Senior Nathaniel Mintzer committed to Tulane University for track and field, which has a Division I running program.
Over the summer, Tulane’s recruiting coordinator and track coach, Matthew Boone, reached out to Mintzer and expressed interest in recruiting him. They got in touch and Mintzer decided to apply. He said that academics and the culture of New Orleans were significant factors for him when choosing Tulane. Mintzer was accepted, and is now committed to Tulane.
Mintzer began running in sixth grade on a track club, the Firebirds. “The club opened my eyes” to a newfound passion, he said. After discovering his talent for the sport, he pursued it throughout middle and high school for the winter and spring seasons.
Mintzer looked up to his brother, Matthew Mintzer ’21; he pushed Mintzer in track and also helped him understand the injury recovery process when playing sports.
Mintzer has been injured many times over the course of his running career. In early 2023, he pulled both hamstrings and, as a result, was unable to compete in the DC State Athletic Association (DCSAA) State Championships for both the winter and spring seasons. However, he said these setbacks actually helped him become a better athlete because he was able to understand his body better.
During last year’s spring track season, a select group from the men’s team qualified for both the Penn Relays and the New Balance Nationals—two challenging meets—and broke a number of school records along the way. Even though he was working through his injury, Mintzer played an important role in the team’s qualification. At Penn, he was a part of the team that ran the 4×400 race and won a prestigious wheel. At New Balance, Mintzer was challenged with a choice to run either the open 100 meter race or the 4×100 meter relay. In the end, he chose the latter and had a strong showing with his teammates.
As Mintzer continues running the spring track, he hopes to have a meaningful final season at GDS. He said a goal he has for the season is “really trying to build those relationships with my teammates” and have a fun season with his friends.
Head coach Anthony Belber has been coaching Mintzer since he joined the high school and also coached Matthew Mintzer. Belber said that Mintzer is a “very explosive and very quick runner. He was pushing school records as a ninth grader [and] has only worked harder with each passing year.”
Amanda Deringer, an assistant coach for winter track, said that “watching Nathaniel grow over his time here has been really remarkable.” She noted that “he’s definitely gotten stronger and is running his best times” throughout his time at GDS while also being a leader by “supporting younger runners.”
Alrick Tougma, a freshman sprinter, said he looks up to Mintzer as a role model. “Seeing [Mintzer] at practice encourages me to get better,” he said. “He motivates everyone on the team.”
“He is a very dedicated athlete who is always trying to get better,” Mintzer’s teammate and friend senior Nathaniel Romine said. Romine also said that Mintzer consistently brings energy and encouragement to practice.