My name is Jack Ingold and I was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia. Early in my childhood I fell in love with basketball, this quickly became the prize of my eye. Basketball felt different, an adventure that seemed endless. I had purpose, I had identity, I had a prize to chase after. I would then always have an opportunity to chase something greater. When I was in the 5th grade my family drove to Nashville for a weekend and my mom took my sibling and I to see Lipscomb's Campus.

When I walked in Allen Arena and saw the Men's basketball team practicing I knew in that moment what my ultimate prize would be. From that point forward, the single goal of my existence became playing basketball at Lipscomb. You might ask, "How does an undersized, under-skilled, under-preforming kid from West Virginia become 1 of 15 people on a Division 1 roster?" My answer then was simple, "You do it all by yourself."

Over the course of my high school basketball career, I became obsessed with the process of putting one foot in front of the other to achieve my ambitious goal. Some days I would take 3 steps forward and many day I would take 2 steps back. The ups and downs of this process hardened my heart. Through tears, fits of anger, and fear of the future, I shut out the world. No one would ever understand me and what I was willing to do in order to reach my goal. In my heart I knew I would reach the top of that mountain and I longed for the day I would stand proudly looking down on all those who said I wouldn't.

When Covid began and college recruiting came to a halt, I was at the end of my senior year of high school. I held no college offers, no interests and I had no way of knowing what my future in basketball would look like. Being able to compete, workout with my trainer and go to the gym to lift weights gave me a sense of control over my situation. This control was lost quickly as Covid spread across the states. Although I appeared optimistic on the outside, internally I felt like someone had thrown a giant boulder in my path that I could not overcome. I would never see the mountain top, I would never have my prize.

I made up my mind that I would attend Lipscomb as a student, despite not having an offer to play college basketball. Over the course of my freshman year I continued making attempts to find a spot on the team. Basketball was not something I did, basketball was who I was. Without it I was lost, the time I used to fill with basketball became filled with anxiety, poor decision making and insecurity. I was falling down the mountain and had no way to stop myself.

In March of my freshman year Coach Acuff emailed me, giving me and opportunity to try-out for the team as a walk-on.. Covid-19 restrictions, imposed by the NCAA, forbid college coaches from bringing athletes on campus for visits and workouts. My situation was perfect, because I was already on campus, I didn't have to come on a visit. Covid, once hindered my recruiting, now gave me an opportunity no one else would have. After the court workout, Coach Acuff gave me an opportunity to practice and lift with the team that year with the expectation that I perform manager duties and would not be able to dress out for the games. If I did this well I would have an opportunity to play the year following. You would think this would be a turning point, I had the prize, I finally reached the top of the mountain.

My life was empty, what I yearned for my whole life brought me no satisfaction, no joy, and no fulfillment. My anxious thoughts, poor decisions and insecurities intensified until my junior year of college. I remember sitting in the gym one day before practice early in my junior year and deciding to read my bible. As I began to read I felt like the words were speaking directly too me. Calmness and peace flooded my mind and body. This Jesus I heard about everyday of my young life was real and I was experiencing Him in a way I didn't know to be possible. All these years someone much greater than myself was writing my story and guiding each of my steps. The Lord did not bring me to Lipscomb to play a sport, but instead graciously provided me this avenue to share of His goodness. My life has become much bigger than basketball. I'm called to serve, love and share the story God has given me.

My name is Jack Ingold and I was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia. Early in my adulthood I fell in love with the Lord, He has quickly become the prize of my eye. This is different, an adventure that is endless. I have purpose, I have identity, I have a prize to chase after. I will always have the opportunity to chase something greater. Persistence my friend, Love is my mission, Jesus is my prize.