Men's Cross Country

Student-Athlete Spotlight: John Nehmzow, UW-Stout

Each week during the 2025-26 academic year, the WIAC will feature two student-athletes (one male and one female) from one of its eight institutions for a “Student-Athlete Spotlight” Q & A segment. The segments will be posted every Thursday and individuals are selected by the institution. The WIAC Student-Athlete Spotlights are presented by Culver's.

Name:  John Nehmzow 
Institution:  UW-Stout
Hometown and High School:  Round Lake, Ill. & Fox Lake, Ill. (Grant High School)
Year in school:  Sophomore
Sports:  Cross Country and Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
Major:  Computer & Electrical Engineering
Minor:  Computer Science

Why did you choose UW-Stout?
I chose UW-Stout because I wanted a school that had a good engineering program. Also, during my senior year of high school, I realized I didn’t want to be done being an athlete and competing. UW-Stout allowed me that opportunity to achieve my future career/academic goals along with my athletic.

What do you like most about competing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and being a NCAA Division III student-athlete?
I like the focus that is given to academics as well as athletics by being a Division III student-athlete. What I like most though is that athletes must have a genuine passion for the sport at this level and not be forced by their ability into college athletics.
 
What is your favorite…
Menu item from Culver’s?  Chicken Tender Basket
Flavor of the Day from Culver’s?  Chocolate with Sprinkles
Non-Athletic Spot on Campus?  In between Bowman and Harvey Hall in the morning
TV Show?  The Sopranos
Holiday?  Thanksgiving
Food?  New York Strip Steak
Animal?  My cat
Smartphone App?  Retro Bowl
Musical Group or Artist?  Garth Brooks
Professional Sports Athlete or Team?  Chicago Cubs
Vacation Spot?  Vermont
 
What is your greatest sports moment? 
My greatest sports moment was the first time I ever broke 10 minutes in the 3200 meter in high school. At that point it felt like the accumulation of a lot of hard work, even if ultimately, I ran much faster or now knowing in the grand scheme it might not be that impressive, in that moment it meant the world to me.
 
What is your favorite thing to do off the court/field with your teammates?
My favorite thing to do outside of practice or running with my teammates is really to just relax, usually it be watching some movie, tv show, or on weekends a Football game.
 
Who is someone that you look up to?
Someone I look up to is my High School cross country coach. Through a lot of my time in high school he was the guiding figure in the person I’ve become and for the athlete I am. I can’t thank him enough for all the ways in which he was there for me when I struggled throughout my athletic career so far.

Do you have any words of advice for younger/upcoming student-athletes?
Put more focus in achieving your best each-and-every day, shift and refocus if you haven’t. Don’t focus so much on the big items, focus on the small day-to-day which you can control. 
 
One word that describes you?
Focused
 
What is your dream job? 
To work as an Electrical engineer somewhere in the Midwest.
 
Three things on your "bucket list"?
---Visit Europe, specifically the Alps
---Graduate College with a 3.5 GPA or greater
---Be kinder
 
A non-athletic talent that you have is?
I can play the guitar

What’s your dream sporting event to attend?
My Dream sporting event to attend would be to see any of my teammates at nationals
 
Do you have any pre-game/pre-event superstitions or rituals? If so, what are they?
Before every meet I usually watch 2 things: Ben Zobrist’s go ahead single in game 7 of the 2016 World series and The Long Green Line. Both help to get me in the mindset to compete against odds and especially to compete for my teammates.
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