LOFTIS

Three years ago Nathan Loftis was just your average Reedley High Freshman, but on September 27th of this year, as Loftis found himself sprinting through a crowd of cheering fans, the RHS Senior would be described as anything but average.
On Wednesday September 27th at first break, one might have noticed something unusual going on on the north end of the Reedley High campus. It was at this time that Loftis was scheduled to complete a tradition that he had begun as a freshman. The tradition: to run from the planter next to the Business building to the wall of the weight room and back.
“This is a strong tradition that my friends and I have built up over the years,” said Loftis.
And on September 27th that tradition reached an unprecedented peak of recognition and anticipation. The event which began with a group of freshmen daring their friend to perform a seemingly insignificant act of embarrassment (which went almost unnoticed), emerged three years later as a mecca of break-time excitement. Drawing more spectators than any waterpolo and tennis match combined, one might ask: why? Why did hordes of students crowd in tunnel-like fashion around the path on which Loftis would run. Why was it that a steady chant of “Nathan... Nathan... Nathan...” emerged from the crowd as he took his position at the starting line. And why did such a seemingly pointless thing cause such reverence from so much of the student body. Undoubtedly the answer eludes many of us.
“I think ten people noticed freshman year, now it’s like ten people didn’t notice,” said Loftis’ friend Tom Caron, who is largely responsible for the founding of this tradition.
According to Caron, the tradition started three years ago in 1997 when he and his friends were hanging out by the planter next to the Business building. Many of Loftis’ friends thought that he looked funny when he ran, so Caron offered Nathan a dollar to run all the way to the weight room and back. On the way Nathan would pass by numerous groups of people, thus suffering the embarrassment of people wondering what the heck he was doing. A few more friends donated money to the pot and the tradition began. Each year after that on Nathan’s birthday his friends would collect a pot of money and Nathan would perform the run. For the last three years the event has received little attention.
But some of Nathan’s friends thought that for his senior year the run should be hyped up a little more. Flyers were posted advertising the “4th Annual Nathan Sprint,” and on raceday T-shirts that read “Natronathon” were worn by many of his friends. Despite all the anticipation even Nathan Loftis himself said he was surprised at the large turnout. Even RHS Learning Director Jerry Stehman was there to support him.
So it was under these circumstances that Nathan stepped up to the starting line for the fourth time. Amidst chants of his name Nathan bolted from the starting line; with cameras flashing and people cheering Loftis sprinted through the human tunnel with his eyes set on the weight-room wall. At the wall Loftis performed his famous kick which he uses to turn himself around and propel himself back towards the finish line. Again he ran through the screaming crowd, grabbing a bottle of water on the way, and crossing the finish line in 39.47 seconds. Immediately afterwards when asked how he felt Loftis’ only response was, “Damn tired.” Loftis collected an amazing $32.56 in donations for his performance.
“I don’t do it for the money,” said Loftis, “I do it for the fans.”
When asked what he thought about the run, Mr. Stehman replied, “I think it’s a wonderful tradition and his sister should carry it on next year.” Thus bringing up the question as to whether or not the tradition will continue for the years to come.
“I don’t think it’s dead,” said Loftis, who also hopes to convince his sister, Cori Loftis, to do the run next year and continue the tradition.
If Cori refuses to run Nathan may decide to recruit an ambitious young freshman who is worthy enough to fill his shoes.
“I think if there’s any freshmen out there who think they have any guts at all, then they should run,” said Caron.
But then again could anyone else really carry the tradition with the same kind of modest dignity that Nathan did. And if someone tries will anybody really care. When people see someone running on campus, won’t they think he’s weird, or won’t they ask, “Why?”
It took Nathan three years to build his tradition and on the fourth year he struck gold. But perhaps this event is not about crowds watching and cameras flashing, perhaps it is more about the three years of people staring and no one caring. So if Nathan finds a successor, that person must run. And that person may have to wait for his golden year. But no matter what happens he must run, because the tradition does not know how many people are watching. People will ask him, “Why?” And the answer will be, “Tradition.”