Bloom Hamner

'Character in the Woods' for Frogmen



'Character in the Woods' for Frogmen

Patrick Shea '20 knew his limits until he started stretching them.

True, the concept behind the Adventure Sports program may be 118 years old at Christ School. But coach Matt Chisholm is constantly finding new ways to test his "Frogmen," whether it is biking, running, paddling, or trekking through the mountains of western North Carolina.

"Ultimately, what I'm after is guys learning about their character in the woods," Chisholm said.

And they do, to hear Patrick tell it.

"Before joining The Frogmen last fall, I never thought I was capable of running more than a couple miles," he said. "Our team's community is something unique. Sure, we have fun and playfully banter with one another, but when it comes time to complete a task, we set our differences aside and transform into one super-functioning unit. Out on the trail, we are consistently building each up, egging each other on, and pushing each other to be the best version of ourselves. As Mr. Chisholm, our coach says, 'Nobody's first, nobody's last, we are one unit."

Patrick and Christian Blanks '19 have been given leadership positions as "Red Hats," in The Frogmen. Other group members include Will DuBose '19, Patrick Wilds '21, Aidan Galpin '21, Jack Hodges '22, Colson Etheridge '22, and Chapin Mohney '23.

As far as this semester goes, The Frogmen are on mountain bikes most afternoons. They will also mix in 45-minute runs, trail maintenance, and even some yoga. The third annual Bearwallow Challenge, consisting of timed four to five-mile runs with steep elevation gains, is scheduled for the winter. A Spartan race within driving distance is never out of the question either.

Teams from Christ School placed third and fourth in last year's Pisgah 10-Hour Adventure Race, an experience that Patrick still remembers fondly.

"Trekking, paddling, and mountain biking just under 50 miles in a day was one of the most fulfilling, yet most humbling experiences I have partaken in," he said. "Furthermore, we were ecstatic when we learned that we had received both third and fourth place in the race. It was because of our team's unity, companionship, and unyielding faith in each other that we were able to complete such a seemingly insurmountable task. The short of it is, we would never have been able to finish the race unless everyone bought in."