Name: Peter Buckley
Sports: Men's Cross Country; Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field
Hometown: Athens, Ohio
High School: Athens
What is your favorite team experience?
During my first-year, the upperclassmen on the team had a great impact on me. Their leadership was a cornerstone of my overall experience. Through their words and actions, they showed me what it means to be a good teammate and competitor. But I would have to say my favorite team experience, if I had to name one, was the car ride to the airport after the team placed fourth at the NCAA Championships. I'll never forget celebrating our success together while blasting Katy Perry (courtesy of Coach Haglund).
Why did you choose to play a sport in college?
Success in cross country, and running in general, is measured objectively. If I run a course faster than I did the previous year, I know my training has paid off. This relationship between hard work and observable results is something I love about my sport. It is incredibly rewarding to run faster and feel stronger, knowing this is a result of miles and miles of training. At the end of high school, I knew that I still had the potential to run faster. I knew my hard work would keep paying off. For this reason, collegiate cross country excited me. I viewed running as a way to further the rewarding relationship I found between progress and training.
What does being a student-athlete mean to you?
Being a student-athlete is challenging, especially at a school like Haverford. It was tough for me to balance my academic and athletic obligations throughout my first-year. Being a student-athlete forced me to adopt an efficient work ethic and good daily routine. In this way, the relationship between these two commitments complement one another.
What makes Haverford unique?
First and foremost is its small size. This was actually something I was nervous about when I first came to campus. Luckily, Haverford's small size makes it very welcoming. As a first-year student, it was comforting to see familiar faces on campus.
What advice would you give a high school student considering Haverford?
It is a good idea to do an overnight with a student. This will give you a good sense of what the day-to-day life on campus is like. If you are interested in athletics at Haverford, get in contact with the coach and try to meet the team. It is important to experience the dynamic of a prospective team and the philosophy of the coach.