UWM Men’s Track Star Dexter Schleis has National Ambitions

Before he starts school on a given day, rising track star Dexter Schleis, goes to Starbucks. Then there’s homework. More studying. He goes home for an hour or two, eats lunch, heads to class, works, and then it’s time to work out. Through it all, he’s planning how he’s going to take his track success to higher levels.

Welcome to a typical day inside the life of Schleis, former UWM Men’s Track athlete. Schleis will be graduating UWM this spring with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice; he then aspires to be a police officer. However, that’s not the only thing he aspires to do in the near future. Even though he has completed his four years of NCAA eligibility, Dexter wishes to go even further with his track career.

“I want to qualify for the U.S. Championships in the 400 meter hurdles,” he said.

Schleis has been running track for quite some time, and as it turns out he has a knack for it. Before college, he posted the top third time at the 2010 WIAA high school state meet as a senior in the 110 meter hurdles, and, ever since, he has gone nowhere but up in achievements.

When asked why he chose track, he answered without hesitation, “My brother did it, my brother ran, and I wanted to follow his footsteps, so I ran and did the same events as him.” He also enjoys the people that are in and around the sport.

Schleis holds the second-fastest time in UWM history of 51.68 seconds in his specialty race, the 400 meter hurdles. This also happened to be a mere second away from the qualifying time for the 2013 U.S. Championships. Not to mention, he is a three time West Regional qualifier in the event. He now wants to push himself to the next level, and many believe he is capable of doing so.

“I think he’s freakishly capable…to make the strides that he did last year after already being such a high-caliber athlete, I think the sky is the limit for him,” former teammate of Schleis and best friend Jordan Schmidt says.

Not only did Schleis achieve a lot when he was on the team, he also motivated and inspired his teammates. According to Schmidt, being able to train with Schleis makes him work harder and push himself to his limits. He is also thinking about going to the next level after his college career is complete.

UWM’s sprint/hurdle coach Eric Kramer also observed the hard work and dedication Schleis has for the sport.  “He’s really passionate about doing well; he doesn’t want to fall back at all,” says Kramer.

He also thinks Schleis’ goal to make it to the U.S. Championships is within reach.  Kramer even believes he could go further and has the potential to make it to a final qualifying round.

Nonetheless, Schleis doesn’t need people to tell him his goal is at his fingertips. When asked if he believes his goal is on hand, he answered confidently, “Easily, I just have to have more motivation to get out and workout, but it’s defiantly doable,” and if all goes well, you may be able to find Schleis in California training to compete at a professional level.