Last semester he was enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but now he is back to where it all began. Growing up in Allentown and a Parkland High School graduate, Samuel Morgan ‘22 has returned to his roots and is the newest member of the Muhlenberg track and field team as a mid-distance runner. He is also the son of Jeff and Tori Morgan, both of whom are Muhlenberg graduates as members of the class of ‘90. Perhaps it was his destiny all along to wind up as a Mule himself and continue the family tradition.
The decision to transfer from such a prestigious academy in West Point is one that is certainly difficult and requires lots of contemplation. For Morgan, the decision to ultimately attend the United States Military Academy and run Division-I track for the Black Knights came late into his senior year at Parkland. With the physical demands that come along with running as well as the academic workload that West Point bears proved to be a worthwhile experience for Morgan. “My academic year at West Point started in late August and while running Division-I track and taking 20 credit hours, it wasn’t easy,” says Morgan. “I was up at about 6 a.m. every day and stayed up until around 11:15 p.m. doing homework every night. I learned a lot of great lessons about respect, time management, and being a well rounded individual.”
Not only did he have to report for the academic year, but Morgan also had to go through a rigorous summer basic training program. “I had to report for summer basic training starting July 1 till Aug. 18. I had no phone and went through vigorous army training and learned a lot of discipline. It was an eye opening experience that I am glad I say I completed.”
Although Morgan developed incredible friendships at the academy, he was still unsure how committed he was to the idea of serving eight years in the military following his time at West Point and believed his parents’ alma mater could be the place for him to excel. “During the end of the semester with lots running through my mind about possibly leaving the academy due to not being fully 100 percent bought into the army for eight years after West Point, I saw Muhlenberg as a great opportunity to continue my education.”
Morgan also expressed just how appreciative he was for the once in a lifetime experience, the lifelong friendships, and the mentoring he received. “Leaving some of my best friends at the academy that I will have for the rest of my life was tough. I thank everyone there for giving me guidance and supporting me even when I decided to transfer from the academy.”
Muhlenberg is nothing like West Point and in his first full semester and he has had to adjust to the different lifestyle. “The biggest difference so far has been the amount of free time that I have here at Muhlenberg with no one really looking over my shoulder. I knew that coming from West Point I would have a lot more freedom with no one really keeping as close of an eye on me. But I took it as a challenge to still use my time constructively and keep my grades high.”
Although he arrived not too long ago, the entire team has welcomed him with open arms and have made him feel like he has been here the entire time “The team here has welcomed me. They always make me feel part of the family by constantly making sure I am getting acclimated here and including me in trips to the dining hall, long runs, and hanging out on the weekends or any free time we have. The bonding has been great. There is no better bonding then going out on a long run together. I have a lot of respect for everyone on the team and especially my coaches. Coach Fin and Coach Hackett make sure that I get the best opportunities possible here at Muhlenberg and are always checking up to make sure things are going smoothly. I can’t thank them enough for that. The team has really made me feel like I am a part of a family even in the four weeks I have been here.
Not only is Morgan excited to begin his journey at Muhlenberg, but Coach Brad Hackett is also excited with the contribution and the impact he has had already on the team. “I think anytime we have a new athlete who can contribute right away it changes the dynamic of the team for the better. So, yes, Sam has made an impact.”
Coach Hackett has noticed how well the team has received Morgan and made him comfortable. “We had a really great week of preseason camp the week before classes started. Each year the team has a talent show, we had a community service project for the Mercy School and an inter-squad scrimmage. All of these I think helped Sam get adjusted to his new teammates”.
In his short time as a Mule, Morgan has already made an impression on Coach Hackett and the rest of the coaching staff with his performance at their most recent meet at The Armory on Feb. 1. “Last night at The Armory he ran the eighth fastest 800 time in school history which is great for a freshman, and then he turned around a couple hours later and ran a great leg on our 4×400 relay.”
Last semester he was enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but now he is back to where it all began. Growing up in Allentown and a Parkland High School graduate, Samuel Morgan ‘22 has returned to his roots and is the newest member of the Muhlenberg track and field team as a mid-distance runner. He is also the son of Jeff and Tori Morgan, both of whom are Muhlenberg graduates as members of the class of ‘90. Perhaps it was his destiny all along to wind up as a Mule himself and continue the family tradition.
The decision to transfer from such a prestigious academy in West Point is one that is certainly difficult and requires lots of contemplation. For Morgan, the decision to ultimately attend the United States Military Academy and run Division-I track for the Black Knights came late into his senior year at Parkland. With the physical demands that come along with running as well as the academic workload that West Point bears proved to be a worthwhile experience for Morgan. “My academic year at West Point started in late August and while running Division-I track and taking 20 credit hours, it wasn’t easy,” says Morgan. “I was up at about 6 a.m. every day and stayed up until around 11:15 p.m. doing homework every night. I learned a lot of great lessons about respect, time management, and being a well rounded individual.”
Not only did he have to report for the academic year, but Morgan also had to go through a rigorous summer basic training program. “I had to report for summer basic training starting July 1 till Aug. 18. I had no phone and went through vigorous army training and learned a lot of discipline. It was an eye opening experience that I am glad I say I completed.”
Although Morgan developed incredible friendships at the academy, he was still unsure how committed he was to the idea of serving eight years in the military following his time at West Point and believed his parents’ alma mater could be the place for him to excel. “During the end of the semester with lots running through my mind about possibly leaving the academy due to not being fully 100 percent bought into the army for eight years after West Point, I saw Muhlenberg as a great opportunity to continue my education.”
Morgan also expressed just how appreciative he was for the once in a lifetime experience, the lifelong friendships, and the mentoring he received. “Leaving some of my best friends at the academy that I will have for the rest of my life was tough. I thank everyone there for giving me guidance and supporting me even when I decided to transfer from the academy.”
Muhlenberg is nothing like West Point and in his first full semester and he has had to adjust to the different lifestyle. “The biggest difference so far has been the amount of free time that I have here at Muhlenberg with no one really looking over my shoulder. I knew that coming from West Point I would have a lot more freedom with no one really keeping as close of an eye on me. But I took it as a challenge to still use my time constructively and keep my grades high.”
Although he arrived not too long ago, the entire team has welcomed him with open arms and have made him feel like he has been here the entire time “The team here has welcomed me. They always make me feel part of the family by constantly making sure I am getting acclimated here and including me in trips to the dining hall, long runs, and hanging out on the weekends or any free time we have. The bonding has been great. There is no better bonding then going out on a long run together. I have a lot of respect for everyone on the team and especially my coaches. Coach Fin and Coach Hackett make sure that I get the best opportunities possible here at Muhlenberg and are always checking up to make sure things are going smoothly. I can’t thank them enough for that. The team has really made me feel like I am a part of a family even in the four weeks I have been here.
Not only is Morgan excited to begin his journey at Muhlenberg, but Coach Brad Hackett is also excited with the contribution and the impact he has had already on the team. “I think anytime we have a new athlete who can contribute right away it changes the dynamic of the team for the better. So, yes, Sam has made an impact.”
Coach Hackett has noticed how well the team has received Morgan and made him comfortable. “We had a really great week of preseason camp the week before classes started. Each year the team has a talent show, we had a community service project for the Mercy School and an inter-squad scrimmage. All of these I think helped Sam get adjusted to his new teammates”.
In his short time as a Mule, Morgan has already made an impression on Coach Hackett and the rest of the coaching staff with his performance at their most recent meet at The Armory on Feb. 1. “Last night at The Armory he ran the eighth fastest 800 time in school history which is great for a freshman, and then he turned around a couple hours later and ran a great leg on our 4×400 relay.”
