For many student athletes, freshman year is a time spent on adjusting to the collegiate level of play or improving mentally and physically with the hope of contributing in later seasons.
For Hanna Grinaker, freshman year has been a chance to do all these things as well as solidify her spot as one of the top runners in the nation. Heading into the last lap of the cross-country season, Grinaker has already been awarded the Big Ten Conference Co-Runner of the Week honors and has been the top UW finisher in three races, but she remains focused on her main goal — helping the cross-country team win the Big Ten and NCAA Championships.
"The main goal is just to win the Big Ten Championship," Grinaker said. "It's not every
year that you have the chance to win it and I think this year we have a chance. Helping the team win is my first goal and anything personal is just a bonus."
There are many reasons why Grinaker is excited to participate in the Big Ten and NCAA Championships, but she mentions team goals and the opportunity to run with her teammates as the most important, far above any personal accomplishments.
It's easy to see why Grinaker is excited to be a part of the ninth ranked cross-country team in the nation, the highest ever under third-year head coach Jim Stintzi, when you look at her background.
Growing up in the small town of Detroit Lakes, Minn., Grinaker was a three-time high school sectional champion and voted into the All-State team each year, but her team never qualified for any championships. Grinaker received the same coaching as the rest of her high school teammates but also kept in close touch with her aunt Mary Grinaker, a UW alum and former Big Ten champion and current high school coach at nearby Madison Memorial, who provided advice and support and always believed in Hanna's abilities.
While Mary Grinaker's past accomplishments as a Badger had some pull on Hanna's decision to come to the UW, Hanna credits the chemistry between her fellow cross-country teammates and the abilities of head coach Jim Stintzi as the main reason she committed to the University of Wisconsin and canceled the rest of her college tours.
In joining the Badger women's cross-country team, Grinaker praises being on the team with all her fellow teammates, but specifically credits the leadership and work ethic of senior runner 'A Havahla Haynes and captain runners Katrina Rundhaug and Amanda Ganser among others, in helping the Badgers reach their current ninth place ranking.
"So far I have worked hard and tried to emulate those girls, but I believe everyone on the team is a leader in their own respect and everyone brings something to the table," Grinaker said. "Whether they are a vocal leader or lead by example. Katrina definitely is both types of leaders, especially when a race or practice doesn't go as well; she's still helping us out."
Along with helping her become more accustomed to collegiate running, Grinaker considers her teammates to be her best friends and credits them for helping her quickly find a community on the large UW campus, as well as handle the stress of being a student athlete.
Grinaker is currently undecided as to what her major will be, but knows that she wants to pursue a career in running after she is finished at the collegiate level.
"After I finish college I want to pursue a career in running or be in the athletic world working in running," Grinaker said.
Whatever she decides to do after college, her newly begun college career has been very promising and if she can remain healthy it appears she will be a fixture as a top cross-country runner for the next several years, but for right now she is only concerned about finishing out this year strong.
"I always focus day-by-day or year-by-year. I can't really say what I'd like to accomplish in my college career but I do want to stay healthy and do the best I can today and this year," Grinaker said. "If I just keep working hard, keep everything in perspective and listen to my body, I think anything is possible and anything could happen as long as I keep listening to my coach."
Along with improving in any way she can, Grinaker did mention that she would like to help the cross-country team win as many championships as possible. If she keeps improving on her already spectacular numbers, she might not have to wait long.