Rhea Reflects on His Journey In advance of NCAA Championships

His junior year results opened the eyes of lots of top rated plans in the area, including the coaching team at Penn State.

“Sincere was a male I determined following the New Jersey Satisfy of Champions through his junior yr,” Penn State Affiliate Head Mentor Erin Tucker claimed. “I observed him race for the 1st time a 7 days or two afterwards and considered,  ‘Ok, I need to have to get into this guy’s dwelling room and talk with him and this family members.’”

With included consideration and drive, Rhea uncovered nationwide acclaim throughout his final period at St. Augustine Prep. He broke the South Jersey report in the 60-meter hurdles at trials for the National Championships, in advance of in the long run saying gold at the Countrywide Indoor Championships at The Armory Monitor and Industry Middle in New York. He still left St. Augustine Prep with a lengthy record of achievements, which includes 5 point out championships and two First Workforce All-United states of america honors. With that achievements came two huge university choices: which activity and what college? 

“I experienced 4 presents to engage in university soccer and a ton of provides to run track,” Rhea mentioned. “For me, the final decision finally arrived down to that try to be fantastic and the mentality that I can achieve so considerably on the keep track of. When I bought the probability to communicate to the coaches and when I stepped foot on the campus at Penn Condition I understood what I was heading to do.” 

 “He was a humble and respectful younger man,” Tucker reported. “Right after assembly his family members, I understood for a fact he was the type of younger male we essential at Penn Point out. It was as if I was component of his spouse and children for a single afternoon and it felt like very little much more than Uncle Tuck coming to communicate about college or university and track!”

“This just felt like a exclusive area,” mentioned Rhea. “I quickly felt the spouse and children atmosphere and I clicked with the coaching team. Mentor Gondak and Mentor Tucker are two men who have extraordinary resumes that communicate for on their own. Their listing of accomplishments go on and on. I noticed their achievement as athletes them selves and then their good results as coaches and understood that these were men that would support me get to where by I want to be as an athlete on and off the track.”