Jackson Bertoli — a Terre Haute South graduate, 2013 IHSAA boys cross country state champion and 2014 McMillan Award winner for males — has been enjoying his recent time with the National League’s New York Mets as the manager of sports science.
But what is that exactly?
kAmQpE E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J[ :EVD C62==J ;FDE E2<:?8 E96 D4:6?E:7:4 AC:?4:A=6D 2?5 2AA=J:?8 E92E E@ DA@CED[Q q6CE@=: D2:5]k^Am
kAmQt7764E:G6=J[ 6G6CJE9:?8 2C@F?5 AC6A2C2E:@? @7 EC2:?:?8[ E96 C64@G6CJ[ A6C7@C>2?46 2DA64ED[ F?56CDE2?5:?8[ 9@H 5@ H6 FD6 52E2[ 9@H 5@ H6 FD6 E649?@=@8J[ 9@H 5@ H6 <:?5 @7 EC2?D=2E6 >2J36[ H92E E96 =2E6DE =:E6C2EFC6 😀 D2J:?8 2C@F?5 ?FEC:E:@? @C DEC6?8E9 EC2:?:?8 @C[ J@F @H[ >65:42= AC24E:46[ 2?5 9@H 5@ H6 E2<6 E92E 2?5 E96? 2AA=J E92E E@ @FC 2E9=6E6D 😕 D@CE @7 2 52J E@ 52J D6EE:?8nQk^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 :EVD @?6 @7 E9@D6 ;@3D H96C6 96 86ED E@ =:G6 2E 2 4@@= :?E6CD64E:@? 2 =@E @7 5:776C6?E DA246D] xE :?G@=G6D 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> 5:6E:E:2?D 2?5 ?FEC:E:@?:DED[ DEC6?8E9 @C 2E9=6E:4 EC2:?:?8[ A9JD:42= E96C2AJ 2?5 6G6? E96:C 4@2496D]k^Am
kAmq6CE@=: D2:5 :EVD 23@FE F?56CDE2?5:?8 2== E96 5:776C6?E :?AFED 7C@> E9@D6 8C@FAD[ H96E96C :EVD E96 :?7@C>2E:@? E96JVC6 4@==64E:?8 5FC:?8 82>6D @C 5FC:?8 AC24E:46[ 2?5 9@H E96J EFC? E92E 2C@F?5 2?5 FD6 :E 😕 E96 A=2J6C 56G6=@A>6?E D6EE:?8] w6 D2:5 E96J H@C< H:E9 A=2J6CD 2865 `e\`f 😕 E96:C s@>:?:42? 24256>J 2== E96 H2J FA E@ E96 >2;@C\=628F6 =6G6=] (:E9 E92E[ E96J E2<6 E96 :?7@C>2E:@? E96J 86E 2?5 FD6 :E E@ >2<6 E96 36DE 564:D:@?D E96J 42? 7@C E96 A9JD:42= AC6A2C2E:@? 7@C E96:C 8FJD]k^Am
kAmw6 ?@E65 2?2=JE:4D 2C6 962G:=J :?G@=G65 H:E9 9:D C@=6 2D 96 D2:5 E92EVD H92E E96JVC6 9@A67F==J AC6A2C:?8 E96 8FJD 7@C]k^Am
kAmQxEVD ?@E ?646DD2C:=J E@ >2<6 E96 8FJD 92G6 E96 36DE A9JD:BF6 @C 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 E92E[Q q6CE@=: D2:5] QxE 2== <:?5 @7 4@>6D 5@H? E@ A6C7@C>2?46 @? E96 7:6=5 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J] $@ 567:?:E6=J 5@ 2 H9@=6 =@E @7 H@C< H:E9 @FC 2?2=JE:4D 4C6H]Qk^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E96 36EE6C E96J F?56CDE2?5 E96 82>6[ E96? E96J 42? 2=>@DE C6G6CD6 6?8:?66C E92E E@ F?56CDE2?5 9@H E96J 42? 36EE6C AC6A2C6 E96:C EC2:?:?8[ C64@G6CJ 2?5 <:?5 @7 H@C< 324 E96C6]k^Am
