Tyler Moore '17 Recruiting Profile

      My running journey began when I joined my school's cross country team in seventh grade. I most definitely was not big enough to cause any impact on the football team and I really wanted to be involved in a sport, so I decided to give cross country a try. That decision turned out to be the perfect fit, and has forever changed my life, right down to my daily routine. After seventh grade I started to steadily improve, making the varsity squad my eighth grade year. The summer before freshman year is when I really started to take distance running seriously, putting on miles upon miles (600 summer miles/700 miles the following summer...including 100 miles on the deck of a cruise ship). Since then, heavy training has paid off in the form of three conference titles (3200 freshman & sophomore year, CC sophomore year), three section runner ups (4x800 freshman year - CC, 1600 sophomore year), one section victory (3200 sophomore year), and four state appearances (4x800 freshman year - CC, 1600, 3200 sophomore year). More importantly, distance running has provided me with a determination, a discipline, a drive... A drive I cannot only use in track & field and cross country, but that I can apply in the classroom and in practicing my musical instruments as well.

      "To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine. This is a quote that I have on a poster in my room.  It is my favorite quote, and one that I agree with fully. Victory, winning, and titles are very important and extremely fun in running, do not get me wrong, but there is one thing that I believe is more important than that, and that is trying your best. Your best effort is all anybody can ever ask of you. I make sure to leave it all on the track at every race, give one hundered percent on every run, and try my absolute best academically. I will continue to give my all in school to maintain my 4.0. Another thing I try my best at is to soak up as much advice and coaching as I can. There are many different approaches when it comes to running, and as many different ideas or tips I can listen to the better. The pursuit of perfect running form and high effeciency is endless for me, and I am always willing to learn. My current cross country coach, Jeff Massmann, said in an article about me "When you coach Tyler, he just asks 'What do you want me to do?' and 'How can I get better?' He seems to never be satisfied and always wants to improve." Another thing that I do my absolute best at is my sportsmanship. At every cross country and track race, I stop at the finish line after I finish my race and shake hands with all of the athletes and congratulate them on the good run. I realize that I am representing myself, my school and my community when I put on that uniform, and I plan on applying that same mentality at whatever school I may go to someday, and represent that school and community with the utmost respect.

        In the classroom, I currently have a 4.0 and am enrolled in four 'college in the schools' classes next year. Whenever we do group projects, I tend to be the leader of the group, and I always like to invite those who aren't involved into the group. Also, I like to help other students with homework and guide those that are struggling with the lesson or assignment. This last year, I made the "College Wind Symphony" (our school's higher band) as a sophomore, where I play the trumpet. I have been playing the trumpet since I was a fifth grader, and this last year at our band contest with other schools around central Minnesota I was part of our Jazz 1 where we took first and part of a Brass Quintet that took first. Also, I am a self taught drummer. I got my first drum set when I was in sixth grade and have built up my skills from the ground up. Now I play the trap set, snare drum, and the quads. Using the drive I have from running, I apply that to my musical practices and the hard work has paid off, and I hope to make our higher jazz band on drums and trumpet again next year.

       Goal setting is one of the most important things, if not the most important thing in running, school, and in life. I write all of my realistic, but challenging, goals on a giant sheet of paper and hang them up on my wall as a reminder for me to get out there and work hard to achieve those goals. Some of my goals in the near future are to break 15:45 in the 5k and take top 10 in the state cross country meet, break my school's 3200 meter record of 9:36, and place as high as I possibly can in the state 3200 meter. Also, what I would love more than anything is to lead our cross country team to state and to lead a 4x800 team to state. Making it to state as an individual is exhilarating, but nothing is more fun than making it with all of your teammates. I was on a state 4x800 team last year, we broke our school record by six seconds, and some of the best times I have ever had were with those guys. My long term goals include maintaining my 4.0 GPA throughout high school, run cross country and the 10,000 meter and/or 5,000 meter at a collegiate Division 1 level, go to a high tier Division 1 college for engineering (possibly aerospace engineering), to run marathons after college, including the Boston Marathon, and give back to the community and people that have helped me so much already, most importantly my family.