A senior on the Wartburg men's cross country team, Caleb Appleton is a three-time All-Conference performer and two-time All-Region honoree. The Bemidji, Minn. native was a part of Wartburg's fifth-place finish at the national cross country meet and was a part of the men's indoor track and field team that won the American Rivers Conference last season.
How did you hear about Wartburg?
CA: I have a brother and two cousins who attended Wartburg before me so I heard about it first from them.
What convinced you that Wartburg would be the right fit?
CA: Ultimately it was a combination of conversations with the coaching staff here and also a phone call that I had with an engineering professor, Dr. Daniel Black. I was told by the head coach at St. Olaf that he'd love it if I went there, but he wasn't going to cry if I chose not to come there. On the other hand, I felt that the coaches here at Wartburg actually did care if I came or not and they really wanted me here, which was very encouraging.
What are your plans after graduation?
CA: Well, my most definite plan so far is that in June I will be getting married to a girl who I met here at Wartburg through athletics, but outside of that, I'm just looking to get an engineering job in the Des Moines area.
What has been your favorite Wartburg athletic memory?
CA: This is super hard because there's so many that come to mind, but choosing one right now I think I'd go with the 2018 Outdoor Track and Field Conference 5K, in which three of my other teammates and I went first, third, sixth and seventh scoring 21 points total for Wartburg. It was the best finish Wartburg had ever had in a Conference 5K, and it was so awesome to cross that line and turn around and see my other teammates finishing right behind me.
How do you balance being a student-athlete?
CA: For me it's all just about time management and prioritizing. Before and during practice I usually put my running first, especially on workout days, but afterwards it's dinner and then school work. I have little bits of free time throughout the day, those are when I take the time to do the unnecessary, fun things like watching YouTube or just hanging out. I also prioritize sleep over many other things, which I think benefits both my athletics and academics.
How has playing a sport added to your Wartburg experience?
CA: Being a part of a team throughout my time here at Wartburg has given me a family that I can live with while I am here. I mean that literally, since my teammates are the people that have been my roommates/housemates throughout my entire time here. We live together, we eat together, we study together. I am so thankful for the people that I've met through this sport.
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions?
CA: The morning of a meet I'll usually try and eat roughly the same thing for breakfast every time. That consists of either a bowl of oatmeal or Wheaties, with chia seeds, peanut butter, and honey, and then a piece of toast with Nutella on it, and one hard boiled egg. Aside from that, I don't have many other personal rituals or superstitions. I always say roughly the same prayer before all my races, but that's it.
What advice do you have for high school students considering continuing their athletic careers at Wartburg?
CA: My advice to anyone who's deciding if they want to run here or not would be to ask themselves if they want to be a part of a group of young men and women who are all working hard together, to try and do something really special. Also I would just say that we have so much fun on this team as well.
What does it mean to be a Knight?
CA: To me, being a Knight is having your number one objective be to glorify God through both your efforts and your character on and off the course or track. Through the way you compete, to the way you interact with your competitors. Knights are classy.
