TENNERTON – Just prior to winning a state championship as part of the Buckhannon-Upshur 4×400-meter -relay team, Sterlin Thropp announced his plans to continue his track and field career at the next level.
At a recent ceremony at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Thropp said that West Virginia Wesleyan College was the best place for him to continue his athletic career.
“It is close to home and my family,” Thropp said. “It means a lot to me to stay close to my family and friends. I felt like that campus was family-like, and I felt like I could do more there as well.”
Thropp said it was also the tradition-rich past of the Wesleyan track and field team, along with the current coaching staff, that led him to become the newest Bobcat on the team.
“The competition level at Wesleyan and the Mountain East Conference is very high,” stated Thropp. “It is what drew me there. The coaching staff was really chill and laid back, and I think they can push me to be my best.”
Thropp was at his best at the recently concluded state track meet.
The foursome of Thropp, Shawn Blandino, Julien Larcher and Jordan Gillum brought back a state title in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:25.26, which was just 2 ½ seconds of the current state mark. Individually, Thropp ran third at states in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.69 — just .36 seconds off from eventual winner Isaiah Fritts of Jefferson.
Thropp was a three-sport standout at Buckhannon-Upshur playing football and basketball, but he said chose to continue his athletic career in track and field because it provided the most competition for him.
“Something just felt right about picking track and field,” he stated. “I like the competition of it, and I feel I can go higher in it than I could the other sports.”
Buckhannon-Upshur boys’ head track and field coach Patty Wager feels the sky is the limit for Thropp at the collegiate level.
“Sterlin is a phenomenal athlete,” said Wager. “He has a natural ability on the track. Wesleyan is lucky to have him, and he is lucky to have Wesleyan. I know he will help their program. He is a great mid-distance runner who could compete in the 200, 400 or 800-meter runs. I have no doubt that his times will drop at the next level.”
Thropp said he will major in business while at Wesleyan.
