by By Dan Ninham
Tegan Medicine Bull introduced himself: “My Indian name is rising sun.”
Tegan received All State honors in two years of high school and has a personal best 4:40 mile time. He is a senior at Hardin HS in Montana.
Tegan signed his letter of intent to attend MSU-Billings for cross country and track.
“Tribal values taught me to respect my teachers and coaches and not to fear other athletes and players, for they are all men as well,” said Tegan.
“My positive influences are my dad Tory Medicine Bull, my uncle Heath Medicine Bull and my brother Tameron Medicine Bull.
“They taught me that we only have one life that the creator (Mahe’o’) gives us,” said Tegan. “He gave us talents to use to the best of our abilities and we should honor him by using them.”
“We have always encouraged Tegan to take the lead,” said dad Tory Medicine Bull. “One thing we encouraged him to do was encourage his teammates off-season and during the season. During the off-season is when he worked hard. That is when his season actually began.”
“Tegan has always been one to say ‘I can do this. Then showed us that he could. We always told Tegan you can be an influencer or you will be influenced. It all depends on you. We encouraged him to be positive and to always pick up his teammates no matter the situation,” added Tory.
“He is a very dedicated young man,” said Uncle Heath Medicine Bull. “If he’s told about a flaw, he works hard to correct said flaw. He is a cheerful being, guaranteed to make you laugh or at the very least smile. He puts his heart into the things he is passionate about, like basketball and running. He loves his family dearly and wants to make us all proud of him.”
“One thing I love about Tegan, he’s a great dancer. He dances like nobody is looking even when the whole community is watching. I love that kid with all my heart. I have nothing but high hopes for him because I know he has a bright future in front of him and he has a wonderful family behind him.”
“Words of wisdom would be don’t hold yourself back,” said Tegan. “Give it your all because as soon as the race is over you can’t get it back, don’t wait for someone to tell you what you’re already supposed to be doing, and run like it’s the last time you will.”
“I overcame the adversity of Covid-19 because in last summer it looked like I wasn’t going to be able to run cross country or play basketball because the school I had transferred from, St. Labre Indian School, cancelled their season during my summer training and I had to find a different route.”
“I ended up leaving and coming to Hardin HS and at first the MHSA had told me that I could not compete in varsity sports. I had to appear in front of the council and I told them what running meant to me. I think they felt what I was going through and that running really meant the world to me and there would be nothing better than to compete my senior year,” added Tegan.
“Just know that there are options out there and running will take you places that you wouldn’t even imagine,” said Tegan.
Photo Credit: Verna Medicine Bull
