Will Kitzhaber

Photo by: Justin Tafoya, NCAA Photos

Class:
Senior
Events:
5000m / 10,000m
Hometown:
Watertown, Wis.
Height:
5-8
High School:
Watertown
Squadron:
38 All-Stars

JUNIOR YEAR | 2020-21: Registered the 10th-fastest 10,000-meter time in Academy history (29:31.02) at the West Coast Relays…won that event in 10K debut at the West Coast Classic (29:57.79)…competed in the 5000-meter run once during the indoor season…posted a career-best time of 14:16.57 at the Iowa State Classic…academic all-conference selection…MW Scholar-Athlete…named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2019-20: Competed in the 5000-meter run during four indoor meets...clocked a career-best time of 14:36.27 (adjusted for altitude) during a winning performance at the Air Force Collegiate Open...represented the Falcons in both the 3000-meter and 5000-meter finals at the Mountain West Indoor Championships...academic all-conference selection...MW Scholar-Athlete.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2018-19: Competed in four different distances...competed in the 3000-meter run twice during the outdoor season, posting a personal-best time of 8:46.42 (adjusted for altitude) to finish fourth out of 36 runners at the Colorado Invitational...also raced in two 5000-meter events, clocking a career-best time of 15:03.09a at the Doug Max Invitational...competed in the 1500-meter run at the Air Force Twilight Open (4:05.19a)...competed in the mile during two indoor meets...posted a career-best time of 4:28.00 (adjusted for altitude) at the Air Force Invitational...clocked an indoor-best 5000-meter time of 15:37.56a at the CU Invitational...MW Scholar-Athlete.

MAJOR CROSS COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS: Three-time all-conference selection…earned first-team honors after finishing fourth at the 2019 Mountain West Championships...was the only underclassmen in the top 13…claimed second-team status as a junior following a 13th-place finish…repeated as a first-team honoree after finishing sixth as a senior…helped Air Force to conference titles…named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for the 2020-21 cross country season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Watertown High School...three-time conference champion (once in cross country, twice in the 3200-meter run)...four-time all-conference honoree in cross country...qualified for the state cross country championships three times...all-state selection...three-time all-area...earned cross country MVP honors three times...also qualified for the state track championships as a member of the 4x800-meter relay...four-time sectional qualifier at 3200 meters...served as president of the National Honor Society...named AP Scholar with Distinction...finalist for the state’s Scholar-Athlete award...named to the High Honor Roll all four years...earned a letter in band...Eagle Scout...member of Vigil Honor, Order of the Arrow...Wag-O-Shag Lodge, BSA Lodge Chief...named the Elks Lodge Distinguished Citizen in 2016.

PERSONAL: Full name is William James Kitzhaber...goes by Will...nickname is “Sigmund Freud”...son of Peter and Michelle Kitzhaber...father is a lieutenant colonel in the Wisconsin Army National Guard...has two brothers...older brother, Andrew, is a 2019 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy...majoring in legal studies...future plans include attending law school or becoming an agent in the Office of Special Investigations (OSI)...currently serving as the Readiness Flight Commander...named to the Superintendent’s List for excellence in military, academic and athletic performance...has been named to the Dean’s List every semester and earned Commandant’s honors in four of six semesters...earned Jump Wings in the summer of 2019...hobbies include sleeping, fishing, hunting, running, soaking in the sun and cracking jokes with “Sweets”...was a barista during high school...interned with the Air Force General Counsel’s Officer of Contractor Responsibility and Conflict Resolution over the summer, working to stop Chinese intellectual espionage…also watched Mad Men and ran “a couple times”...member of Cadet Squadron 38.