The Official Site of the Houghton University Highlanders

While Joe Campagna grew up playing soccer, our next honoree's first love was baseball. It wasn't until middle school that Pat Weaver found himself on the track team, but that was only because his small school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania needed more bodies to field a full team.
 
Although recruited to Houghton because of his times in the 100 and 200 meters, Pat impressed Coach Smalley with his ability to quickly recover after repeat workouts during Pat's freshman track season. Pat soon found himself running the 800 that first season, but his coach convinced him to go longer and give cross country a try that next fall.
 
Though that first cross country season was difficult physically, Pat enjoyed being a part of the team and appreciated the challenge. Pat says it took about a year for him to "find the joy" in running. "I never would have learned to enjoy running if it wasn't for the team I was a part of at Houghton," Pat says.
 
Pat became a key part of Houghton's developing men's cross country program and his rapid development in long distance brought numerous honors. He became Houghton's second-ever NAIA All-American with his 18^th place finish at the 2000 NAIA National Championship meet. His finish is now the second-best national championship finish in Houghton history.
 
He joined fellow Hall of Honor inductee Joe Campagna on the record-setting 4x800 and DMR relay teams, set his own individual record on the track in the indoor 600 meters and was a member of the record-setting 4x1600 relay. He was the team athlete of the year in 2000.
 
Pat says he cherishes his memories as a Houghton athlete. He points to the team's performance at the NAIA regional race and beating a top 15 Cedarville team as a highlight. The finish gave the team a top 25 ranking and qualified them for the national meet. He also recalls being the only male athlete to qualify for the 2000 national championship, but the support of teammates Geoff Thurber and Paul Inge in the workouts leading up to the event helped spur Pat to his top-20 finish.
 
Running has been a form of relaxation for Pat, even after his days as a competitive athlete. He says it has helped him keep going even when things are difficult. Those lessons helped Pat pursue a master's degree in school counseling from George Mason in 2011, a goal he achieved in 2014.
 
Pat's time after Houghton has not been without adventure. He lived and taught English in the Dominican Republic for two years, taught English in the Kurdish region of Iraq for six months, worked at a boarding school for boys with emotional and behavioral disabilities in Virginia, and has worked in a mental health facility in Lancaster.
 
Since earning his master's, Pat has worked as a school counselor at Patriot High School in Virginia. He and his wife, Faye, live in Leesburg, Virginia with their daughter Ella. Back issues have limited his running these days, but he does enjoy participating in adult league soccer, biking, staying active in his local church and reconnecting with Houghton friends when he is able.