By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Nolan Rueter has played volleyball at the high school, club and national levels.
Ever since he watched his older sister’s games as a kid, Nolan knew he wanted to play on the collegiate level one day.
Last week, his goal became a reality.
With his parents, coaches and friends present at Burlington High School, Rueter signed a national letter of intent to play college volleyball at Division 2 McKendree University.
The college is located in Lebanon, Ill., about a half hour east of St. Louis.
Nolan doesn’t just want to be another player on the Bearcats squad, either. He has aspirations of All-American status.
Considering his track record, anything is possible for the 6-foot-5 outside hitter.
Rueter helped lead the Demons to the Division 1 state championship game in 2012 as a junior, and he was named the all-conference and all-Racine County player of the year as a senior.
Rueter did just about everything for the Demons in 2013, switching to libero and not missing a beat after injuring his ankle.
The resilient Rueter came back and helped lead Burlington to the sectional final.
The Standard Press recently caught up with Rueter, the all-time kills leader in BHS history (17 years), to discuss his signing and his future.
SP: When did the school first contact you?
NR: They contacted me after my last match at nationals last year in early July.
SP: Why did you choose McKendree? Why is it your best option?
NR: I chose McKendree because of the academics, location of campus and the coaches. It was my best option because it has class sizes that are not large, so I can get a lot of one-on-one time with the teachers.
SP: What other schools did you consider?
NR: I also considered Grand Canyon University (Phoenix) and Erskine University (South Carolina).
SP: Why do you want to play college volleyball?
NR: Ever since I was younger, I made playing college volleyball my goal. I grew up around the game, and I want to play as long as I can.
SP: When did you first start playing volleyball? Why did you stick with it?
NR: I grew up playing volleyball, so I don’t know when I started. I stuck with it because it was something easy me and my little sister could play in between my older sister’s matches.
SP: What was your reaction when Tim Gesteland stepped down as coach? What did you learn from him and the rest of the Burlington coaches?
NR: I’m happy for him. He had a solid coaching career, and I’m happy that I was able to have him for all four years. One of the things that will always stick with me from Gesteland and Stacy (Stoughton) is that you cannot be perfect and you have to move on from your mistakes.
SP: What is your favorite thing about volleyball?
NR: My favorite thing about volleyball really has little to do with the game itself. Throughout my high school and club career, I have made so many friends that will last way longer than me playing. But getting a huge kill isn’t a bad feeling, either.
SP: What will you remember the most about your time at BHS? What will you miss?
NR: I will always remember the feeling of walking out of the locker room for our first game at state my junior year. There was so much going on that it was hard to focus on just one thing. The thing that I will miss the most about playing for Burlington will be playing the home games. It feels so bizarre that I will never be playing on that court again with my guys for Gesteland and Stacy.
SP: What are your goals at McKendree on and off the court? What do you plan on majoring in?
NR: My main goal for McKendree is to go in and fight for a starting spot my freshman year. I’m also setting a goal to get onto the All-American team. I plan on majoring in athletic training at McKendree and then attending Washington University in St. Louis to get my physical therapy degree.
The Nolan Rueter Report
Volleyball is: and forever will be a part of my life, whether it’s court or sand.
I chose McKendree because: everyone was so nice, and they have great academic programs.
Favorite movie: “Hunger Games”
Favorite song: “Up All Night,” Drake
Food ritual: I don’t really have one, but I usually eat some sort of fruit snacks between games.
If you could have dinner with one person dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I would go to dinner with Casey Patterson because he is an extremely good pro beach player, and he seems like he’d be a cool guy to talk to.
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