Nathan Wadhwani, a junior and Canadian native is one of the Men's track distance captains this season.
 
Wadhwani began running when he was eight-years-old, coached by his father, Vid Wadhwani. Growing up in Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada, he ran for the Golden Ears Athletic Track and Field Club.
 
After graduating from Terry Fox Secondary School, Wadhwani took a year off from school to train. Upon visiting WSU, he fell in love with the school and program and knew this was where he wanted to be.
 
"Coming here, you could just tell that everyone had a positive attitude and they were here to compete and be the best that they could be," Wadhwani said of his visit.
 
Though there were cultural differences, the overall transition from Canada to Pullman was not too difficult for Wadhwani, he appreciates the peacefulness of Pullman, a contrast from the busy city life of Vancouver. Having international teammates and a Canadian coach made his transition comfortable as well.
 
"We all come from different places but we all quickly became one big family," Wadhwani said.
 
The unique and fast bond with his teammates helped Wadhwani deal with homesickness, especially the separation from his dad and brother, Isaac. With Isaac being his best friend and his dad being his coach and inspiration, it was tough for Nathan to part from them.
 
"The best thing about my dad being my coach was he could always tell if I could work harder than I was," Wadhwani said. "He was encouraging, but kept me humble in acknowledging that there is always more that can be achieved."
 
His family and team played a big role in being there for Wadhwani this season when he was diagnosed with achilles tendonitis. The condition forced him to sit out from running for over two months, his first time away from competing.
 
"I hated the feeling of being incapable," Wadhwani said. "It taught me how important it is to listen to your body."
 
Having recently been cleared to train again, Wadhwani anticipates a lot from himself this season. The three-time competitor in the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships and the NCAA Cross Country Championships is ready to get back on the track and help lead his team to victory this season.
 
"He played a key role in helping the team qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships," said Wayne Phipps, Director of Cross Country and Track and Field. "He will be even more impactful as we attempt to qualify for the NCAA championships for the fourth consecutive year and achieve our goal to finish in the top 10 in the nation."
 
While he was sidelined due to injury, the finance major shifted some of his free time to the Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate Club (FIRE) at WSU. His involvement has allowed him to put his love for problem-solving and research into creating business plans and projects.
 
Wadhwani plans on using his degree in finance to pursue a career in real estate. He sees himself in a field where he can utilize both his social skills and his business skills. Following graduation, he is considering getting another degree while he competes in his final year of eligibility.
 
Though he has plans for his future, Wadhwani does not plan on settling down anytime soon. Following graduation, he plans to travel and explore before eventually working somewhere in the United States.