Bryce Wandrey – Class of 1999

 

When I think of my time running under the tutelage of Coach “Thunder” Thornton two events come quickly to mind. The first was my sophomore year Indoor Track Championships at Concordia Moorehead. I think it was probably the 5,000 meter race which went particularly badly for me. I knew the race wasn’t good and I knew that I didn’t run well at all. I guess I was looking for something from Coach Thornton that would make “life worth living” at the point so I asked, “Coach, what did you think of the race?” The response went something like this: “Wandrey, that race was so horrible that after the half-way mark, instead of watching you drag your a– around the track I went outside and threw up!” I had always heard the urban legend of “Thunder’s” throw up stories; I can attest to the fact that they aren’t merely legend. The second memory is far more positive: it was probably my junior year and it was the big indoor meet at the U of M. I was running the 3,000 meter race and it was getting towards the end. Well, in front of me was that Hastings guy from Carleton. I was about to give up and just let the race go when on the back-stretch, like an apparition, “Thunder” appeared and shouted, “Wandrey, I want you to get up there and pass that dirty Carl”. Well that lit a fire, but not quick enough because the next lap, at the same place, “Thunder” shouted, “Wandrey, I will give you a free malt if you get your a– moving and beat that damn Carl!” Well I did, but I still haven’t seen nor tasted my malt yet.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Bryce Philip Wandrey