When Ankeny Centennial distance runner AJ Schermerhorn started his search for a potential college, Iowa State was one of the schools that attracted his interest.
Schermerhorn, a three-time state cross country qualifier and a two-time placewinner, eventually signed with the Cyclones.
“I had a list of about 15 schools with a range of some I really wanted to go to and some with just a little bit of interest,” said Schermerhorn, a senior. “After a couple waves of emails I sent to the coaches, some gave me a response I appreciated, some gave me a response that didn’t sit well with me, where others didn’t respond after multiple emails. After that I had narrowed my list down to about three or four colleges. I only went on visits to two of them, and I loved (Iowa State).
“After that visit, I had pretty much made my decision and just had to get a few other things figured out,” he added.
Schermerhorn placed fifth in the Class 4A state cross country meet last fall, leading the Jaguars to a 14th-place finish. Earlier in the season, he set a school record of 15 minutes 13 seconds while winning the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Invitational.
As a junior, Schermerhorn took 12th at the state meet. He finished 97th as a sophomore.
Schermerhorn also qualified for the state track meet last year in two events. He placed 16h in Class 4A in the 1,600 and 18th in the 3,200.
“I really loved how quickly I was able to connect with the guys on the ISU team,” Schermerhorn said. “That was a big thing for me because I know I’m going to be spending the next couple years with them. I was also able to get a good idea of their academics and what I would be studying while I was there, which really helped my decision. Another thing about the program I also liked is how well my high school training will transition nearly perfectly to the one I will receive in college.”
Schermerhorn also mentioned another factor in his decision.
“One of the biggest things I am excited about is the dining hall I will be eating at,” he said.