PENDLETON — It certainly wasn’t an easy decision for Nathan Hendershot.
Then again, you can’t argue with the results.
After playing football through middle school and his freshman year at Pendleton Heights, Hendershot decided the day before summer practice opened his sophomore year to try out for the cross country team.
“It was hard at the time,” Hendershot said. “My parents didn’t understand it at the time, and neither did my coaches, and I didn’t really know what I was getting into, but it turned out pretty well for me.
“It was probably the best decision of my life.”
Looking back, it’s a decision that made perfect sense.
Hendershot ultimately took three trips to the state finals in cross country.
Along with running to All-State honors by finishing seventh at Terre Haute, the senior was named The Herald Bulletin Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.
His decision to pursue cross country likely will have a nice financial payoff as well.
Hendershot explained he’s looking to continue running in college, having pared down his list of potential suitors to six or seven schools.
Many elite cross country runners put in hundreds of miles during the offseason to gear up for the rigors of competing on the course. Choosing cross country so late in the process for Hendershot actually may have more benefits, according to Pendleton Heights track coach Ryan Potter.
“He has more potential than any kid I’ve ever worked with,” Potter said. “I think that’s why so many great schools are looking at him. He’s not a high mileage trainer, and he’s got so much potential that hasn’t even been tapped yet.”
Potter’s been able to witness that potential on the track, as Hendershot finished as the state runner-up in the 800-meter dash in his junior season. With Arabians cross country coach Alan Holden sidelined to have cancer removed from his body right before this year’s postseason, Potter filled in, getting another chance to work with Hendershot.
“He’s that one you always look forward to coaching,” Potter said. “He works so hard, and he has great ability. For him to come through the way he did and have the success he had, it just speaks so highly of his ability.”
Yet it wasn’t just personal success that drove Hendershot this year. For three years, Holden has told his squad they have the potential to qualify for state as a team. This year, the Arabians finally broke through, something no other team had accomplished at Pendleton Heights.
“We didn’t make it (in my sophomore or junior year), but we kept working and fighting, and we finally made it,” Hendershot said. “It was an amazing feeling having a team by you at the state meet. It was an incredible feeling going down with the team, and it’s a memory I’ll never forget.”
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