There are a fair number of dual-sport athletes on the UW Track and Field team, but there is only one member with a basketball-track combination. Brent Boettcher-a junior high-jumper??-was a walk-on member of the men's basketball team his freshman year, as well as being a decathlon recruit for head coach Ed Nuttycombe's track team, training under jumping coach Mark Napier.
Although he only spent one season on the basketball team, Boettcher is quick to acknowledge that basketball helped him become a better jumper. While high-jumping is his strength now, it was basketball that got him involved in track when he was in high school.
\My basketball coach my freshman year [of high school] told me that if I wanted to play basketball I would do track instead of golf,"" Boettcher said.
Coach Napier is glad Boettcher listened to that coach. Both have high hopes for the 2005 outdoor season and Boettcher exudes a confidence regarding his goals for this season.
""I'd like to win Big Tens, qualify for nationals and be an All-American,"" Boettcher said.
Asked whether these are lofty expectations, he admits they may be, but they're also quite realistic.
""Looking at the video and pictures of my jumping I definitely have a couple inches room for improvement which would put me right up there,"" he said.
This is an interesting comment from a guy who, not three minutes earlier, admitted that practices may not be his forte.
""I'm not a practice guy. I work hard and I try and get my stuff done, but as far as jumping-wise I never quite have what I do in meets when I'm in practice,"" Boettcher said.
It's easy to not be a practice person when the numbers you post in meets are seven inches better than what you clear in practice. Boettcher's personal best is 7'2', but he nonchalantly states that he has never cleared more than 6'7' in practice. He posted a regional qualifying mark of 7'1?2' at the Click Shootout (Tucson, Ariz.) in March, but insists he can improve on that.
Apparently the PowerBars, Gatorade and Gushers (strawberry, for all who aspire to be just like him) Boettcher eats on meet days are the perfect combination to help him achieve his full potential.
Boettcher also has the support and company of his younger brother, Brennan, on the team. Brennan, a freshman decathlete, followed in his brother's footsteps through high school and now to college.
""I've always looked up to him so it's just fun to be able to watch him succeed and hang out with him,"" Brennan said.
Brent also enjoys being on the same team as his brother. They've been through it before, being on the track team together for one year in high school, and enjoyed the situation.
""I really feel like I've been on a team with him for a long time, so when he comes here it's really not that much different,"" Brent said.
Despite being the big brother, Brent still gets harassed by the team for one thing: his speed. When asked about organizing a footrace to test that theory, Brent quickly declined.
""I might be the slowest athlete on campus,"" he said. ""Joe Thomas-big O-lineman that throws shot for us-is probably faster than me. No, trust me, I get made fun of enough here.""
But that is why he is a high-jumper, and according to the NCAA, he is doing just fine.
