AMBER WOLF | staff writer

David Pichler, a senior business major with an emphasis in marketing, aspires to capture a gold medal in the Olympics for track and field, specifically in the decathlon event. He currently holds the record for the 60 meter hurdles and the shot put at APU.

“He has grown as athlete and a leader on the team. Year by year, he has moved his way up and gotten better, always willing to go the extra step,” head men’s track and field coach Kevin Reid said.

Pichler’s dream is to make it to the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Growing up in Yelm, Wash., Pichler participated in a wide range of sports including football, baseball, basketball, soccer, wrestling and swimming.

Until junior high, track never crossed his mind. One reason he got into the sport was because it was an in-between sport to play between football and baseball.

“I always knew I was fast or just thought that I was fast,” Pichler said.

When he decided to run track in junior high, he thought it was going to be a one-time deal and just for fun, but soon found out that he was good.

When he started high school, his intentions were to play baseball. His soon-to-be high school track coach, Mike Strong, recruited him during his eighth grade year. When Pichler told him he was not interested in doing track, Strong wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Pichler soon found out that Strong had gotten a hold of his dad and asked him to convince his son to go out for track.

Both of Pichler’s parents, David and Anna, and the rest of his family are a huge support system for him.

“My parents are my best friends they have more belief in me than I do myself,” Pichler said.

When Pichler went out for track, he was so uninterested that he came out in jeans, a T-shirt and regular tennis shoes.

Although Pichler thought he was not going to practice, the coach still made him run. As soon as that was over, he was told to do hurdles and Pichler soon found that he was going to have to face his “worst nightmare.”

“When I did track in junior high, I had to do hurdles. The first time I did them, I fell and after that I was done with hurdling,” Pichler said.

As Pichler was adament that he did not want to do hurdles, the coach convinced him otherwise, attesting to his height advantage.

Pichler found that when he did the hurdles, it turned out to be his best event.

His coach then worked his magic once again and convinced Pichler to do the decathlon.

After high school, Pichler desired to continue track at UC Berkeley, but Strong suggested he check out another school in APU.

The first impression Pichler had about APU was that he was not going to fit in because he wasn’t raised as a practicing Christian. Another apprehension he had was APU not being a NCAA Division I school.

“I remember coach Strong told me just because it a small school that doesn’t determine how well you can do,” Pichler said.

When Pichler visited APU’s campus, he was awestruck by its beautiful campus and friendly atmosphere. When it came down to it, Pichler had to make a choice between APU and UC Berkeley. APU was more willing to give him more scholarship money.

As soon as Pichler came to APU, everything from chapel to track all felt right to him.

“I never centered athletics and track around God before,” Pichler said.

Growing as an athlete and person, everyone could see a change in Pichler.

“He is very focused and determined as an athlete,” senior thrower James Ferguson said. “He’s very genuine and cares about his team and his friends, not just himself. He is an inspiration to the younger guys on the team.”

Pichler keeps a grounded personality with all of his relationships including family, friends and his girlfriend. He puts his team above himself despite personal goals for himself.

“With this being an Olympic year I have to focus on doing the best that I can and even if I don’t make it the first time I will keep on trying,” Pichler said.