Just one blaze of glory was not enough for Jack Tucker 25’.
Having graduated from the Mount in May, Jack, a Health and Exercise Science major with a concentration in Sports Performance, took two great athletic achievements with him on his way out of the Mount. One in football, and one in track & field.
Winning Defensive Player of the Year in Football
Serving as the team leader of the football team after being elected by his teammates for the 3rd consecutive year, Jack led his teammates into winning the conference championship - This past season being the third year in a row that MSJ football has secured conference. “Securing our third consecutive conference championship would have been impossible without the support of my teammates,” Jack says. “And I am grateful they chose me to represent them.” Being a team captain was incredibly meaningful to Jack, and a consistent reminder to be disciplined on and off the field to uphold the trust that his teammates put in him as a person and athlete.
Then, as well as being part of yet another victory for MSJ football, Jack scored a personal victory at conference. In the previous football season, he had suffered a foot injury that rendered him unable to play for five weeks, causing him to miss multiple games. Additionally, he wasn’t named to the first-team all conference list that year, which greatly angered him. “I held onto that feeling throughout the offseason and worked as hard as possible to ensure I stayed injury-free and at my physical best,” Jack explains. By holding onto the feeling of anger he had due to the misfortunes of his previous season, Jack was able to train harder and do all he could to remain free of injury – and it paid off. Jack was named Defensive Player of the Year at conference in his senior season of football. It was a title he had no goal to win, but his training awarded it to him regardless. “I am incredibly happy it paid off,” Jack says, reflecting on his training. Jack is thankful to the football coaches at the Mount, who he feels helped him develop as a player by instilling an understanding that there’s always room to grow as an athlete.
Winning the Track & Field HCAC Conference Meet in Hammer Throw
In addition to ending his time at the Mount with a great achievement in football, Jack also scored an impressive victory in Track & Field. After deciding to quit the wrestling team due to scheduling conflicts with his co-op, he joined the Track & Field team to be a thrower, having never stepped in a throwing circle before. He initially wanted to do shot put, but quickly discovered that he was better at hammer throw and enjoyed it more.
Gradually, Jack improved in the hammer throw tremendously with the help of Coach Tina Blakley and Coach Andrew Pacifico. “Coach Tina and Coach Pacifico helped me develop as a thrower simply because they gave me a chance to try something new,” Jack states. Coach Tina let him on to the team to try a new sport, and Coach Pacifico changed his approach to hammer throwing technique. Even as the Mount’s Track & Field team underwent some changes, Jack remained engaged with the sport and utilized the assistance of his coaches to the fullest. This improvement culminated in his senior season of Track & Field, where he broke the university record for hammer throw by 4 meters and won the HCAC conference meet by a margin of nearly 7 meters.
A Tight-Knit Community: What Makes Milestones at the Mount Special
For Jack, these achievements were made extra special by the Mount. The milestones felt more profound at the Mount because everyone in the community knew about them, and Jack knew the people involved in the Mount’s athletics. “Most of the people organizing or participating are your friends or are friends of your friends,” he explains. “It feels good to know there are people close to you who care about what’s going on with your life at your university.”
Jack feels he would not be who he is without the opportunities afforded to him by the Mount community. He’s grateful for his time, friends, coaches and educators at the Mount.
“These milestones mean a great deal to me,” he reflects.
Interested in Learning More About Health & Exercise Science?
Health and Exercise Science students advocate for physical activity as a vital component to health and well-being. Students examine the foundations of human physiology, functional movement science, mental health, exercise prescription, and injury and disease prevention. Visit our Health and Exercise Science page to learn more about courses and career opportunities in this field.