Andre Black '16 Recruiting Profile

As I enter my senior year at Tampa Catholic High School, I am interested in continuing my track career at the collegiate level.  Please review my race times to see how I continuously improves with each race. This year, I finished my junior year with several accomplishments: I placed first in the 800m for FL 2A District 10 Championships.  I placed second in the 800m for FL 2A Region 3.  I placed overall 6th place in the 800m at FL 2A State Championships with a 1.59.31 (personal record) time resulting in a State medal and new Tampa Catholic 800m school record.  I was a 2015 All-County Honorable Mention in the Tampa Bay Times. I also qualified for the Junior Olypics for the 800m.

I have worked very hard to achieve success in my track career.  As a sophomore in 2014, I competed in several events: 3rd place in the 400m, 4th place in the 800m, and 4th place in the 4x400m at District Championships which qualified me to compete at Regionals. Our 4x400m team qualified for State Championships and placed overall 12th place. I was also a 2014 All-County Honorable Mention in the Tampa Bay Times.  While track is my athletic passion, I also played football since I was five years old. I was on the Tampa Catholic Varsity football team mid- 2012 to 2015 as a defensive cornerback.

While I have natural talent, I believe it my strong and unwavering work ethic that helps me improve.  Every morning I get up at 5 AM even on summer vacation to get in extra miles to make legs stronger. This year, I learned that to achieve the success I desire, I’m going to have to lose some sleep. I am usually the first and last one off the track field. In addition to my strong work ethic, I am able to adapt to different coaching techniques and correct my mistakes to improve.  I also compete to the best of my ability and grind through the pain to get the best race time. I run races with determination and attitude that no matter who is in the same heat with me or how tired I am, I will never give up. I am a Track team captain who mentors our freshmen and sophomores as well as 7th and 8th graders in our Wings of an Eagle Athletic Ministry club to help them focus and share my lessons learned to help them compete to the best of their ability. Although I realize my times must improve to compete at a Division I level, I'm very confident that my work ethic, agility, and leadership will set me apart from other student track athletes.

My strong work ethic translates to my academic career at Tampa Catholic High School. Currently, I have a 3.19 GPA and achieved Honor Roll this past quarter.  I was inducted into the Rho Kappa Honor Society for my excellence in History.  This upcoming senior year, I have a challenging course schedule with Honors History, Honors Economics and Honor Physiology.  I had to work very hard to be able to enroll at Tampa Catholic by attending summer school in my freshman year.  I consider this journey worthwhile as I have seen how hard work and focus can help me excel as a student and prepares me for the challenging college coursework.  My current goal is to pursue a career in business field. 

Tampa Catholic has also prepared me for a life of community service. I volunteer several hours each quarter at different volunteer organizations, such as Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat of Humanities and Feeding America.  I believe in helping others who are less fortunate and may not have the same opportunities as me.

My current goal is to attend a university where I can achieve success in track to the highest level possible such as the Olympics and obtain a great academic education to help me become successful in the business field and also give back to my community by mentoring other student athletes to achieve their best performance.  I have the support of God, my family, and my mentors such as Coach Prather who gives me motivation and strength to be give my best, study and train hard and be humble in my sport and life.