State Bank Financial Senior Spotlight

Parents’ names: Nick and Christina Berger

Siblings: Hayden (older sister) and Canaan (younger brother) Berger

Position or events: I run 5K in cross country and the 800, 1600, and 3200 in track and field, along with the 200 and 500 in swimming.

Career highlight: WIsconsin Rapids Invite 2025, time: 16:32 5K

At what age did you start playing your main sport? 

12 years old.

Who introduced you to the sport? 

I had always like running, but my dad was the one who suggested I should try out cross country.

Has this always been your favorite sport? 

Yes, cross country has always been my favorite sport. 

How has balancing academics and athletics been different for you from your freshman year to your senior year? 

My freshman year, I was not very good at balancing sports and academics. I was not great at keeping up with due dates and studying for quizzes, tests, or exams. But, as the years went on I began to figure out what I needed to do to stay on top of my work and now it is simply coming naturally to me.

What is your favorite part about this sport? 

I love the reward I feel after running a good race, all of the adrenaline built up beforehand, and the feeling of looking back and seeing how far I have come.

What about it has caused you to stick with it for this long? 

The atmosphere of the meets, the amazing teammates and especially our phenomenal coaches.

What would you say is your biggest asset on the field/track?

I would say that I can push people to do their best, and be a positive influence on the team.

What has been your most memorable experience in high school sports so far? 

Getting to run at Nike Cross Country Regionals last fall. My teammates and I had the opportunity to go to South Dakota for a Nike sponsored race and it was an absolute blast. We got to meet one of Nike’s Pro track athletes as well as have the opportunity to race with thousands of other athletes in the Midwest. It was such an amazing experience, that we even have plans to go back again this year.

How does it feel as a senior, to look back throughout high school and see your growth (as a person and athlete)?

I am very proud of how far I have come over the last four years. I have been able to improve my time tremendously from my freshman year, and this sport has taught me some valuable lessons. It has taught me how to manage my time between sports and academics. It has taught me to work hard if I want to see the best outcome. And ultimately, it has taught me to persevere, even when it gets hard.

Any memorable coaches or teammates you’d like to give a shout out to? 

Coach Weiler, for always being willing to ride with us on every run. I can’t thank him enough for all of his support and encouragement through the years.

Any hobbies outside of sports? 

Aside from running, I also like to bike and swim, which has led me to do multiple triathlons.

Favorite song?  

My favorite song is probably “Maine” by Noah Kahan. 

Future plans? (college, major, career, etc.) 

I have not chosen a college yet, but I would like to attend a four-year college to study computer science.