Oct. 14, 2008

Freshman Nicole Rheinlander is no stranger to change. From being an avid swimmer to a cross country runner, a high school star to a collegiate student-athlete and from crisp Michigan winters to the South Carolina heat, Rheinlander has had some transitioning to do.

After an arm injury as a sophomore in high school, Rheinlander had to stop swimming and decided to join the cross country team. For her, the switch was a blessing in disguise.

“I just started running cross country two years ago, so I never thought that I would be competing at the collegiate level,” said Rheinlander. “I swam for 10 years, but after my arm injury, I switched to cross country. It’s definitely the best switch ever.”

Rheinlander still wanted something new. With the opportunity to participate in both cross country and track for the Gamecocks, she packed her bags and moved to South Carolina.

“I love it here,” she said. “I don’t like the Michigan winters for running. It is definitely nice down here. The afternoons may get hot, but morning practice definitely helps.”

The transition from high school to college has been a lot to adjust to as well, but Rheinlander has been up to the challenge.

“As a collegiate athlete, you’re always going hard,” she said. “I think it has been a good change for me.”

With a lot of new faces on the South Carolina cross country team this year, Rheinlander has high hopes for the squad.

“I think our team is looking really strong this year,” she said. “We have a lot of incoming freshman that are good. We have a lot higher hopes than in the past for competing at the SEC’s.”

As a freshman, Rheinlander has finished in the top seven for the Gamecocks in every race this season. She has never competed in a 6000-meter race, but believes she will be prepared for SEC action.

“I’ve heard from runners that you have to keep the same mentality as a 5K,” she said. “You just have to keep going. I have to keep the same mentality and push hard.”

Only three races into the season, Rheinlander has been keeping her goals in focus.

“My goal is to stay in the top 10,” she said. “I want to stay in the top and contribute to the success of the team. I am taking it day by day and seeing where things go.”

On the trails or in the classroom, Rheinlander is committed to success. As a McNair Scholar, she has had to prioritize her tasks to keep her life balanced. She has found that running is a way to keep her focused.

“I have always had sports in my life, so I thought I needed that to keep me focused,” she said. “It is more difficult than I was expecting, because time wise I want to make sure I get enough sleep for running. So, I have to make sure I get all my work done early. I like the workload here, though. Running definitely helps me stay focused.”

With that type of dedication and focus, Rheinlander is sure to continue making a difference for the Gamecocks.