Transcript: Deacon Nelson on Baseball, Leadership, and Staying Consistent

Good morning and welcome back to the show. We are here with University School McKinley House Prefect, brother of our co-host Jack Nelson and baseball captain and Auburn commit Deacon Nelson. How are you doing today? I'm doing well.

Thank you for having me. It's great to have you on the show. You know, before we get into everything, let's go back. Were you always a serious competitor in baseball?

When did that really develop? Let's go all the way back to some of those beginning roots. Yeah, for sure. It's always been a big part of my life.

I mean, my dad kind of instilled it into me from a young age, pretty much right when I was born, and then it's only grown from there. I've definitely fallen in love with the sport, and it's continued to grow for me. And it's, yeah, I mean, that's the reason I feel like I'm here today, just because of the dedication and love of the game and continue to work hard at it. Can you walk us through your journey and decision to end up at U.S.?

What made it stand out? Obviously, I was there for that selection process, so I know there were some other options. What really made it stand out to you, a place that's not as maybe focused on athletics, but has that academic piece too? Yeah, definitely.

I mean, I didn't even think that I'd be looking at private schools, to be honest. But when we kind of opened those options up, looked at a few different options. And U.S. really stood out to me. I say it all the time.

Like when I took my shadow day, the connection between the students and the teachers is really special. I never really seen anything like that. how everyone really seemed to get along and everything was smoothly run and and just how everything how everything worked and the interactions that I was able to see during my shadow day that really stood out to me and it's a special place that I wanted to I saw it as an opportunity for me to make an impact coming in as a baseball player I knew that Coach McNerney started bringing the program up and it's more well known and we had good players and I really wanted to be a big part of that and leave a legacy, first off in the classroom and then also on the baseball field as well. So overall, it was a great fit for me, great fit for you, obviously, as you came over at the same time. And then our younger brother, Cade, as well coming up.

It all kind of worked out very well. And I was lucky enough, thanks to the Open Door family for funding the Jarvis Scholarship to receive that as well, which was a big part. Let's talk about some of those first days. Everybody has their welcome to U.S. moment.

What are some of those first moments at U.S. where you thought to yourself, yeah, I can see myself being here for the next four? Yeah, I mean, I'd say the senior class my freshman year was very special. I mean, I played basketball freshman and sophomore year, but coming as a freshman, that was kind of the first. That was obviously that comes in the winter, so before baseball.

So I really got to know a lot of the basketball seniors pretty quickly and then also the baseball seniors as well. But, I mean, that senior class was so special. in the student section, football games. I remember going to my first football game. I thought it was the coolest thing of all time.

And so I think that was kind of the welcoming from that senior class and kind of bringing me in and not making me feel like a freshman or a new student whatsoever. That was really special to me. And that's why I knew this place was special because, I mean, you hear things from other schools, how like you come in freshman year, you're not sure if you really like it, you don't feel too welcome. And I feel like everyone here feels welcome, at least from my own experience. and it's a great place.

Can you tell that story? I remember on your shadow day, you came home, we were talking about how you were playing football in the mud with the baseball team on your shadow day. Can you tell that story? Yeah, so, I mean, I probably got the best possible shadow day experience.

I mean, I came in. I wish I could have been there for the full day. I think I had to leave halfway because we had basketball practice that day from the middle school. But, yeah, I came in.

It was Thanksgiving lunch. The lunch was amazing. We got our own table in Lower Commons, just the baseball guys. And then we look outside and they're playing football.

Literally, it was raining. It was muddy. And you see guys are falling left and right. And they come in and Miss TH just literally gives them, hands them a brand new pair of clothes to wear for the afternoon.

And I was like, all right, that's just something you don't see. Like, they looked like they're having a blast and then they get all muddy or whatever and then just reset for the afternoon classes. So that was hilarious. And like that sense of brotherhood that we talk about, it is real. and that's really when I first saw that.

Now talk about coming to Virginia in your freshman year. What was that like? And obviously I've never gone through that process, so guide me through what that looked like, especially as a freshman. Yeah, definitely.

