Thiel College Athletics

William Wise came to Thiel as a baseball player, but went out for the cross country team to get in shape for baseball season. His ability in cross country was recognized and he was encouraged to run track instead of play baseball. In the spring of 1961, he won the PAC two mile championship in track and set a then-PAC record of 10:05. He was named All-PAC for this feat.

In the fall of 1961, he returned to the cross country team and helped lead them to an undefeated season. In the conference championship meet, he placed first and set a then-conference record for a four mile course in 21:56. He was again named All-PAC. During the 1962 season, he finished first in the two mile, lowering his record to 9:49.5 and again earning All-PAC honors.

The 1962 cross country season saw Wise place fourth in the championship meet and again earn All-PAC honors. The season ended with Wise finished second in the conference in the two mile.

He went through the 1963 season undefeated and won the PAC cross country meet with a personal best time of 20:48.5. At the NCAA cross country championship, he ran a 20:42, placed 13^th and was named an NCAA All-American.

During the 1964 track & field season, he ran another personal best of 9:20 for the two mile event, which qualified him for the NCAA championship. He began his quest for the Olympic trials with the PAC two mile crown and All-PAC honors. Wise placed third in the NCAA championship meet with a 14:30 three mile, which earned him NCAA All-American honors.