Photo by: Walt Middleton
Badgering: Tyson Miehe
November 08, 2018 | Men's Cross Country
Fifth-year senior reflects on his time at UW
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Ever since his first year as a walk-on, Tyson Miehe has invested hours upon hours training and competing for the Wisconsin cross country team and is looking forward to racing at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional this Friday. The fifth-year senior has seen his hard work and dedication pay off, as he was recently awarded an athletic scholarship. Miehe reflects on his favorite memories as a member of the Wisconsin cross country team, shares how he developed his passion for running and previews his post-graduation plans.
How do you think the cross country season has gone so far and what do you hope to accomplish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and beyond?
"Overall, things have been going really well. The team is in a pretty good spot, and that just kind of reflects our philosophy and mindset about being focused on Big Tens and Beyond; that's what we've been training for. During the year, our other invites have been like building blocks and each one shows us where we're at. Each race, we've gotten better and a lot of guys have stepped up when they've needed to. It just shows the depth and strength of our team that we're in the spot we're in now. Going into regionals coming off of a Big Ten championship title, we're really confident and our goal moving forward is to just take things one step at a time. Big Tens is checkmarked, so we've got to get through regionals next and then the big goal is nationals."
How does it feel to officially be on scholarship?
"That was something that was really special. I have to thank Mick [Byrne] and Gavin [Kennedy], the track and cross country management and the whole athletic department. I was a walk-on kid. I always knew I wanted to go to Wisconsin, but I was never really in it for any kind of scholarship. I knew I wanted to come here because being a kid from Darlington, Wis., and being a kid from a small school, I wanted to compete with the best in the country. The scholarship wasn't necessarily a validation for the work I put in, but again, it was never about that. It's just really nice to be recognized by the coaches, the staff, my teammates, and it's just kind of an added bonus. But, definitely just being here and being able to be on this team is something that, as a fifth-year senior, I really appreciate and try not to take for granted since I'll be done in a few months."
How special is it to compete for Wisconsin as a Wisconsin native?
"I can't speak for other guys who are from outside of Wisconsin, but being a homegrown kid and being able to represent your state, you take a lot of pride in that. When you wear the 'W' on your chest, it's very personal that you're going out there and representing not only the school, but also all of the people from the state. When people think of Wisconsin, they think of you, so just trying to represent the university as best as we can in competitions, but also in day-to-day things like in school and in interactions with people. I'm always trying to keep a positive image, and that's what Wisconsin's all about."
How have you progressed as a runner during your five years here?
"I redshirted my whole first year. The first couple of years in uniform are kind of like the first couple of years in college, they're a little difficult. You're not getting to compete as much and you're really having to work your way up and earn your spot. It was difficult in that aspect, and I think a lot of that was just adjusting to the training, the college atmosphere, and just finding what works best for me. A lot of those first few years were a lot of growth and being able to work up to mileage and being able to compete at high levels, like Big Ten, regional and national levels. I think a lot of what has benefited me in these past couple of years is just being able to be consistent in training. If you're able to stay consistent and stay healthy, you're able to just keep those building blocks going."
What has been your favorite memory as a member of the Wisconsin cross country program?
"I think the 2016 season and winning Big Tens after having the worst year in program history and getting to be a part of both of those years. I got to take ownership in what happened the year before and coming out in 2016. Big Tens was a pretty big deal for us. It's hard to pick out one specific memory because I think that even just being here is a really, really great experience. The little things are what I'm trying to not take for granted, like spending time with teammates, traveling places and all that. Again, coming from a fifth-year mindset, I think that I'll really cherish and look back on these memories and appreciate that I got to be a part of it."
How long have you been playing piano? What's your favorite song to play?
"I took piano lessons for 10 years. I'll give a shoutout to Judy, my piano teacher, although I'm not sure that she'll read this or not. I played piano for 10 years and I was also in band, where I played percussion. I did band from fifth grade all the way through high school. I like music and being able to play and read music. It's something I'm glad I got to do and I'm glad my mom dragged me to piano lessons. Not always back then, but now I can enjoy it. One of my favorite songs to play is "The River Flows in You" by Yiruma, and that's a really nice song I'm liking right now."
Where is your favorite place to race?
"I think it would've been cool to race at Eugene, even though they tore down the old stadium. I was kind of disappointed about that because there's so much history and everything, but I never got to race there. I think Eugene is a pretty cool place, but I'm really looking forward to hosting Nationals on our home course. I think that's really going to be crazy, and really fun to be around and have our home crowd behind us while we're in position to win a national title. I also think it'll be nice to have the home course advantage."
What's your go-to pre-race meal?
"Usually we just eat pasta with all of the guys. Sometimes before meets we'll gather at someone's house the night before and everybody contributes a little bit of something, so that's been enjoyable."
Your Dad was your high school coach. Did he influence you at all in becoming a runner?
"Growing up, I was always around the high school team. I tried out a lot of sports, but he always kind of left it up to me in terms of what I wanted to pursue. I always wanted to be a runner, and he's very good at motivating and pushing me in the right ways."
What are your post-graduation plans?
"I have to come back next fall and do student teaching, but when I graduate, I'll be a Physical Education major with a Health Education minor, and I'll have my Adapted Fitness certification. Outside college, I'm not really sure exactly what I want to do yet. Teaching and coaching at the high school level would be one thing I'm interested in, but I've also thought a lot about doing the private sphere, like personal training and personalized online coaching. I want to be in the fitness world and working with people and pursuing fitness goals that way."