I mean, looking back at it, looking at seeing freshmen now, it's like I don't even know how that was possible or I was doing that. But it was a pretty cool experience. It has definitely set me up well for the future. I was talking to a few schools, Virginia being one of them, and ended up, you know, coming early into freshman year, I think freshman fall to Virginia.

It was just, for me at the time, it was the perfect spot. It's a great school. Obviously academics come first in my decision or a big part of my decision. Virginia's a great school, great coaching staff, obviously great baseball program.

So yeah, at that time, it was the best decision for me. A lot of people see that as the glamour of that decision, but I know there's pressure behind the scenes. So did that change how people treated you at school and how you've been able to manage those expectations that comes with that? Yeah, I mean, it's definitely something that I've had to deal with for a while.

Just always, you know, always eyes on me, always target on my back. Just more when it comes to being on the baseball field. I mean, everyday life, you have people, you know, make jokes about like whatever, say stuff about where I'm going or especially that early on. It wasn't normal.

So people would talk about a little bit. But honestly, I mean, I think for me, I always try to stay the same no matter what the situation is, but no matter what my situation is. So what you see day in and day out is how I always act. I'm not going to get too high or too low, and I think that's been a big part of dealing with some of the added-on attention.

I guess I wouldn't say pressure, just attention. So, yeah, that's kind of how I do it. Let's skip a little here. Let's go to your kind of switching commitment and your shift to Auburn.

I know that was kind of later as it was quite recent. So what was that shift like, and what was going through your mind, and how do you like Auburn? Yeah, well, first of all, Auburn's amazing. I'm very excited to go there next year. but yeah so the coaches at Virginia this last spring when we were in literally in the middle of our playoff run last year they decided to leave to go to Mississippi State So obviously a lot going on with my own playoffs and everything like that but I decided to open up recruitment again because just to kind of see what options were out there.

And so, yeah, I was talking to a few different schools that I really narrowed in on and was very interested in pursuing. and ultimately I went down for a tournament a few weeks later after playoffs ended in the summer, was able to visit Auburn. I mean, I love the campus, love everything about it. The academics are good too and I'm able to, you know, pursue what I'm interested in, which I feel like is very important academically and that, I mean, it doesn't get any better than SEC baseball and I think, yeah, I know that's my lifelong dream like we talked about at the very beginning of, you know, the love for the game and just continuing to reach the next steps and this is definitely the right next step for them now u.s baseball obviously you've had success while you've been here and well not solely because of you you know we've had amazing players um like you talked about that core when you came in but what are you most proud of and talk about you know leaving the jersey in a better place than you found it yeah i mean like i said i want to come in and be able to leave a legacy on this program and leave an impact on this program and i i think we've we've almost gotten better every single year and it continues I mean I don't know five years ago if this program would even think about going to a state championship and I think that that comes from like I said give credit give credit to our coaches from starting that kind of building that culture but each year's captains have done a great job of continuing that culture and really we know what our goal is we have we've continued to build talent I mean it starts in the offseason it's I think consistency is key, and that's really what we've done. And then, yeah, the leadership has been amazing.

But, like I said, coming in, that was my goal to leave as much of an impact as I can on this program. And I feel like up to this point, I've done exactly that. Do you feel pressure every time you step on the field? Obviously, all of us are going to feel a bunch of pressure going to any big event.

But where does that pressure come from, whether it's internal or external? And what's your mental approach before a big game? We heard about T-Money last year talking about going from baking to then putting on music and going straight into a football game. So what's that pregame approach look for you?

And where does that pressure kind of come from? Yeah, honestly, I mean, for me, it's gotten to the point where it's always been this way. It's always been more like I always put more pressure on myself than anyone else ever will. Whether that's, you know, scouts, coaches, anyone, because just like kind of the expectations that I have for myself have always just been higher. and I tried to hold myself to that standard.

But with that, I've got to learn to – or I have learned and continue to work on staying while I have these goals for myself and standards for myself, staying calm, staying under control. I've worked a lot on different breathing exercises and also just confidence cues throughout the game that I'll tell myself before the game, during the game. So that's helped a lot. Just like I say, never get too high, never get too low, and that's been kind of the name of the game for me.

