California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Bradley Rager was a track and field standout for the Vulcans from 2004-2008.

He won a school-record 14 PSAC championships, which included four consecutive 400-meter indoor titles and three consecutive outdoor titles in both the 200- and 400-meter runs.

All told, Rager won eight outdoor and six indoor conference championships. He was also a two-time All-American as part of Cal U’s 4 x 400 relay team, which topped the conference both indoors and outdoors in 2008.

Winner of the PSAC Freshman of the Year Award for both the indoor and outdoor seasons, Rager was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2005 and 2008 indoor and outdoor PSAC championship meets.

While Rager believed he would perform effectively at the collegiate level, he was surprised by his instant and consistent success.

“I did not expect any of the success I had my freshman year or every year after that,” he said. “After the first year I figured I would win a couple more times and maintain my competitiveness. But I definitely did not believe I would be fortunate enough to accomplish what I did.”

Cal U’s 2008 4 x 400 relay team — which consisted of Rager, Frank Ehrensberger, Timmie Patrick and C.J. Baker — still holds both the PSAC outdoor championship meet and school records, with a time of 3:12.11.

In addition, Rager holds outdoor school records in the 200-meter run with his 2006 time of 21.24 seconds and as the final leg of the 4 x 100-meter relay team (41.01) in 2008.

The 2008 indoor 4 x 400 relay team’s 3:16.63 mark also remains a school record five years later.

Rager previously owned indoor school records in 200- and 400-meter events, as well as the outdoor 400-meter event.

A dedicated student, Rager was a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-American. With his help, the 2008 team ranked 13th academically among all NCAA Division II programs.

Rager was named to the Cal U Athletic Director’s Honor Roll each semester and was a four-time PSAC Scholar Athlete. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in May 2008.

He is the seventh men’s track and field standout to be inducted into Cal U’s Athletic Hall of Fame and the first inductee under current Vulcan head coach Roger Kingdom.

Rager attended several previous Cal U Hall of Fame banquets as a student-athlete and is proud to be receiving this prestigious honor.

“I was really excited when Roger contacted me about this,” he said. “I do not want to come off the wrong way but I thought this would happen someday but I am very surprised because I did not expect it so soon though.

“I know how much of an honor it is because I saw what a big deal this was when I was a student.  It’s a great honor and I am grateful to receive this on my first year of eligibility.”

Rager’s respect and admiration for Kingdom, a two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist, was evident.

“He’s been one of the biggest influences in my life since I met him back in 2004,” Rager said about his college coach. “Obviously athletically he was a huge influence but he also mentored me a lot off the track.  I give him a lot of credit even up to now with my professional development.”

Kingdom described Rager as focused, humbled and goal oriented.

“As soon as he arrived on our campus, even on his recruiting trip, you knew this young man was going to be successful,” Kingdom said.  “He had a plan and a purpose and all I had to do was show him the way and then get out of his way. He took my direction and ran with it.”

Rager also praised Dr. Matthew Price, assistant professor in Cal U’s Department of Chemistry and Physics.

“He ran track when he went to school so he related to me and being my chemistry teacher he understood what I had to go through with balancing academics and athletics,” Rager said. “He helped mentor me with any situation that came up and kind of guided me in the right direction.”

Originally from Bristol, Pa., Rager was a four-year competitor in track and field and football at Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown.

He earned all-state honors in his senior year of high school by placing fifth in the 200-meters at the PIAA Class AAA championship meet. On the football field he was a four-year wide receiver for the Tigers, and he played in the county all-star game at the end of his senior season.

After graduating from Cal U, Rager spent two years working as a chemist for the U.S. Steel Corp. in Pittsburgh. He then joined the Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 2011. He is also a graduate of the prestigious U.S. Army Ranger School.

Earlier this spring, Rager was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. For the past year he has served a platoon leader in Vilseck, Germany, where he oversees 30 soldiers who have completed tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Rager credits his Cal U experience for helping him meet the serious challenges he now encounters.

“Balancing track and academics at such a high level was complicated at times,” Rager recalled. “Coming to the military and having to be on a strict schedule, learning soldier skills coupled with balancing your personal life, was something I was used to already. So there’s no question my experience at Cal absolutely helped.”

Though he left his job as a chemist to defend his country, chemistry remains a passion for Rager since his senior year in high school.  It is also a vocation he learned at Cal U and may return to in the future.

“I learned a lot at Cal, received a good education there and recommend it to people still today,” he said. “I loved being a chemist and it is an option that is always there for me.”

updated 10/10/13