A member of Ripon cross country and track and field, Sam Forstner is a senior from Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. He is majoring in Economics and Finance and minoring in Philosophy.
 
Q: Who on your team has been an impactful teammate to you, whether on or off the court and why?
A: All of my teammates have been impactful in some way or another. In such a demanding sport (long-distance running), having individuals who persistently encourage and boost the team morale helps tremendously. We rely on each other's positive actions to better our own, whether that be in the classroom, during training, or in races.
 
Q: Why did you choose to attend Ripon, and why have you stayed at Ripon for so long?
A: I originally chose Ripon for the smaller size and the ability to have close interactions with faculty. I stayed because of the tight-knit community and great facilities that allowed me to reach my full potential.
 
Q: What is one thing that you've learned at Ripon that you'll take with you into the professional world?
A: The ability to view challenges from a broader perspective that allows me to continue moving forward. There were many times I faced new challenges at Ripon that required me to adapt and improve for the better.
 
Q: What are your plans once you graduate from Ripon?
A: I plan on continuing to work in the insurance industry as an underwriter.
 
Q: Where is your favorite spot on campus?
A: The library has been a tremendous asset in my time here on campus.
 
Q: What have you enjoyed most about playing for your head coach?
A: The personalized training and experience each person receives. After coming from a background of coaches with rudimentary training knowledge, it was extremely refreshing to run for a coach with plenty of insight into not only running and training, but also about life as well. There was never a time when the coaching staff would shy away from any questions we had.
 
Q: Outside of athletics, have you been involved in anything else while being a student at Ripon?
A: I was a Tutor for a while, I'm also a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon.
 
Q: What is a piece of advice you would tell younger athletes?
A: Don't be afraid to put yourself in a vulnerable spot and get out of your comfort zone, whether in or out of sport. College is one of the best times to gather experiences and make mistakes without it being overly problematic. More experiences of trying something new often lead to more failures and success, however, it gives much greater insight into the future than remaining idle.
 
Q: What has been your favorite memory as a Red Hawk?
A: Although I've had many great experiences, my personal favorite was last indoor track season at UW-La Crosse when I broke the school record in the 3k. For all 15 laps, the back straight was filled end to end with teammates cheering us on. Considering I was well behind goal pace to break the record halfway through the race, I made a risky move to take over the lead. The gamble paid off, as each of my remaining laps got faster and I bested the previous record by almost 4 seconds, winning the race in a rather stacked field. It was my first school record, and to be greeted by a swarm of teammates and coaches immediately after was one of the coolest moments I've had as an athlete
 
Q: What will you miss most about Ripon after you graduate?
A: Undoubtedly the environment here. The ability to meet and get to know so many great people on a personal level, while also having access to amazing facilities and faculty has been an absolute pleasure.
 
Q: If you could visit one place throughout history, where would it be and why?
A: Although rather trivial, I think it would be interesting to revisit the past and see the creation of one of my favorite places spanning Wisconsin, the Ice Age Trail. As an avid trail runner, I am fascinated by how it spans many different areas and terrains throughout the state. I would find the construction of such a widespread project (that incorporates many different communities) to be very compelling.
 
Sam enjoys being outdoors with hobbies including motocross, snowmobiling, mountain biking and hiking. This fall, he earned his second consecutive runner-up finish at the Midwest Conference Cross Country Championships and was named All-Midwest Conference in cross country for the fourth time in his career, making him just the second Red Hawk male to achieve that feat. Sam also holds two track and field school records: the indoor 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:35.03 and the outdoor 10,000-meter run with a time of 30:56.52. Sam has helped the Ripon men win the last two indoor and outdoor Midwest Conference track and field titles and is a nine-time Academic All-Midwest Conference recipient across indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and cross country.