Verona, Ill. native Carina Collet has established herself as the part of the Wartburg Cross Country legacy. Last season, the English major earned All-American honors and was named the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) MVP, USTFCCCA Central Region Athlete of the Year and four-time A-R-C runner of the week. Collet was also named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team and CoSIDA Google Cloud Academic All-District.
How did you hear about Wartburg?
CC: My mom actually visited Wartburg when she was looking at colleges. She had loved it, but couldn't afford to attend. She suggested that I visit.
What convinced you that Wartburg would be the right fit?
CC: I visited a different college the day after I had visited Wartburg, and it just felt wrong. I realized that the only place I wanted to go to school was Wartburg. Wartburg really is my home away from home, and my team is my second family.
What are your plans after graduation?
CC: I plan to attend law school and become a lawyer.
What has been your favorite Wartburg athletic memory?
CC: My favorite Wartburg athletic memory is the 2018 cross country national meet. I had just finished 15th, becoming an All-American, then we cheered the men's team, and witnessed their amazing race and a 5th place finish. It was so exciting to witness them come so close to a podium finish.
How do you balance being a student-athlete?
CC: Organization is key. It helps that my social life has a lot of overlap with my athletics!
How has playing being an athlete added to your Wartburg experience?
CC: I have had access to a plethora of experiences that I never would have experienced were I not a runner at Wartburg. I have been able to travel across the country to compete at meets, and the Wartburg track and field and cross country families really are a support system for me here.
What's it been like to run with your brother?
CC: It's been a lot of fun running with my brother (
Christopher Collet), but there are definitely some challenges as well. I'm sure that it's harder for him than it is for me, since he is younger and I cast a pretty big shadow. Sometimes I still see him at practice and do a double-take, like, "What's he doing here?"
What advice do you have for high school students considering continuing their athletic careers at Wartburg?
CC: Our program is intimidating. We work really hard, and we do a lot, but it is 100% worth it, because we love it and we have a lot of fun getting stronger together.
What does it mean to be a Knight?
CC: It means that you are part of a family that is bigger than yourself, and bigger even than the team that you are currently on. The Wartburg Knights have a history of athletic and academic success. Being a Knight is being a part of the tradition.
