Each Sunday during the 2016-17 school year, the Carson-Newman athletic communications department will shine a spotlight on a current or former Carson-Newman student-athlete looking to tell a tale of life outside of his or her respective sport.
Balancing Act: Nick Guerra balances ROTC and cross country on top of academics
Jefferson City, Tenn. – At 5:45 a.m. Nick Guerra is doing what he loves most, running. Whether it is Carson-Newman cross country training or a physical fitness test for Army ROTC.
Nick Guerra is generally done with his three-hour long workouts before most people have even rolled out of bed in the morning.
"We have PT five times a week. I generally get up around 5 AM, we start PT around 5:45 AM and that goes until 7 AM, with various exercises mixed in between," Guerra said, "Then depending on the day I have a little bit of a break before I go to cross country practice at around 7:30 AM."
Professor of Military Science and head of ROTC at Carson-Newman, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Howe recounts the first time he saw Guerra run the two-miles required to pass the Army fitness test.
"I remember the first PT test when they went out in a big group and 11 mins later he is coming back," Howe said, "It was impressive to see how fast he could run, I don't drive my car that fast. He sets the bar for our other cadets during the PT test, if you can see Guerra that should be your goal. He's been the gold standard on the two-mile run."
To put in perspective how fast Guerra ran the two-mile run the Army gives a perfect score at the 13-minute mark.
The senior out of Richardson, Texas is taking his Army style of running to the cross country course.
"He is someone that expects his coach to be hard on him, I think a lot of kids don't want that, but with his ROTC background, he expects me to be hard on him." Assistant cross country coach Christian Brewer said, "When I'm not he's generally a little upset, usually it's the other way around."
Brewer recalls the first race he coached Guerra in, "He had about a mile to go, and I said, 'can you please move up with this guy and race him,' after the race (Guerra) said, 'can you not say please to me, just yell at me and tell me to do it.' He wants you to be hard on him, he's a hard worker."
On top of his obligations to the Army and cross country, Guerra is also hard at work finishing up his degree in Nutrition and Wellness. Guerra is taking a full 16-hour course load this semester, to help keep him on track to graduate in May.
Brewer was very positive when it came to Guerra's work ethic, "It says a lot about him being able to manage school, ROTC and cross country. Whatever he decides to do after college, I think he's going to be really successful. It shows what life is really going to be about, being able to balance family, friends, hobbies, and his job."
Guerra has become a leader both on and off the cross country course, Lt. Col. Howe talked fondly about Guerra's change in demeanor from his junior to senior year.
"Since I've been here, I've seen Nick grow into becoming a more vocal leader. As a senior in the ROTC program he does a lot of the instruction. Telling the younger cadets how to accomplish certain tasks and to make sure they succeed with the tasks. The seniors make sure that the younger cadets see the exercises as a learning experience and not as a punishment."
After graduation Guerra said, "The sky is the limit for what I want to do afterwards. The plan right now is to go into the medical branch of the army and will see what happens after that. I would like to be a MEDEVAC pilot and fly helicopters into the combat zone and picking up injured soldiers. I will also be in the reserved sector of the army until I am activated."
Howe, hopes that Guerra will get transferred to a local unit, so that he can come back and mentor the younger cadets in the program.
How does Nick Guerra balance the army, academics, and cross country, well he credits his new mentality to combat diving school in Key West, Fla.
Guerra has a simple motto, "I view life as God gave me legs that work, God gave me hands that work, God gave me everything I need, so I have nothing to complain about, all I have to do is smile and be happy."
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