For Mancos senior Connor Sehnert, it all felt like the perfect fit.
After four years of pushing himself on academic and athletic frontiers at Mancos High School, Sehnert elected to continue to challenge his limits by selecting to attend the U.S. Naval Academy this fall.
“I want to be the best version of myself,” said Sehnert, “and the Naval Academy offered me the best opportunity to pursue that goal.”
No stranger to the self-discipline that his military pursuits will inevitably entail, Sehnert became one of the steady leaders for a strong Mancos distance running program. During his four years as part of cross-country head coach Brady Archer’s Bluejays, Sehnert qualified twice for the state championships – during his sophomore and senior campaigns.
Sehnert finished in the top 60 in the 2A field in both of his appearances, while running as the No. 2 runner to classmate Edgar Hernandez, as the Bluejays took 14th as a team in 2019, and 16th in 2021.
Landing an all-region selection in his final campaign last fall, Sehnert posted one of his career-best times of 18:23 over the 5-kilometer distance.
Having considered multiple different military branches, Sehnert finally settled on Annapolis. “It became my go-to option,” said Sehnert, after months of reflection, “and the Academy definitely suited my personality and what I want for myself.”
The senior also shines on the track for the Bluejays distance program during the spring season, finishing near the top of the field in his 1,600- and 3,200-meter races.
Sehnert has been a steady contributor, alongside his brother Evan, also a senior, on the Bluejays basketball team. The Jays are in the midst of one of their best years in program history, recently having capped a San Juan Basin League regular season title.
“Athletics have definitely played a part in building my character,” said Sehnert. “I’ve been a part of these programs my whole life, and it’s built my understanding of hard work. I’ve enjoyed having great teammates and coaches who have helped push me to make me who I am.”
While basketball and distance running have their different strong points, Sehnert believes that the combination of the two sports helped him to develop a well-rounded skill set. “I recognize that I’ve had more success as a runner, but I’ve enjoyed both the individual perseverance that’s needed for distance running, along with the team atmosphere from basketball.”
Sehnert has already received his letter of assurance for enrollment, and will officially begin induction this summer, and in doing so, take on a whole new set of rigorous expectations.
“It’s a whole new chapter in my life,” he reflected, “and I’m feeling ready and excited to take it on.”
