Oxford High School track-and-field star Connor Bandel signed his letter of intent Nov. 17 to compete for the University of Florida.
‘I feel great about signing with Florida. I think it was a no-brainer that I go there when I compared everything with other schools,? Bandel said.
‘The three main things that made me choose UF is (the) culture/ campus, the amazing track and field team and their engineering program. I am going to be studying engineering, chemical or biomedical.?
OHS Athletic Director Cole Andrews said Bandel, a senior, ‘excels at a tremendously high standard both academically and athletically.?
‘Connor is a multi-sport athlete and I couldn’t think of a more deserving kid to get such a great opportunity,? Andrews said. ‘He represents everything we believe in at Oxford.?
As far as his future goals go, Bandel wants to be a national collegiate athlete in shot put and discus, then make it onto the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team. Bandel took second in both shot put and discus at the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics back in July.
‘Connor Bandel is an excellent example of . . . what you can do when you set your mind toward a goal,? said OHS Track and Field Head Coach Matt Johnson. ‘Connor’s goal has been not only to perform at the collegiate level, but to get good enough and practice long enough and (be) disciplined enough to get to the international level.?
Bandel said he couldn’t have achieved what he’s done so far without the support of his coaches and family.
‘I want to thank my head coach and my throws coach (at Oxford), Coach Johnson and Coach George (Schraut). I’d like to thank the throws coaches from Walled Lake Central and Walled Lake Northern for helping me along the way,? he added.
‘I’d also like to thank all of my family and friends that helped me with the decision, especially my sister, mom and dad. My sister was a huge help in this process since she herself went through it (getting) recruited (to play) volleyball (for) Oakland University.?