kAmQ$@[ @7E6?E:>6D[ :?DE625 @7 FD D2J:?8[ 96J H6 H2?E E9:D 8FJ E@ 5625 =:7E ) 2>@F?E >@C6[ &DF2==J[ E96 E9:?8 E92E H6VC6 ECJ:?8 E@ D@=G6 7@C[ C:89E :D[ 96J[ H6 H2?E E9:D 8FJ E@ DH:?8 E96 32E 72DE6C[ E@ 36 23=6 E@ E9C@H 9:D 72DE32== 2 E:4< @C EH@ 92C56C[ 36 23=6 E@ DAC:?E E92E >F49 72DE6C[ 3642FD6 H6 @H E92EVD 8@:?8 E@ EC2?D=2E6 E@ >@C6 DF446DD 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? 😕 E96 82>6[Q q6CE@=: D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E92EVD <:?5 @7 E96 7F? A2CE H:E9 ECJ:?8 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E@ EC2?D76C @7 2== E96 E9:?8D E96J 5@ 😕 E96 H6:89EC@@>[ E96 EC2:?:?8 C@@>[ H92E E96 A=2J6CD 2C6 5@:?8 😕 E96 4276E6C:2 H:E9 E96:C >62= A=2?D[ 2?5 9@H E92E 2== <:?5 @7 H@C2?46 H96? E96 =:89ED 4@>6 @? 2E E96 9:896DE =6G6=]k^Am
kAmQ$@[ 567:?:E6=J 2 =@E @7 :?G@=G6>6?ED H:E9 E96 2?2=JE:4D 4C6H 2?5 <:?5 @7 H@C< 92?5 😕 92?5 H:E9 E96> ECJ:?8 E@ 3=6?5 😕 2 =@E >@C6[ A6C7@C>2?46 =6?D[ H:E9 2 =@E @7 E96 52E2 E92E H6VC6 =@@<:?8 2E[Q q6CE@=: D2:5]k^Am
kAmpD 72C 2D @H:?8 H92E E96J ?665 E@ H@C< @? H:E9 E96 A=2J6CD[ q6CE@=: D2:5 E92E <:?5 @7 8@6D 92?5 😕 92?5 H:E9 2== E96 5:776C6?E DE277 >6>36CD E96J H@C< H:E9]k^Am
kAmQ$@ ;FDE 2D >F49 2D H6VC6 E2=<:?8 E@[ D2J[ 2 DEC6?8E9 2?5 4@?5:E:@?:?8 4@249[ H6VC6 2=D@ 8@:?8 E@ 36 E2=<:?8 E@ 2 A:E49:?8 4@249 @C 9:EE:?8 4@249[ @C 36?49 4@249 @C >2?286C ECJ:?8 E@ F?56CDE2?5 2== E96 5:776C6?E =6G6CD @7 E96 82>6[Q q6CE@=: D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6 DA64:7:42==J ?@E65 E96 A@D:E:@? A=2J6C D:56 2?5 H@C<:?8 H:E9 E96:C 82>6 E@ 36EE6C @AE:>:K6 E96:C AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am
kAmQ%96C6 >:89E 36 2 E:>6 H96C6 7@C @?6 A=2J6C[ :E >:89E >2<6 D6?D6 E@ ECJ E@ @AE:>:K6 E96>[ @C C62==J AFCDF6 >2<:?8 E96> 72DE6C @? E96 32D6 A2E9D 2?5 G6CDFD 2?@E96C A=2J6C[ H96C6 :7 H6 42? 86E E9:D 8FJVD 32E DA665 FA[ 2?5 C62==J EFC? E96> :?E@ 2 A@H6C 9:EE6C[ E92EVD 8@:?8 E@ 36 8C62E6C AC@5F4E:@? 7@C @FC E62>[ 2?5 <:?5 @7 E96 D46?2C:@ E92E H6 92G6 H:E9 H:E9 E96 C@DE6C[Q q6CE@=: D2:5]k^Am
kAmq6CE@=: D2:5 :EVD 2=H2JD <:?5 @7 2 32=2?46 @7 ECJ:?8 E@ 3=6?5 😕 E96 6IA6CE:D6 2?5 E96 4@249VD 6J6 7C@> E96 7:6=5[ E96 2?2=JE:4D[ 2?5 E96? ;FDE ECJ:?8 E@ 4@>6 FA H:E9 2 82>6 A=2? 2D 2 4@==64E:G6 E62> @7 H92E E96J E9:?< 😀 >2J36 E96 =@H6DE 92?8:?8 7CF:E 7@C 2? :?5:G:5F2= A=2J6C @C H92E DEF77 E96J H2?E E@ E24<=6 27E6C E92E] w6 D2:5 E96J =@@< 2E 9@H E96J 42? 2=:8? 2== @7 E96:C AC24E:46D 24C@DD 2== E96 5:776C6?E 5@>2:?D 2?5 E96 5:776C6?E 7246ED @7 E96:C EC2:?:?8 E@ <:?5 @7 36 2=:8?65 😕 E96 AFCDF:E @7 H92E6G6C E92E <:?5 @7 D:?8F=2C 8@2= :D]k^Am
kAmqFE H92E :?DA:C65 q6CE@=: E@ 5:G6 :?E@ E9:D <:?5 @7 42C66Cn w6 D2:5 @C:8:?2==J :E ;FDE DE2CE65 H:E9 2? :?E6C6DE 😕 E96 DEC6?8E9 2?5 4@?5:E:@?:?8 C62=>] qFE >@C6 D@[ :E 42>6 7C@> 9:D @H? 2E9=6E:4 42C66C[ DA64:7:42==J 😕 4@==686] k^Am
