Photo by: Tim Nelson
Leader in the Making: Thomas Wilson
7/20/2020 11:00:00 AM | Track & Field
ABILENE - First year head track and field coach Jerrod Cook calls Thomas Wilson a 'godsend,' and it certainly feels God placed the Denton native at Abilene Christian by surrounding him early on with influential alumni.
Former Wildcats' offensive lineman Adrian Eaglin was Wilson's principal at Ryan High School. Dr. Rickie Harris, superintendent of West Orange-Cove Consolidated ISD, was previously Wilson's teaching minister at Cliff View Church of Christ, and ACU Hall of Famer Sam Collins Was Wilson's consistently persistent high school throws coach.
"Coach Collins knew nothing about the discus," recalled Wilson. "He had to coach a spring sport in addition to football, and didn't want to waste our two-hour practice sessions, so he'd always be calling coach Cook for advice."
"Sam wasn't trying to get me recruited, but I really appreciate that he called Cook everyday. He'd say, 'Hey I got this kid. He's doing this and how can I help him with this?' I was nowhere near Division I-level quality entering my senior year, but Sam was determined to learn from Jerrod. His coaching helped me progress and be offered a walk-on opportunity."
Wilson didn't discover throws until he was a sophomore and peaked at 141 feet in his first year of competition. The following year he made a marginal improvement to 145 feet, but as a senior he registered three throws over 180. He recorded the best discus throw in the state with a launch of 195 feet at regionals, but settled for runner-up honors at state with a top effort of 186.
He's continued to make progress at the collegiate level. Wilson has moved from 13th to fourth in the Southland Conference weight throw standings over the last three years, and scored his first points in the conference discus competition in May 2019.
Last spring Wilson also set collegiate personal records in the discus (174-4) and hammer (176-4) at the top-flight Michael Johnson Invitational hosted by Baylor. This winter he cracked the Wildcats' top-10 list in the weight throw after hitting a mark of 59-03.75 vs. the likes of USC, Texas Tech and Arizona.
Who knows how well he would have done this spring if the track and field season hadn't been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I've seen a lot of growth in Thomas," said Cook, who's been associated with the Wildcats for 14 years. "During his freshman season, he was more of a 'grip it and rip it' style of thrower. He'd throw it as hard as he could because he was competing with seniors who were breaking records on every throw.
"Today, he's no longer trying to force and muscle (his throws) and that takes a lot of mental resilience. He's the strongest guy on campus; an absolute beast, but he's started to become a technician in the circle and execute when he's supposed to. That's all part of the process, and he's learning how to do those things not to say "look at me!', but look at what the team's doing. It's in his heart to be a captain."
Cook is excited to have Wilson around for two more years, not only for his athletic abilities, but for his skills as spiritual mentor and communicator.
"Thomas has all the qualities of a great leader," he said. "He can talk to teammates and classmates if they're struggling on their faith journey. He's an encourager on the track, and an active participant in the classroom and at Bible studies. He's wise beyond his years, and makes the people around him so much better."
Dr. Jennifer Huddleston, associate professor and chair of biology, concurs. "I feel like I'm a better person just by knowing him," she said.
Wilson, a biology major, has taken two of Huddleston's classes, Human Anatomy and Microbiology. During one test review she was so impressed by his approach and method for studying, she invited him to speak at the Biology Mentoring Chapel.
"He asked, "Why me?,' " said Huddleston, "and I asked him to put himself in the shoes of the freshmen. If you're going to be taught how to study, are you going to listen to a teacher or one of your peers? He did a great job connecting with the other students. He was very well received, and his classmates have a lot of respect for him."
Several months prior to this speaking engagement, Wilson invited Huddleston and her family to the Wildcats' annual Oliver Jackson Twilight Invitational.
"He wanted us to watch him throw, and my boys loved it," said Huddleston. "Thomas really appreciated us being there. He was so kind, treating my family and I like his own."
During the 2019 offseason, Wilson shadowed the staff at Abilene Regional Medical Center, researching the areas of anesthesiology, and obstetrics and gynecology, but just as well discovered that's not what he wanted to pursue. He's now leaning towards chiropractic care, nutrition, wellness and exercise.
