Nick Bear among the greats

What Nick Bear has done in his four year high school career in Dodson, is something that few can only dream of doing. He has placed in state cross country meets every year.

The Phillips County News picked his brain about his life, accomplishments and what he looks forward to as his high school career is almost over.

Bear has a medal for every year of cross country, placing tenth his freshman year, after posting a time of 17:34. He placed ninth in his sophomore year, with a time of 17:16. He placed seventh his junior year, with a time of 17:18 and second his senior year with a time of 17:09, which is no where near his personal best, which was a 16:30, a time he posted one week before state.

“I was really pushing hard this last year,” said Bear.

Bear was also a key player in Dodson’s basketball and track team for four years, but his favorite achievements were in cross country.

His achievements were talked about all over Dodson and Phillips County, due to the fact that Dodson hasn’t had an athlete place in each year of their high school in a very long time.

Bear is a Seattle Washington native, and thanks to his parents Robert and Cathy, the family set out on a quest to get away from the big city, which led them to Dodson.

Another fact, not everyone in Phillips County knows is that he is a twin. He and his sister Raven were born only a minute a part, Raven being the older.

“I would prefer a boy twin, but having a girl twin isn’t that bad because if there’s a girl you like she can just go talk to her for you,” Bear said.

This is a tactic that Bear has used in the past, per the conversation.

“It was my sophomore year and we were at a meet. I was getting ready to run and I heard that this girl likes me, so I had Raven go make sure,” Bear said.

According to Bear Raven confirmed the match, then Nick moved in and talked to her.

Other than that perk, Nick and Raven help each other out tremendously in sports.

There were rumors that Raven could’ve definitely played on the boys basketball team and helped.

“We say that cross country is my sport and basketball is her sport,” said Nick. “We play one on one. Sometimes she’ll whoop my butt, but sometimes it’s a good game.”

He currently is a part of Dodson’s track and field team and is competing at a high level, placing in the top three in most events he takes a part in.

His main focus in track this year is the high jump, an event in which Bear is currently chasing the school record, which he and former Coyote Jimmy Martin have tied. The record was set in 1976 at 6’0”. Bear hopes to overcome that height this season.

“I’ve been practicing a lot,” Bear said. “I feel pretty confident, it’s kind of difficult to do on the grass, but once I get to the tar stuff , it’ll be a lot better,” Bear told the PCN.

At this moment Bear is on his way, he has posted jumps over five and a half feet in all three of his meets this year. Senior Jesse Stephens has joined the quest, showing that he too is capable of the record. This can only help both athletes as they strive to improve.

“I want to be at 6’4” or 6’5” at the end of the season, Bear said.

He plans on a lot of leg workouts and improving his form and approach to help him get to his goal.

I do a lot of dead lifts and squats,” he said.

Bear takes his athletics seriously and trains almost every

day after school. To improve on his running, he does everything from sprints to long distance runs.

Bear is already accepted into Montana State University Northern in Havre, but he has got even bigger aspirations, as he hopes to be accepted at other schools.

“I’m trying to save Northern as my last option. I applied just because it’s close to home,” said Bear. “I’m keeping my options open and trying to get more scholarships for other schools.”

His dream school? Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

His reason? Because of the school’s great athletic program, which is more than just football and basketball.

“I’d like to try cross country in college for a couple of years,” said Bear.