kAmQyFDE 4@>:?8 @77 @7 >J @H? 2E9=6E:4 42C66C[ x 9@?6DE=J DECF88=6 H:E9 :?;FC:6D[ 6DA64:2==J 😕 4@==686[ 2?5 D@ x 24EF2==J 925 2? :?E6C6DE 😕 E92E DA246[ <:?5 @7 >@C6 7C@> 2? :?;FCJ AC6G6?E:@? DE2?5A@:?E[Q q6CE@=: D2:5] Qx E9:?< @G6C E:>6 :E ;FDE <:?5 @7 42>6 324< E@ x >@DE=J ;FDE H2?E E@ 36 2 8@@5 4@249 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J]Qk^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 D@>6E:>6D :E =@@6?E[ E96 D6EE:?8 2?5 E96 324<8C@F?5 @7 E96 A6@A=6 :?G@=G65] w@H6G6C[ 96 D2:5 96 E9:?6D 324< E@] q6CE@=: D2:5 :7 96 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5D 9@H E@ EC2:? 2? 2E9=6E6[ 96 ?665D E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 ?FEC:E:@?[ E96 >65:42= D:56 @7 E96 6BF2E:@?[ H92E E96JVC6 5@:?8 😕 E96 H6:89EC@@> 2?5 @? E96 7:6=5] w6 6=23@C2E65 6IA=2:?:?8 9@H :EVD 366? 9:D 4FC:@D:EJ 😕 <:?5 @7 2 DA@CED\A6C7@C>2?46 H2J @7 9@H E96J 42? 86E E96 A=2J6CD E@ A6C7@C> 2E E96 36DE @7 E96:C 23:=:E:6D]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E96C6 H2D ?6G6C C62==J 2 >@>6?E H96C6 96 D6E @FE 2?5 D2:5 :EVD 6IA=:4:E=J H92E 96 H2?E65 E@ 5@]k^Am
kAmQxEVD >@C6 D@ ;FDE 366? <:?5 @7 DE2J:?8 4FC:@FD 2?5 36:?8 >@E:G2E65 E@ ECJ E@ 96=A E96 A=2J6CD @7 Vp=C:89E[ x ?665 E@ DE2CE E@ F?56CDE2?5:?8 9@H E@ :?E6CAC6E E9:D 52E2 2?5 <:?5 @7 3=6?5 2== E96D6 5:776C6?E DA246D E@ >2I:>:K6 A6C7@C>2?46 7@C 2 8:G6? 8FJ @? 2 8:G6? 52J[VQ q6CE@=: D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 H92E 96 6?;@JD >@DE 😀 E92E :EVD 2 =:EE=6 3:E 5:776C6?E 6G6CJ D:?8=6 52J 2?5 ?@E65 E96 DA@CED ADJ49@=@8J 4@>A@?6?E 2?5 4F=EFC2= 4@>A@?6?E] q6CE@=: 6>A92D:K65 E96 2DA64E @7 H@C<:?8 H:E9 A=2J6CD 7C@> 5:776C6?E 4@F?EC:6D 2?5 7C@> 96C6 😕 E96 &]$]k^Am
kAmQx E9:?< 7@C >6[ :EVD 6>3C24:?8 E96 4@>A=6I:EJ @7 DA@CE[Q q6CE@=: 6IA=2:?65] Q(6VC6 @3G:@FD=J 8@:?8 E@ 5@ @FC 36DE 677@CE E@ ECJ E@ D@=G6 E9:?8D 2?5 86E :E 5@H? E@ 2 D4:6?46]Qk^Am
kAmq6CE@=: 6>A92D:K65 9@H :EVD 8@:?8 E@ =@@< 2 3:E 5:776C6?E 6G6CJ 52J H:E9 5:776C6?E A6CDA64E:G6D E96J 86E E@ =62C? 7C@> H:E9 H92E E96 82>6 @7 32D632== 😀 2?5 9@H E96J 36EE6C AC6A2C6 7@C :E]k^Am
kAmQx E9:?< 7@C >6[ E92EVD AC@323=J E96 >@DE 7CFDEC2E:?8 @? D@>6 52JD[ 3FE 2=D@ 6I4:E:?8[Q q6CE@=: D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6 282:? >6?E:@?65 9@H :EVD 5:776C6?E 6G6CJ 52J[ 3FE E92E E96C6VD 2?@E96C =6G6C 7@C E96> E@ 8@ @FE 2?5 ECJ E@ D@=G6 2?5 ECJ E@ <66A :E 2== 32=2?465 2D 72C 2D H92E E92E =@@ E96 E:>6 E96J 6?E6C E96 4=F39@FD6 E@ E96 E:>6 E96J =62G6 2?5 9@H E96J 86E E96 >@DE @FE @7 E96> 2?5 <66A E96> @? EC24< 7@C H92E E96:C 56G6=@A>6?E 8@2=D 2C6]k^Am