"Being a biology major is tough," said Wilson. "Many people go into biology to become a doctor, and it's what I want to do, but I want to shift that to chiropractic care and have a holistic wellness kind of clientele. That's what I see myself doing."
Huddleston believes he'll succeed in this career, or any in which he's playing an active role in helping people.
"I think he'll be successful in any career where he's talking, working with and loving on people," she said. "I can see him doing well in chiropractic school or as a nutritionist or physical therapist. I know he can handle the course load."
Before Wilson can throw himself into the job market, he first must keep the Wildcats competing at the highest level of DI athletics for the glory of Christ. He wants to make certain his teammates know that whether they have the best or worst meet of their life, their performances don't dictate who they are.
"I want our team to continue following the path coach (Lance) Bingham started here," said Wilson, "We develop a mentality to do our best, place and win, while having our identity rest in Christ. For me, there was an indoor meet this past season where I came close to finishing last, but I was still cheering on my teammates and they recognized that."
In addition to Bingham and Cook, Wilson also has developed a deep spiritual rapport with Wildcats' assistant coach Kristian Dillard. A former sprinter and Conference USA medalist at UTEP, Dillard worked with Tri-College (ACU, Hardin-Simmons, McMurry) FCA prior to joining the Wildcats' coaching staff.
"I've been really blessed to have so many great men in my life from a young age to middle school FCA to high school coaching pouring into my life athletically and spiritually," said Wilson. "I'm thankful for all of them making me who I am today ... and Kristian has taught me how to treat and love people well, to be a good Christian athlete.
"Now I'm looking forward to being what other people have been for me.I want to be that for the younger guys and even guys my age -- all of us can learn from one another, grow and compete better, be better student-athletes and Christians."
Wilson at a Glance
Class: Senior
Major: Biology
Hometown: Denton, Texas
High School: Denton Ryan HS with coach Sam Collins (ACU Football)
Personal Records at ACU
Discus: 174-4 (53.15m) at Michael Johnson Invitational April 19, 2019
Hammer: 176-4 (53.76m) at Michael Johnson Invitational April 19, 2019
Weight Throw: 59-3.50 (18.07m) at Texas Tech Invitational Jan. 30, 2020 (7th); Ranks 8th at ACU
Career Medal Stand Appearances: 6
Former Wildcats' offensive lineman Adrian Eaglin was Wilson's principal at Ryan High School. Dr. Rickie Harris, superintendent of West Orange-Cove Consolidated ISD, was previously Wilson's teaching minister at Cliff View Church of Christ, and ACU Hall of Famer Sam Collins Was Wilson's consistently persistent high school throws coach.
"Coach Collins knew nothing about the discus," recalled Wilson. "He had to coach a spring sport in addition to football, and didn't want to waste our two-hour practice sessions, so he'd always be calling coach Cook for advice."
"Sam wasn't trying to get me recruited, but I really appreciate that he called Cook everyday. He'd say, 'Hey I got this kid. He's doing this and how can I help him with this?' I was nowhere near Division I-level quality entering my senior year, but Sam was determined to learn from Jerrod. His coaching helped me progress and be offered a walk-on opportunity."
Wilson didn't discover throws until he was a sophomore and peaked at 141 feet in his first year of competition. The following year he made a marginal improvement to 145 feet, but as a senior he registered three throws over 180. He recorded the best discus throw in the state with a launch of 195 feet at regionals, but settled for runner-up honors at state with a top effort of 186.
He's continued to make progress at the collegiate level. Wilson has moved from 13th to fourth in the Southland Conference weight throw standings over the last three years, and scored his first points in the conference discus competition in May 2019.
Last spring Wilson also set collegiate personal records in the discus (174-4) and hammer (176-4) at the top-flight Michael Johnson Invitational hosted by Baylor. This winter he cracked the Wildcats' top-10 list in the weight throw after hitting a mark of 59-03.75 vs. the likes of USC, Texas Tech and Arizona.
Who knows how well he would have done this spring if the track and field season hadn't been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I've seen a lot of growth in Thomas," said Cook, who's been associated with the Wildcats for 14 years. "During his freshman season, he was more of a 'grip it and rip it' style of thrower. He'd throw it as hard as he could because he was competing with seniors who were breaking records on every throw.
