Winchester Star Athlete Spotlight: Nick Stasiak

September 13, 2011

James Wood High School 17-year-old senior

Hometown: Winchester

Nickname: In school I'm called "Maniac". I took in car my junior year and my teacher just started calling me that for some reason ... not because I drive crazy.

When you started running cross country:I started in seventh grade. I never liked running before then, I dreaded the mile in elementary school. But I had a lot of friends that were doing it and just thought I'd try it.

What you love about cross country: Now, looking back to when I started, I just like seeing the progress that I've made. I like just being able to go out any time and to run distance without any problem. It makes you feel good.

Biggest strength and weakness in cross country:My determination is my biggest strength, I've definitely built a lot of determination up. My biggest weakness would be starting out to fast sometimes and then having to pay the price later on in the race.

Sport you always wanted to try: Hockey

Most memorable moment in cross country:Definitely breaking five minutes in the mile. My sophomore year, during the winter, I ran a 4:57 at the Indoor Regionals at Sherando. I had people to pull me along and I just really wanted it.

Most embarrassing moment in cross country:I was at a huge invitational and I guess I didn't tie my shoes tight enough and I had to pull over because the chip had fallen off my shoe. It was the worst because I had to tell everybody and my time was probably two minutes off.

Favorite athlete: Lance Armstrong

Favorite sports team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Three people you would have dinner with, dead or alive: Rocky Balboa, Martin Luther King Jr., and John F. Kennedy.

Favorite quote: "Be the change you want to see in life" - Mahatma Gandhi

Plans after high school: I want to eventually go into meteorology or climatology, something about the weather. It's between Bridgewater and JMU right now.