Nathaniel Gust | Graduated Senior | Millard North High School
Story by Holly McAtee.
Millard North High School graduated senior Nathaniel Gust credits his success with working hard toward one goal for a long period of time. “When you work hard and you actually achieve your goal, it just hits harder,” Gust said.
Gust began bowling in a bumper league when he was 3 years old. His father, Del, was a lifetime bowler and sparked his interest in bowling. Gust’s tournaments began in elementary school. In middle school, he was competing against bowlers across the state. His journey took him twice to Junior Gold, a national bowling tournament, in Indianapolis.
As a three-year captain for both the Millard North Varsity and Unified teams, Gust qualified for the individual state tournament three times and helped guide several teammates to state as well. The Unified team also advanced to state in fall 2024, finishing as runner-up. “I’ve had a blast getting to know new people, not just through our team, but through competing against other teams as well,” Gust said.
He’s made great friendships through bowling over the years. When he was in middle school bowling, his team was made up of kids from the entire Millard district and other schools in the Omaha metro area. Now that they are all in high school, he enjoys being able to compete against other bowlers who were once his teammates in middle school.
Although the tournaments are full of tense competition, there’s also a lot of fun. Gust recalls a funny moment during a tournament when his teammate had eaten too much junk food the night before a tournament, and the next day, the boy couldn’t get his thumb in the hole of his bowling ball. Someone told them that a potato could bring down the swelling, so his coach ran to the store to get a bag of potatoes. His teammate stuck his thumb in the potato for about an hour, and successfully reduced the swelling enough to compete.
Outside of bowling, Gust stays busy with many other activities. He’s in the Boy Scouts (recently becoming an Eagle Scout), band, theater, and show choir. “In show choir, we have a saying where ‘yesterday’s 10 is today’s 8.’ We use this to try to keep ourselves motivated, and instead of focusing on just beating one other person or focusing on the score too much, we focus on being a better person today than you were yesterday,” Gust said. He brings that same motivation from show choir to his sport.
It’s this strong work ethic that impresses Head Varsity Coach, Tricia Rohde, and makes him a pleasure to coach. “Nathaniel is receptive to feedback and actively listens to those who offer guidance,” Rohde said. “He is always looking for ways to refine his skills. He understands that improvement takes time, dedication, and consistent effort—and he’s more than willing to invest all three on the lanes.”
“With the Unified team, he’s very kind and supportive and encouraging to all athletes,” said Torri R. Merten, Head Coach of Unified Bowling and Assistant Varsity Coach. “As an athlete, he always has a question about his sport and is always thinking about how he can elevate his game.”
“Nathaniel is an exceptionally talented bowler with a strong ability to read lane conditions and make precise adjustments,” Rohde added. “He understands his own game, but also has a keen eye for analyzing others, offering thoughtful guidance to help his teammates improve. He consistently arrives at practices and competitions with a positive attitude and a strong willingness to contribute. Nathaniel is always ready to support his teammates, offering help and encouragement whenever it’s needed.”
Gust will attend Briar Cliff University in the fall to continue his bowling career. He plans to double major in math and business administration to become an actuary, hoping to work and live in Omaha after college.
While he’s faced challenges in his life, Gust keeps a steady outlook on the future no matter the challenges to come. “I prefer to see them as stepping-stones that don’t hold me back, but propel me forward,” he said. “They help me get better by making me work harder to achieve a goal.”