"Today, he's no longer trying to force and muscle (his throws) and that takes a lot of mental resilience. He's the strongest guy on campus; an absolute beast, but he's started to become a technician in the circle and execute when he's supposed to. That's all part of the process, and he's learning how to do those things not to say "look at me!', but look at what the team's doing. It's in his heart to be a captain."
Cook is excited to have Wilson around for two more years, not only for his athletic abilities, but for his skills as spiritual mentor and communicator.
"Thomas has all the qualities of a great leader," he said. "He can talk to teammates and classmates if they're struggling on their faith journey. He's an encourager on the track, and an active participant in the classroom and at Bible studies. He's wise beyond his years, and makes the people around him so much better."
Dr. Jennifer Huddleston, associate professor and chair of biology, concurs. "I feel like I'm a better person just by knowing him," she said.
Wilson, a biology major, has taken two of Huddleston's classes, Human Anatomy and Microbiology. During one test review she was so impressed by his approach and method for studying, she invited him to speak at the Biology Mentoring Chapel.
"He asked, "Why me?,' " said Huddleston, "and I asked him to put himself in the shoes of the freshmen. If you're going to be taught how to study, are you going to listen to a teacher or one of your peers? He did a great job connecting with the other students. He was very well received, and his classmates have a lot of respect for him."
Several months prior to this speaking engagement, Wilson invited Huddleston and her family to the Wildcats' annual Oliver Jackson Twilight Invitational.
"He wanted us to watch him throw, and my boys loved it," said Huddleston. "Thomas really appreciated us being there. He was so kind, treating my family and I like his own."
During the 2019 offseason, Wilson shadowed the staff at Abilene Regional Medical Center, researching the areas of anesthesiology, and obstetrics and gynecology, but just as well discovered that's not what he wanted to pursue. He's now leaning towards chiropractic care, nutrition, wellness and exercise.
"Being a biology major is tough," said Wilson. "Many people go into biology to become a doctor, and it's what I want to do, but I want to shift that to chiropractic care and have a holistic wellness kind of clientele. That's what I see myself doing."
Huddleston believes he'll succeed in this career, or any in which he's playing an active role in helping people.
"I think he'll be successful in any career where he's talking, working with and loving on people," she said. "I can see him doing well in chiropractic school or as a nutritionist or physical therapist. I know he can handle the course load."
Before Wilson can throw himself into the job market, he first must keep the Wildcats competing at the highest level of DI athletics for the glory of Christ. He wants to make certain his teammates know that whether they have the best or worst meet of their life, their performances don't dictate who they are.
"I want our team to continue following the path coach (Lance) Bingham started here," said Wilson, "We develop a mentality to do our best, place and win, while having our identity rest in Christ. For me, there was an indoor meet this past season where I came close to finishing last, but I was still cheering on my teammates and they recognized that."
In addition to Bingham and Cook, Wilson also has developed a deep spiritual rapport with Wildcats' assistant coach Kristian Dillard. A former sprinter and Conference USA medalist at UTEP, Dillard worked with Tri-College (ACU, Hardin-Simmons, McMurry) FCA prior to joining the Wildcats' coaching staff.
"I've been really blessed to have so many great men in my life from a young age to middle school FCA to high school coaching pouring into my life athletically and spiritually," said Wilson. "I'm thankful for all of them making me who I am today ... and Kristian has taught me how to treat and love people well, to be a good Christian athlete.
"Now I'm looking forward to being what other people have been for me.I want to be that for the younger guys and even guys my age -- all of us can learn from one another, grow and compete better, be better student-athletes and Christians."
Wilson at a Glance
Class: Senior
Major: Biology
Hometown: Denton, Texas
High School: Denton Ryan HS with coach Sam Collins (ACU Football)
Personal Records at ACU
Discus: 174-4 (53.15m) at Michael Johnson Invitational April 19, 2019
Hammer: 176-4 (53.76m) at Michael Johnson Invitational April 19, 2019
Weight Throw: 59-3.50 (18.07m) at Texas Tech Invitational Jan. 30, 2020 (7th); Ranks 8th at ACU
Career Medal Stand Appearances: 6
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