Now you've been a leader on the team and in the program since you've stepped on, whether that's on the field and leading through example or now in your role as a captain having to be more vocal. What kind of leader do you feel you try to be around the team and whether that's through words or actions? Yeah, I mean, for me, it's always been a leader through actions. I think recently over the past couple of years, definitely stepped up vocally, which I think that was something I said, when I write down goals before the season starts.

A couple years ago, I said I wanted to step up more vocally as a leader, as a take on the captain role, and I feel like I've done a pretty good job at that. And so, yeah, no matter what, it's always through actions. But, you know, I was never always the loudest guy in the field. I still probably never am not, but I definitely have increased, you know, my vocal leadership as well.

So combining the consistency of just always playing, no matter what the situation is, you can't tell if it's a bad game or a good game that stays consistent but vocally as well in any sport here we all preach brotherhood so talk about some of those kind of key people that have helped you whether it's coaches or different teammates whether on varsity basketball or baseball that have just pushed you that you can remember really being there for you who's that mentor to you yeah for sure i'll coming in freshman year like i said basketball is the first kind of experience i had with that. I mean, for me, when I like, it was immediate, immediate brotherhood. I mean, I had Mason Mondora, Ethan Noack driving me to games and everything. I couldn't drive as a freshman.

I was lucky enough to play, play varsity. So I was around all the older guys. And so, yeah, I mean, like that was my first example. And then going into baseball season, I mean, I could list a ton of people for the baseball team, but you know, Ben Elliott, I was within the infield and he, he definitely showed me that, that those leadership qualities and abilities coming in.

I was around him all the time. And so that was someone who I looked up to and really tried to, you know, model how I lead after him. Like David Fairmouth, Ryan Pettis, David Shapiro. I'm probably missing a few as well, but they're all great.

And those are my kind of first experiences seeing the brotherhood of this school. And then one other shout out is Cooper Malakar as well, which I didn't play a sport with him, but like seeing him run the student sections, being every day in and day out at the school, academically, everything like that. That was someone else who I looked up to who I think did a great job of modeling that. Now, you also have real brothers at the school, obviously me and then Cade.

What has it been like to kind of lead as the oldest and kind of set the standard for what our name is here at the school? And have you ever wished you could kind of have your own path here or have you always appreciated? I mean, You know, we've obviously been on the same team, driven to school every day. Have you enjoyed that?

Or have you wished maybe sometimes that you've had some time just by yourself? I definitely enjoyed it I wouldn you know change anything about it I think yeah I always aware of the weight that our name carries in and out of the school, and so that comes with the decisions that we make. I mean, Cade coming up is going to have probably the same talk. Every decision you make matters, and so it's important to understand what you represent and definitely would not change a thing about it.

It's been a lot of fun. I wish Cade was a year older or I was a year younger, and we could all be at the high school together. But, no, it's been great. One of the also cool things you are as McKinley House Prefect, which obviously is being part of the best house.

What does it feel like to hold that mental of prefect and really make sure that our house can be the best it could always possibly be? Yeah, first of all, McKinley is the best house, obviously. And, no, I mean, it's been – that was definitely also, like I said, coming in freshman year, that was a goal that I had is to be prefect. not like trying to do everything I can throughout the years just solely to be a prefect just because I want to hold that position because I see how much value there is in it. For me, like the incoming freshman class this year, I was able to get to know every single one of their names and get to know them personally before the school year even started.

And that was really important for me. I feel like I've been able to lead in that way. And like every day in the school halls, I say hi whenever I pass them. Stuff like that.

I think that's very important. just day in and day out, like I say, consistency with it. And I know that that hello in the hallway makes a big impact on their day just as much as it did when I was a freshman hearing from a prefect. We've talked a lot about how U.S. is special because there's kids that may not have the same standards that you hold yourself to in athletics, but they do the same in academics. So have you been able to kind of be around people that have the similar type of standards but in different areas and be able to relate with them.

