By DAVID WOOD, for The Democrat
Senior year is the pinnacle of a high school athlete’s career.
It’s a brief period that represents the culmination of their hard work, diligence, responsibility and maturity.
The height of that pinnacle is the state tournament — every senior athlete’s dream experience.
For most, even earning a spot at state would be good enough. However, for Brown County High School’s Jackson McPheeters, it’s just a stepping-stone.
As a senior McPheeters not only returned to state for the third consecutive year, but was also invited to compete on the Indiana All-Star track team.
“I was surprised. I didn’t think my performance at state warranted an invite, but when I got the text I said I’d definitely do it. I was so excited I called coach (Kirk) Wrightsman and both my parents,” he said.
McPheeters finished 18th at state in the 800-meter run, earning the call to compete on team Indiana at the Midwest Meet of Champions. The meet pitted top athletes from the state tournaments of Indiana, Ohio and Michigan against one another.
“It was honestly just a cool experience being around all of those other athletes and seeing the times they put up. It was impressive. It goes to show how much they put into training and it makes me excited to keep working,” he said
“It was an all-star meet, so it was kind of one last go that’s been gifted to you for high school.”
McPheeters competed on Indiana’s 4×800 relay team, finishing third. Indiana finished behind both Ohio and Michigan overall.
“I was extremely happy for him because it’s quite an honor and not an easy thing to do. … I was really excited for him. It’s an honor to represent your state,” BCHS boys track coach Kirk Wrightsman said.
“It’s really nice for our school and our county to have representation at that level too.”
Jackson’s father, Chuck McPheeters, believes his son owes his success not only to his own hard work and dedication, but also to the various role models he’s grown up around.
“I’ve felt like Jackson’s had great role models throughout high school. There’s been upperclassmen who’ve worked hard and been committed, and that’s what you have to do to succeed, whether it’s in track or anything else,” Chuck said.
In his junior year, McPheeters broke the 4×400-meter school record alongside former teammate and Indiana All-Star member Wyatt Wyman, who’s now competing for Indiana State University.
Undoubtedly, McPheeters took from Wyman the same inspiration he saw in his fellow all-stars during the recent Midwest meet.
“I already knew that these guys were very, very good. They work hard and it’s another level of training they go through. It let me know that I’m capable of being that too, since I was invited. I can be a good college runner as well,” he said.
McPheeters has signed onto the University of Evansville as a track and cross-country athlete, similar to Wyman.
“He’s been a very committed student athlete, but they’re going to expect more of you in college. He’s going in on a partial athletic scholarship so they’ve invested some money. Now, there’s going to be more required of you,” Wrightsman said.
“They’re probably going to raise his mileage, and it takes some time for your body to adjust.”
McPheeters has already been issued a summer training regimen in a sort of feeling-out process. Now, it’s all about how he deals with the increase in mileage, athletic expectations, and personal freedoms associated with college.
Regardless of the collegiate future, Wrightsman believes McPheeters couldn’t have asked for a better ending to his high school career.
“If there’s any way you could write the script, you couldn’t ask for any better than finishing your last meet in an Indiana jersey. You couldn’t think of it being any other way,” he said.
