In 2018-19, the Mountain East Conference began its "Dear Sport" initiative where student-athletes in the conference were encouraged to write a letter to their sport. The initiative provides the opportunity for student-athletes to express in their own words the impact that sports has played in shaping them throughout their lives.
Click here to view all letters posted throughout the year.
Below is a letter from Collin Wallace, a cross country and track and field athlete from West Virginia Wesleyan.
Dear Track and Cross Country,
To be completely honest with you, I’ve spent most of my life perceiving myself as a baseball player. Baseball has always been a major part of my identity, as evidenced by the 14 years that I played the sport from tee ball through my senior year of high school. Back in eighth grade, however, I was asked to give you a chance by joining the middle school cross country team. Believe it or not, I had a ton of fun. Beyond that, I was enthralled by the incredible culture surrounding the sport and began to develop an affinity for distance running. After competing in high school cross country for the next four years (and running track in my senior year), embarking upon a future in running transformed from a far-off idea to a passion-filled ambition. All of a sudden, this ballplayer who “just happened to run cross country” had his eyes opened to a whole new sport and had fallen into a love that he never saw coming.
Fast forward four years, and here I am as a senior at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Rather than sprinting down 90 foot base paths, I now several 5,000 and 10,000 meter races under my belt. My days of tracking down fly balls have been replaced with reeling in competitors in the last 400 meters of a race, and digging as deep as possible to power up a seemingly never-ending hill. But guess what? I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. You have bolstered who I am in so many immeasurable and unexplainable ways. I owe you thanks for my physical fitness, mental strength, and competitive drive, but above all, you have taught me lessons about life that I will carry with me no matter where I am taken next.
You have shown me the value of crafting deep relationships with my teammates and coaches, as I have been blessed with several lifelong friends over the four years I’ve spent with you at the collegiate level. These relationships, built on love, respect, care, and trust have been the fuel that has carried me through the highest of highs and lowest of lows. I have made massive improvements in my work ethic, my outlook on adverse situations, and even my faith thanks to the people you have placed in my life. With that being said, you’ve been really...and I mean REALLY...good at showing me tough love over the years. In order to maximize the potential that I have within me, you demand nothing less than my best. You will only give back what I put in. The four years I’ve spent with you at Wesleyan have brought various injuries, countless 15+ mile long runs, and numerous grueling workouts, but time and time again you have shown me that giving you everything I have will pay off in all aspects of life. I have experienced firsthand that the path to success is not always the straightest, flattest, or clearest. But because of you, I know that it will always lead to the right destination if I keep pressing forward. Sometimes the dedication you demand seems a little harsh on the surface, but through it all you have been making me stronger as an athlete and as a person.
I could go on for hours, but I want to cap this off with a heartfelt “THANK YOU.” You have changed my life forever and have instilled a true enthusiasm and fervor for continuing my relationship with you for years to come. Throughout my running career, every step I’ve taken (literally and figuratively) has happened for a reason. You leave me with lasting memories and experiences that I wouldn’t have had if you had never stepped into my life. You have given me more than I can ever ask for, and I hope to use what I have gained as a WVWC/Mountain East Conference Cross Country and Track athlete to reciprocate that right back to you.
Thank you for everything,
Collin Wallace
West Virginia Wesleyan