(Greenfield) Nodaway Valley senior Josh Baudler has verbally committed to run track and cross country at Southwestern Community College. He is the first ever boys individual state champion for Nodaway Valley. He was the runner-up in the 3200 and finished 3rd in the 1600 as a junior at state track.
Baudler says the recruiting interest really picked up after he was the state runner-up in cross country as a junior. Southwestern with head coach Trey Bruton and assistant coach Scott Vicker both recruited him from the very beginning. “I had quite a bit of coaches looking at me so I had to narrow it down based on where I felt most comfortable, education, where I wanted to run, where I was going to fit in the best, but education was the top priority.”
He plans to study Ag Business and Livestock Production. Southwestern being so close to home was a big benefit. “I’m more comfortable when I’m closer to home. That’s kind of why I ruled out the other schools. I have my own cow herd so that’s tough to go that far away from them.”
He wasn’t set on running in college until recently. A big junior season made it a possibility and his state title in cross country pushed him farther in this direction. “I thought there was no chance whatsoever I’d be running in college but here I am. Throughout my senior year just knowing that this is my last go around. It’s obviously something I was going to miss.”
Baudler picked the Spartans over Iowa Central, Hawkeye, Central, and Iowa Western. At this time Baudler doesn’t intend to move on and run at a four year college after his two years at SWCC, but admits that could change.