Yeah, I think that that's helped me out so much as a person, seeing all the different interests. And you come in and you're a freshman and you don't really know how to speak to them because they have completely different interests than you do. But I've learned a ton to see how our grades kind of mesh together. And everyone, no matter what your interests are or what group you're in, everyone kind of comes together and gets along.

I think that's so special. And we talk about university school and the brotherhood, that's really when I say there's no other place like where that happens that I've seen. And so that's very important for me. It's helped me grow a ton.

It's also expanded my own interests. I didn't know if I was going to do an independent project coming in. I ended up doing a Strnad project that I became passionate about. Probably it'll help me academically in college as I pursue that.

So I think just hearing all the different sides to all the different academic interests, speech and debate, sports interests, drama, theater, it's just been really cool to see and also meet so many different kinds of minds. Another thing that you're involved with is focus. So what drew you to that and what does faith mean to you personally here, especially as you lead focus throughout this year? Yeah, definitely.

I started to focus immediately when I came in as a freshman, joined the club. Duke, Brennan, and Finn Hanna were the leaders my first two years. And then I was able to co-lead it with Mikey Malone, Al Congdon, and then this year with Kingston and Tyler Robinson. And that's meant a ton to me.

It's been kind of a foundational piece in my journey here at U.S. And it means a ton for me to be able to lead it the past two years. Michael Skizenta and Mr. Richmond they've done they've just been huge mentors for me I think it definitely grows it helps me in my own faith faith is obviously a huge part of what I do and he's part of me and I think that the group that we have in focus is so special to me because the group that you see in focus is the same group that you see you know leading the student sections and playing in the big games in the school play, speech and debate.

Like I said, I think the group is so prevalent throughout the school, and it's so cool to see them all come. We all come together every two weeks on Thursday and talk about the Lord. And we've covered, I feel like, so many different topics, so many different subjects. And it's cool for me to see how we can grow other people's faith who maybe have never heard about the Lord before or how we can impact other people's lives in a positive way through that.

So that's been an awesome experience for me. I'm glad I was able to do that. Now we've started this kind of cool tradition before baseball games where we'll run out to the fence and you'll stretch, I'll tie my shoes. But then we both say our prayers.

I've never asked, like, what do you say in your prayers? What are you thinking? I mean, that's a thing we've done before every game. Just like I said, when he says dealing with the pressure, It's a little reset, but it's also just like connect with the Lord a little bit.

You know, pray that help me just relax my body as I'm playing, go out there, have fun and remind myself of why I'm doing it. It's for the team and for the brothers. So, yeah. Everybody experiences burnout at some point.

Obviously, you do a bunch of activities and that's the normal U.S. student. You try to do as much as you can get through it. but how do you kind of reset mentally and stay disciplined when you have so many sacrifices you have to make and so many things that probably aren't the hardest they're the easiest thing you could do all the time so how do you just make it through and what's that support system where they look like for you yeah i mean you know freshman year i want I definitely did not want to go home and do Honors Math 3 homework at 11 p.m. but it's like you you i learned quickly how to use the support system people will talk about all the time it's like and i didn't really know how to like how I handle all that and so quickly being able to you know reach out the teachers set up meetings all that it it's so much easier life is so much easier when you when you use the support system that we have here the teachers you know I mean that was the biggest difference the teachers here like we truly care and they they will go out of their way to do whatever you need to be successful So that was the base thing is learning how to use my support system Looking back, how do you think you've changed since freshman year? What would a freshman deacon think of you now? Would he be proud of you?

Yeah, I mean, I came in afraid to speak in front of a class of like 20 people. I mean, now I feel like I can speak in front of the school, no big issue. and I think that comes from, I mean it didn't happen overnight but it was just a consistency working on just confidence of who I am, kind of understanding who I am and what my strengths are, what I like to do, what I'm passionate about. And then, yeah, like I said, just being confident in myself and I think that's definitely increased in my time here and it's also, it shows the comfortability I have with this place and how everyone here does make you feel welcome. When you stand in front of the entire school, they're all rooting for you.

