Oswego East Student-Athlete of the Week-Nathan Thach

Sophomore Nathan Thach is not your typical underclassman. With a late August birthday, he is one of the youngest sophomores in the building. However, as a member of the varsity OE volleyball team, Nathan fits right in with his older teammates and opponents, and his maturity and skill set are why he is this week´s Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Nathan began his volleyball journey at the young age of 5, following in the footsteps of his older sister Katie. “Nathan was exposed to volleyball at a young age because of his sister, and started taking lessons at the same club when he was about 5,” says Hau Thach, Nathan´s mom. She goes on to say, ¨Katie has always been Nathan´s biggest supporter and has been there for him to use as a sounding board.” Nathan started focusing on volleyball in middle school, saying, “By the time I was in 7th grade I started taking the sport more seriously, and I found it was something I could do for a long time if I put in the work,” says Nathan.

Nathan plays the libero position by trade, but with three-year senior Josh Kiely entrenched in the position for the Wolves, head coach Dru Filkins asked Nathan to consider playing the setter position. “By changing positions, I think it shifted Nathan´s mindset to be more offensive-minded than defensive,” says Dru. He adds, “Nathan´s willingness to change positions shows he is a team player, and playing more than one position allows him to show off his versatility.”

Nathan’s teammates have played a big role in helping Nathan transition to a new position. “The switch is something that was outside of Nathan’s comfort zone, but he has been willing to take on the challenge and try something new,” says Hau. She says, “It helps his teammates have supported him in the switch.”

The team, and Nathan, have gotten off to one of their best starts in school history with a 16-5 record and are 3-0 in the conference. Nathan has played a major role in that success with 317 assists, 53 digs, 20 kills, 5 blocks, 8 aces, and a server rating of 94%. “Our goal for this year has been to be the first boys volleyball team in school history to win conference,” says Nathan.
The experience of changing positions and helping the team to one of their best starts in school history will undoubtedly position Nathan to be a leader in the program for years to come. “We have 6 seniors graduating at the end of the season and will need to fill their void,” says Dru. He says, “I can see him being a more vocal leader, and with more underclassmen on the varsity next year, we will need his experience to help guide them.”

Nathan plans on not only helping lead the Wolves in the future but also positioning himself to play at the next level. “My goal is to play volleyball in college with the recruiting process beginning this summer,” says Nathan. Dru believes Nathan can realize those dreams, saying, “Nathan’s ceiling is whatever he wants it to be. I know he loves volleyball and is on one of the top club teams in the nation for 16U. If he continues to work hard and build his tools, as well as maintain his high GPA, the sky is the limit.”

Nathan has been able to earn a 4.0 GPA. Although unsure of where he will attend college or a specific major, he is determined to play volleyball. He is leaning towards a career in either sports medicine or sports therapy. “Sports have always been a part of Nathan’s life, and he watched his sister go through a torn ACL, surgery, and physical therapy,” says Hau. She says, “He has learned a lot about the body, nutrition, and mental aspects of what it takes to succeed as an athlete.”

Madhura Rede, Nathan’s chemistry teacher, sees Nathan as an example of what it means to be a student-athlete and believes he has a very bright future. “Nathan is a wonderful student, he has many qualities that make him not just a good student but also a perfect team player. Nathan is very focused and self-motivated. He has a very strong work ethic and works hard to understand and apply all the concepts that are being taught in class. Nathan is very dedicated and has a problem-solving attitude. Nathan also has a unique ability to understand and collaborate with any team. Sports medicine and sports therapy require individuals to analyze complex situations, diagnose injuries, and develop effective treatment plans. Nathan's ability to think critically, problem-solve, and apply scientific knowledge can enable him to thrive in this intellectually stimulating environment.”

Nathan’s maturation as a setter will play a big role in helping the Wolves achieve their goal of setting the win record for the school and making a deep run in the playoffs. That maturation provides Nathan an opportunity to share what he has learned with future Wolves, advising them by saying, “Start advocating for yourself and reach out if you need help, and stay on top of your work because it’s easy to fall behind and a lot more difficult to catch up.” The Wolves will look to continue to stay on top of the conference as they get closer to the end of the season.