Spiritual Formation | 2/6/2026 3:02:00 PM

Written by: Brady Yingst

When being asked why I chose Lipscomb, the answer has become abundantly clear.

The thing I tell almost any prospective athlete considering Lipscomb is this—if you want to become twice as good of an athlete as you ever dreamed of, go to Lipscomb. And if you want your faith to grow tenfold, then go to Lipscomb!

My journey has been anything but linear. Like any athlete entering college, my goals were extremely high, and I thought it would all happen seamlessly. But, like any athlete, I had to deal with setbacks and disappointments. It was the challenges along the way, though, that truly helped me carve out my story at Lipscomb so far.

At one point, I was labeled an "injury-prone" athlete. From my sophomore year through the middle of my junior year, I could barely line up for a race without facing some kind of injury. Those injuries brought me to some low places. You become separated from your team, your coaches… your friends.

What made those hard seasons bearable, though, were the people I was surrounded by. During the 6 a.m. swims, the stationary bike workouts, or the times I watched the team compete on TV while I was at home recovering, I never had to go through it alone. The beauty of what I have experienced at Lipscomb is that we are more than just a team—we are a family.

One of my greatest memories at Lipscomb is the day I got baptized. Not only was it a day to publicly declare my faith and continue my walk with the Lord, but it was extra special because standing there with me were 30+ of my teammates and coaches—taking time out of their busy days and schedules to be there for such an important moment in my life.

That day, I knew I was in the right place. I knew I had found something far greater than running. I had found a family and a brotherhood that would last a lifetime.