Unsung hero

By David Mosse

February 26, 2000, the Big Ten Championships in Bloomington. Moments following the 600-meter race, sophomore Jeremy Schneider was found lying on the floor of the tunnel adjacent to the arena, with his head in his hands. The most poignant image of the Indoor season spoke volumes about Michigan's track and field star.

Schneider had just concluded what he termed "the most disappointing race of his life." After winning every 600-meter race during the regular season, he failed to deliver in the grand stage - placing seventh.

But for the Wolverines middle-distance ace, the episode was a mere blemish in an otherwise triumphant season.

Week after week other teammates garner all the headlines. If it's not All-American Steve Lawrence, or silky-smooth Ike Okenwa, it's super Swede Patrik Johansson, or the flamboyant Oded Padan.

Truthfully, Schneider lacks the charisma of some of his teammates but if you pulled head coach Ron Warhurst aside and asked who the most consistent Wolverine has been all season, his answer would invariably be Jeremy Schneider.

During indoor season, Schneider captured individual victories in seven of nine meets and in three different races - the 400, 600, and 800-meters.

Pretty remarkable when you consider how Schneider arrived in Ann Arbor. A native of West Bloomfield, Schneider attended Andover high school, where he was a member of the track and field team. His highest honor? A fifth place finish in the class B State meet in the 400-meter.

"That doesn't mean a whole lot when every guy I face in college was a State Champion" Schneider said.

Schneider's modest success sparked interest from a handful of Division III Schools. But Schneider knew where he wanted attend college.

"Michigan was the only school I applied to," Schneider said. "Both my parents, my grandfather, and my uncle all went to U-M."

Once he arrived, Schneider opted to try out for the track team. The first day he arrived at the Michigan track building, Schneider encountered one of the largest recruiting classes in the nation. He knew full well he had his work cut out.

"I was really scared," Schneider said. "I remember the first meeting when the coaches talked about cuts and what times they expected from us. But I ran my ass off and did pretty well."

And the rest as they say is history. Schneider has improved leaps and bounds since his freshman year and is now one of the catalysts of the the team.

"I'm doing a lot better in College than I did in high school," Schneider said. "My freshman and sophomore years in high school, I didn't even place. My freshman and sophomore years in college, I'm winning races."

Schneider attributes the turn around to the maturation of his body. At 6-5, and extremely skinny, he lacked coordination in high school. But Schneider has gained 30 lbs. since since coming to Michigan and his height is no longer a hindrance to his running.

"My muscles have finally caught up to my weight." Schneider said.

How surprised is Schneider at all the success he has achieved?

"Not at all", Schneider said. "Nobody fairs well that doesn't expect to win. To be good, you have to think your the best."

But Schneider's rags to riches story wasn't without adversity. One chilly, winter night, Schneider nearly lost it all.

On February 14, two weeks prior to the Big Ten Championships, Schneider was sleeping peacefully in his bed. At 3:30 a.m. the smoke detector went off in his apartment. Schneider ran downstairs only to find his living room filled with smoke.

"I opened the door to the hallway and smoke came in my face," Schneider said. "I pounded on Brent's door (roommate and teammate Brent Scheffer). I went downstairs and I couldn't breathe or see. We ran to the balcony which wasn't that high up."

The two jumped off the balcony onto the street. Scheffer, who Schneider describes as the "real hero" actually ventured back to the apartment and snagged coats and sneakers for the two. Schneider spent the night at his friend Jessica Roberts' apartment, awaiting word on the damage.

The following day, Schneider returned home only to find he had very little to come back to.

"The hallway was torched. The fire burned through the walls and into our apartment," Schneider explained. "All our plastic and metal stuff burned down. I lost my computer, mp3 player, and stereo. My varsity jacket is ruined and I'm kind of embarrassed to ask for a new one. All the furniture burned down."

The apartment was beyond repair. Schneider now lives in the Bursley Residence Hall on North Campus. The cause of the fire remains a mystery. The police suspect arson, but no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

Schneider tried his best not to dwell on the incident. He remarkably attended all his classes the next day, but eventually his resolve began to crack.

"I was kind of in denial," Schneider said. "But then the next week, I had to move everything I owned and buy new things. Move into a new apartment. It was very depressing."

Schneider leaned on his teammates in his time of need, and they were happy to oblige. Several members of the team helped Schneider move his stuff out of the apartment, and Michigan coach Ron Warhurst permitted Schneider to store his belongings in the closet of the track building.

As he reflects on his experience, Schneider realizes how lucky he is to be alive and how worse things could have been.

"Stuff can be replaced," Schneider said. "I'm just glad no one got hurt. I didn't lose anything dear to me. My eyes were hurt, and I inhaled some smoke, but otherwise I made out alright."

With the incident now fully behind him, Schneider, an engineering major and member of eta Kappa Nu fraternity, looks forward to pursuing all the goals he set for himself, both on and off the track.

"I'd like to win Big Tens as soon as possible," Schneider said. "I'd like to hopefully go to nationals this year. And maybe senior year, win nationals. Let's keep things realistic."

As for the Michigan program, Schneider sees a bright feature despite an up and down season. In addition to being one of the largest, his aforementioned recruiting class, was one of the nation's best and Schneider believes they are capable of special things when the group puts it all together.

And for now, all Schneider is concerned about is helping elevate the program to another level, and having fun doing it.

"I love the team," Schneider said. "Everyday I go to practice and laugh the whole time. Everyone is pretty cool, and really nice. I am proud to be in their ranks."

As for the colorful Warhurst, who often accuses Schneider of suffering from rectal-cranial inversion, Schneider has nothing but praise.

"He is awesome," Schneider said. "I look up to him. No matter what he says, people like him."

But Schneider's ambitions stretch far beyond his days in Ann Arbor. Ask him about his future and he already has an answer. Schneider plans to start his own business and retire at the age of 25.

"With how the market is today, I think it's possible," Schneider said. "I'll work for three years, make my millions, and travel the world."

But not before one last moment of glory on the track...

"Olympic trials, 2008?" Schneider wonders. "I'm still developing. I haven't even scratched the surface of what I'm capable of."

These might seem like presumptuous goals, but then again, two years ago, if anyone told this skinny kid from West Bloomfield, he would be a track star at the University of Michigan, who would have believed it? So if anyone is allowed to dream it is Jeremy Schneider.

And rest assured no pressure he will face can match the feeling of sweltering heat as an inferno formed around him. A pressure he has faced and conquered.

DANNY KALICK/Daily

Sophomore Jeremy Schneider has overcome personal obstacles such as a loss of his campus apartment due to fire and little support to become one of the Wolverine's premier runners.