you do hit their qualifying standards.

3.     Recruitment standards on websites are waaay fast. Don’t be afraid to send an email if you haven’t hit them just yet.

4.     If anyone has questions about Ivy League/Dartmouth recruiting or Dartmouth in general, feel free to shoot me a Twitter dm. I’ll be happy to help.

G: What is something you wished we asked you, but didn’t? What would your answer be?

NF:

Q: “Why are you so short?”

A:  ...

G: You’ve got some pretty fire tweets. How can people follow you on Twitter?

NF: I really appreciate that, although I don’t think anyone on my team will admit it. The handle is @feffrey98. Thanks!

G: Any shout outs?

NF: Shout out to HC. You’ll make it someday bud.