How do you think the cross country season has gone so far and what do you hope to accomplish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and beyond?
"Overall, things have been going really well. The team is in a pretty good spot, and that just kind of reflects our philosophy and mindset about being focused on Big Tens and Beyond; that's what we've been training for. During the year, our other invites have been like building blocks and each one shows us where we're at. Each race, we've gotten better and a lot of guys have stepped up when they've needed to. It just shows the depth and strength of our team that we're in the spot we're in now. Going into regionals coming off of a Big Ten championship title, we're really confident and our goal moving forward is to just take things one step at a time. Big Tens is checkmarked, so we've got to get through regionals next and then the big goal is nationals."
How does it feel to officially be on scholarship?
"That was something that was really special. I have to thank Mick [Byrne] and Gavin [Kennedy], the track and cross country management and the whole athletic department. I was a walk-on kid. I always knew I wanted to go to Wisconsin, but I was never really in it for any kind of scholarship. I knew I wanted to come here because being a kid from Darlington, Wis., and being a kid from a small school, I wanted to compete with the best in the country. The scholarship wasn't necessarily a validation for the work I put in, but again, it was never about that. It's just really nice to be recognized by the coaches, the staff, my teammates, and it's just kind of an added bonus. But, definitely just being here and being able to be on this team is something that, as a fifth-year senior, I really appreciate and try not to take for granted since I'll be done in a few months."
Congrats to the #Badgers @bigten Sportsmanship Award Honorees, Tyson Miehe and Shaelyn Sorensen! pic.twitter.com/nM05zY2Swm
— Wisconsin Track & Field (@BadgerTrackXC) October 30, 2018
How special is it to compete for Wisconsin as a Wisconsin native?
"I can't speak for other guys who are from outside of Wisconsin, but being a homegrown kid and being able to represent your state, you take a lot of pride in that. When you wear the 'W' on your chest, it's very personal that you're going out there and representing not only the school, but also all of the people from the state. When people think of Wisconsin, they think of you, so just trying to represent the university as best as we can in competitions, but also in day-to-day things like in school and in interactions with people. I'm always trying to keep a positive image, and that's what Wisconsin's all about."
How have you progressed as a runner during your five years here?
"I redshirted my whole first year. The first couple of years in uniform are kind of like the first couple of years in college, they're a little difficult. You're not getting to compete as much and you're really having to work your way up and earn your spot. It was difficult in that aspect, and I think a lot of that was just adjusting to the training, the college atmosphere, and just finding what works best for me. A lot of those first few years were a lot of growth and being able to work up to mileage and being able to compete at high levels, like Big Ten, regional and national levels. I think a lot of what has benefited me in these past couple of years is just being able to be consistent in training. If you're able to stay consistent and stay healthy, you're able to just keep those building blocks going."
What has been your favorite memory as a member of the Wisconsin cross country program?
"I think the 2016 season and winning Big Tens after having the worst year in program history and getting to be a part of both of those years. I got to take ownership in what happened the year before and coming out in 2016. Big Tens was a pretty big deal for us. It's hard to pick out one specific memory because I think that even just being here is a really, really great experience. The little things are what I'm trying to not take for granted, like spending time with teammates, traveling places and all that. Again, coming from a fifth-year mindset, I think that I'll really cherish and look back on these memories and appreciate that I got to be a part of it."
How long have you been playing piano? What's your favorite song to play?
"I took piano lessons for 10 years. I'll give a shoutout to Judy, my piano teacher, although I'm not sure that she'll read this or not. I played piano for 10 years and I was also in band, where I played percussion. I did band from fifth grade all the way through high school. I like music and being able to play and read music. It's something I'm glad I got to do and I'm glad my mom dragged me to piano lessons. Not always back then, but now I can enjoy it. One of my favorite songs to play is "The River Flows in You" by Yiruma, and that's a really nice song I'm liking right now."
Check out the pianist in the hotel lobby this morning! 👀🎹 @TysonMiehe pic.twitter.com/ltfbFQsFh6
— Wisconsin Track & Field (@BadgerTrackXC) October 27, 2018
Where is your favorite place to race?
"I think it would've been cool to race at Eugene, even though they tore down the old stadium. I was kind of disappointed about that because there's so much history and everything, but I never got to race there. I think Eugene is a pretty cool place, but I'm really looking forward to hosting Nationals on our home course. I think that's really going to be crazy, and really fun to be around and have our home crowd behind us while we're in position to win a national title. I also think it'll be nice to have the home course advantage."
What's your go-to pre-race meal?
"Usually we just eat pasta with all of the guys. Sometimes before meets we'll gather at someone's house the night before and everybody contributes a little bit of something, so that's been enjoyable."
Your Dad was your high school coach. Did he influence you at all in becoming a runner?
"Growing up, I was always around the high school team. I tried out a lot of sports, but he always kind of left it up to me in terms of what I wanted to pursue. I always wanted to be a runner, and he's very good at motivating and pushing me in the right ways."
What are your post-graduation plans?
"I have to come back next fall and do student teaching, but when I graduate, I'll be a Physical Education major with a Health Education minor, and I'll have my Adapted Fitness certification. Outside college, I'm not really sure exactly what I want to do yet. Teaching and coaching at the high school level would be one thing I'm interested in, but I've also thought a lot about doing the private sphere, like personal training and personalized online coaching. I want to be in the fitness world and working with people and pursuing fitness goals that way."
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