So that's been really cool. Freshman to now, just seeing that kind of growth from a vocal standpoint has been big. And then the connections, I feel like I've definitely done the best I possibly can to connect with everyone I can in the school from freshman year to now. And I think that's been big. teachers and students and alumni and everything like that.

One of the coolest things I saw in the past day was this new Instagram account called Last2US, which is documenting the last two weeks of your guys' senior year here at university school. As the last senior podcast we'll have this year, what will you miss the most about this school, looking back at your four years and what you've done here? Yeah, I mean, this school is so special. I'll definitely be coming back when I can.

Yeah, and it's kind of surreal that it's gotten to this point where we only have two weeks left, and I think it's starting to set in for some of the seniors. I think that account is cool just to kind of show, you know, the last two weeks and what we're doing because, I mean, ultimately the last two weeks brings everyone together because we're all in the same situation. This is our last two weeks before we go off to wherever. I mean, I may not see some of these people again.

So it's definitely a sad feeling, but it's an exciting feeling and a happy feeling because of, I mean, not just myself, seeing myself grow when you ask that question of freshman and senior year, but seeing everyone else grow. Our class, I think, has had a huge impact. Our word for our class was passion this year, and I think most definitely we showed passion throughout the year. I feel like we kind of revived the student life and brought that up, and I think that was huge for our class, and I'm very happy and humbled to be a part of our class.

Cade and I will be here so you better come back. So obviously you've got a lot to look forward to at Auburn. That'll be awesome. But there's also continues to be a lot of pressure that comes with that.

So what are you most excited for? And then maybe what scares you about moving away and doing that? I'm excited to get down south for some warm weather, to be honest. The winters won't be really too harsh.

But, no, I'm just excited. I mean, everything about Auburn seems – is positive and happy, and I'm just excited to be a part of an SEC environment and playing in the SEC environment. But, yeah, no, I think that's mainly what I'm excited about. Obviously, one of the things that we love to talk about here is legacy.

What is that legacy you want to leave? Is it a state ship, hopefully, at the end of this year? Is it putting your name up there in the banners? Is this one of the best baseball players here?

Is it your individual research? What do you think in 10 years from now, someone's talking about Deacon Nelson, what do you want to hear your name connected with? Yeah, I mean, obviously I have a few different roles here. I've done a few different things.

But I think the main thing throughout all that is the humble, I'd say humble leadership. I feel like that's what I want to be known for because, you know, it doesn't really matter where I am. Like I said, it could be in the classroom working on a Strnad project. It could be at a focus meeting or a one-love meeting.

It could be on the field as captain for baseball. But I'd say humble leadership because I feel like anyone should feel comfortable coming up to me with any concerns, with any needs they may have. And I think that's what I want to always have as a case. I think people, obviously, they'll think the baseball player going to Auburn, but I want them to know who that person is and what he did.

All right, Deacon, last question. And this is the one that we always end with. You've lived a high school career that's obviously anything but ordinary. As you came to university school as a student athlete who already had options, then committed to a Power 5 program as a freshman, and then transferred to a leading SEC school in baseball.

You lead Focus and build a faith community inside high school. elite mckinley house with the best house to make sure that our students just keep on getting out there at the deepest level beyond baseball beyond all the titles the rings beyond any accomplishments what gets you out of bed in the morning tells you to just keep on keeping on um i mean there's no reason to not keep it on i have a great family i have a great support system i have so much ahead of me that that i'm excited about and there's no reason to stop now um i've gotten to this point and I feel like the potential for for much more is out there and and there's no there's no reason there's no time to really to really waste I'm in the middle of middle of everything the opportunity is now and I don't want to let that pass so every single day working towards a goal getting one percent better each day well Deacon it's been amazing having you on as our last senior episode of this year thank you so much for taking the time to share insights and experiences with us and to our listeners thank you so much for tuning in and we'll hope you'll Join us next Wednesday for another episode of the Late Start Show. Thank you, Deacon. Thank you.