Xavier duo skip basketball to focus on track

CEDAR RAPIDS - For the first time in eight years, sophomore Nathan Skala did not hit the court for the basketball season.

Instead, Skala hopes to improve his chances of becoming a state champion during the upcoming track season.

'I am more successful in track than I have ever been in basketball,” Skala said. 'Which is why I am confident in my decision to take the season off and prepare for track.”

Last season, Skala and his 3,200-meter relay team - consisting of junior Beau Vanberkum, seniors Josh Gerke and graduate Steven Culpepper - qualified for state with a time of 8 minutes, 12 seconds. Skala ended his first varsity track season at the state meet at Drake University. He ran a personal time of 2:04 in the 800, one-tenth of a second shy of his personal best. His relay earned second place with a time of 8:03.

Skala is looking forward to attending track camp in Dubuque with longtime friend and teammate Aaron Larson. Larson, a sophomore who was an alternate at state last year, also is excited to take his the basketball season off to help train with Skala.

Skala hopes to improve his endurance, while Larson hopes to become bigger, stronger and faster.

'I am looking forward to track camp because hopefully I will learn better techniques,” Larson said. 'I also cannot wait to spend time with Nate.”

Last season, Larson's leg injury sometimes prevented him from working his hardest. He was four-tenths of a second away from qualifying for state in shuttle hurdles.

'I am trying my hardest this year to make it to state,” Larson said. 'I lift and run two to three miles every day to get bigger and better.”

Skala's main goal is to win a state title in the 3,200 relay and he hopes to get a personal record time of 1:57 in the 800.

By achieving the latter goal, he also hopes to be on his way to better the Xavier 800 record of 1:55, held by Kyle Donnelly during his junior year.

'It will be very hard to win first place because Mount Vernon has three runners returning,” Skala said. 'But, that is our biggest goal.”

Through friendship and competitiveness, these sophomores hope to push themselves to their limits and bring the best out of each other this season.