Junior middle-distance runner Colton “Colt” Simunek has learned that when the gun goes off, there is nowhere to hide. The Waukomis High School standout embraces that pressure every time he steps to the line in the 800-meter run, 300 hurdles and on the relay, knowing the result comes down to how much work he has put in beforehand.
“I like that I have no one to blame but myself when a race doesn’t go my way,” Simunek said. “I know what I have to do to make it happen the next race.” That mindset has helped him reach the state meet in both track and cross country, accomplishments he lists among his proudest in a busy high school career that also includes success on the basketball court.
Simunek said athletics have shown him that hard work pays off and that the relationships he has made through sports are some of the best in his life. “I wouldn’t trade the hard work, the ups and downs with no one,” he said. “My teammates have always been my closest friends.” He tries to repay that bond by serving as a leader who pushes others to be their best, on the track and in the locker room.
One of the biggest influences in his life is his sister, Haylie Wilczek, who is 16 years older. She and her husband, Troy, constantly remind him to “only worry about what you can change” and to move on from a bad turnover or a hit hurdle by focusing on the next opportunity. Simunek also credits teammates like Reed Hellman and the late Daniel Richards for showing him how to encourage others and stay positive.
At Waukomis, Simunek enjoys a unique coach-athlete relationship with superintendent and track coach Kelly Husted, who he says has high expectations and is not shy about yelling encouragement across the track. He also leans on math teacher Mrs. Hicks, his favorite teacher, and counselor Mrs. Husted, who has reassured him that he does not have to have his future completely figured out yet.
For now, Simunek is focused on dropping times, adding a relay to help the Chiefs and representing the same school his parents once attended. “We truly have the best community support,” he said. “I want to be a role model like I had in so many others growing up.”
