Notre Dame alum jumps for college future

One year ago, Cole Bruenderman signed his letter of intent to join the Lindenwood track and field team.

Now, he’s competing for his future at another school.

It wasn’t by choice. Before Bruenderman could even begin his first indoor track season with the Lions, the Lindenwood brass announced the decision to cut 10 sports teams, including men’s track & field as part of a larger effort to “rebalance” its staffing investments.

“It’s been kind of chaotic,” Bruenderman said. “Finding a new school has been a little tough. I have some schools in mind but just redoing all the college process with recruiting and all that kinda takes a little toll on my body. But other than that, I feel really good about competing.”

With every meet, Bruenderman strives to jump for new lengths in the long and triple jump to entice his potential next program. With every event, he strives to prove he is still worthy of the Division I level.

Lindenwood freshman Cole Bruenderman competes in the long jump during the Joey Haines Invite on Saturday, March 30, in Cape Girardeau.Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

“There are some schools that have contacted me that say I need to hit these marks and everything,” Bruenderman said. “I’m kind of going against people and against myself and just trying to hit these marks so these colleges will look at me more.”

Bruenderman competed at the Joey Haines Invite at Southeast Missouri State and placed fourth in both the long jump (6.85m) and triple jump (14.12m). Since Lindenwood doesn’t have a home meet, the SEMO track complex served as a homecoming for the Notre Dame alum.

“Coming in on the bus ride up, I was looking at my old hometown,” Bruenderman said. “I just felt like I was comfortable, like I’ve been here before, so I felt at home jumping here.”

Bruenderman got to jump against his older brother St. Louis junior Evan Bruenderman during the Illini Challenge on January 27. The brothers used to be high school teammates at Notre Dame, and each has left a lasting impact on the track program. Cole holds the school long jump record (22'0.25") while Evan has the triple jump record (45’9.5”).

“Jumping with my brother is always fun,” Bruenderman said. “It just reminds me of the times we were in high school.”

Bruenderman said when he first signed his NLI that competing at the highest level of college athletics was a major goal of his. This season, he has competed in track meets at Purdue, Illinois, Vanderbilt, Murray State, and SEMO to name a few.

“I get to work out with other high-class athletes so it just pushes me every day to get stronger,” Bruenderman said, “do 110 percent in everything I do in the classroom and athletically too.”

Lindenwood’s final appearance at the Ohio Valley Conference championships will take place on Thursday, May 9, through Saturday, May 11, at the campus of Eastern Illinois. Whether Bruenderman remains in the OVC remains to be seen but to go out a conference champion is still a goal he finds attainable.

“That’s still in the back of my head,” Bruenderman said. “ Just got to keep pushing myself.”