A College Athletic Signing – “I Always Knew Something Bigger and Better Was Out There”- Justin Wainscott (Photos)

While this signing had the appearance of just another student athlete moving on to play at the next level, it became much more.

EP track coach Tom Green reached out and said there was a lot to know about Justin and just how remarkable it is that he made it to that day. Wainscott’s journey to his signing was filled with seemingly unending hardships, personal loss, and tragedy. For him, having the right people enter his life at the right time, his determination to make his father proud, and most importantly to him- an explosion of faith, turned his dreams into reality.

A principal struggled with tears while talking about the senior, a middle school English teacher considered adopting him, and a counselor, who suffered an unspeakable tragedy of her own, found the perfect example of perseverance and perspective that refused to be crushed by a multitude of challenges.

“For a while I was unsure on if I wanted to continue to compete (in track) until about halfway through my senior year,” said Wainscott. “I felt God was telling me to go further into my athletics. I decided to keep running knowing I would regret it if I didn’t.”

In a life filled with the unexpected, Wainscott’s signing followed the pattern as a last-minute intervention changed the course of his future.

Wainscott, who runs the 400m and is a member of 4x800m relay for the Panthers, thought his school choice was final over a month ago. “I decided to sign with Concordia University in Wisconsin but the night before my signing an assistant coach from Greenville University called me. I told him I was already committed to another school and he said, ‘no you’re not, you need to come for a visit.’ I drove down there and it felt like home and I felt God’s presence while being there. Greenville gave me a better financial deal than I had with Concordia and I loved Greenville because of the Christ filled environment there and the loving and joyful people that the community has.”

Greenville competes at the NCAA Division III level and is a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.

Justin shared that he moved to Prophetstown with his family when he was five. His parents were drug abusers, which led to the family losing their home. It forced them into a homeless lifestyle. By the time he was in 6th grade he eventually was living in a house with no utilities. Authorities were notified and Justin was sent to live with his older brother and sister-in-law.  

Eventually his parents divorced, his mother left the area and his father, determined to get his son back, went through rehab in hopes of regaining custody.

Angie Schroeder, a middle school English teacher at the PLT 6-12 campus, came to know Justin during his middle school years. “I met Justin in 6th grade and in getting to know him through class he started to open up about his background. In 7th grade he was still bouncing around and often didn’t know where he would stay one night to the next. He would often ask me near the end of the school day if he could go make a call to find out where he could stay that night.”

During those middle school years, a classmate, Nathan Hinton, stepped in to provide support.  “I grew up with him, but he didn’t really know what was going on with me,” said Wainscott. “He started to learn about my life, and I ended up spending ninety percent of my free time at his house. I actually had my own bed there.” He was a great friend and helped Justin through some very dark days.

Once his father got out of rehab, Justin returned to live with him. Things were still a bit unsettled as his dad struggled to get his life together. Near the end of his 8th grade year, his dad had a stroke and passed away.

He eventually was taken in again by his older brother, Chris. With the loss of his father, Justin said he started down the wrong track and fell into a rut that included using alcohol and marijuana.

Upon entering high school Wainscott joined the track team. EP coach Tom Green would become a part of his life. “He was on the track team his freshman year, but we couldn’t count on him. He would leave in the middle of a meet or not show up at all. I knew nothing about his background.”

During his sophomore year, the young man comes home one day and discovered his sister-in-law had taken her life.

Emotionally unable to stay at his brother’s house any longer due to the death, he moves again, hoping for stability by staying with extended family members.

Just as things seemed to be improving for Wainscott during his sophomore year, a tragic automobile accident took the lives of three PHS students, including one of his best friends, DJ Dorothy.

Green relayed that it was during the emotional turmoil that followed the accident he saw Wainscott take a huge step with his faith. “After the three students were killed in the vehicle accident, the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athlete) kids had already planned to have a Good Friday Service and decided to open it up to the community. Justin spoke at the service. He became a calming force for others and was a central point of stability. He told me he got his strength through God.”

In the following weeks Justin began sharing his story with other students. “I told him he was amazing,” said Green. “He could have gone a whole different direction with his life. His actions were a huge testament to his strength of character.”

He joined the Panther cross country team that fall and continued his relationship with coaches Tom and Liz Green. “I went out for cross country my junior year and that helped me a lot. I surrounded myself with a better friend group and different people that brought me closer to Christ. They really encouraged me to keep going and pushing forward.”

Green continued to see great changes in the young man. “When he joined the cross country team, I had some stern talks with him about our expectations, and he started to open up about his life. He was a different kid at that point. We found out his story and came to understand his past behavior.”

Wainscott was not one to ask for help but instead became one of the biggest givers on the PLT Campus. Principal Janet Barnhart watched as the young man looked for more ways to help others. “In the spring of 2025 a few staff members and students decided to start a Bible study on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 a.m. at the school,” she said. “The group decided to keep it going this school year. However, it was hard for the middle school students to attend. Justin, who as a senior can leave campus after seventh hour, volunteered to start another Bible study during study hall period (8th hour) near the end of the school day.”

Barnhart approved the plan and Justin jumped right in. Quickly, over fifty permission slips were returned to the school for kids wanting to participate. Justin led and organized the group from finding an open space in the school to coordinating guest speakers. “He checks in, touching base to make sure all is good each week,” said Barnhart. Around forty students, primarily middle schoolers, gather up to three times each week. He also began to develop leaders within the group, mentoring them so they can continue meeting next school year.

“Starting the Bible study and how the middle school kids look up to him is another example of his personality of not sitting back and being a victim of things life throws at you, but making his own destiny,” added the principal. “He is one of those kids that you will never forget. It’s a story that gives other people courage to keep going. We often see the victim mentality, and he could have fallen into that trap, but he doesn’t, he believes he has the power to decide what his outcomes are.”

In support of the young man, the Greens contributed dozens of Bibles to the group. Additionally, other staff members have stepped up to help Wainscott when they can, including Schroeder. “He is awesome. He is a teaching assistant in one of my classes through the Service Learning class we offer to high school students. The middle school kids just adore him.”

With his senior year upon him, Wainscott had to decide about his future. He cited Brittney Ramos as a person who helped him through the confusing road of the application process for higher education. “Mrs. Ramos helped me a ton and helped guide me to learning the college admission system and where I wanted to go.” They met in Wainscott’s junior year and connected again in the fall of senior year as she was filling in for a counselor on maternity leave.

He wasn’t planning on going away to school and just staying local until Ramos explored other possibilities with him. “My senior year we began to talk more about my personal situation, and she really began to help me with the college process,” he said. The senior began to explore his options and contacted several schools out of the area, which was a big step for him, according to Ramos. “He took ownership of the college process and was very proactive. I was very impressed with his organizational and communication skills.”

As his life begins its next chapter, he is often asked by those who hear his triumphant story, “How did you get through?” His answer is simple and straightforward: “I kept in my mind and always knew something better and bigger was out there. I stopped seeing things as a punishment and I started taking advantage of opportunities. God didn’t give up on me and found me at my lowest. I just took the best out of every situation…it helped that it seemed like I always had someone who cared. Whether it was Nate or a teacher, or someone else, that helped me a lot. My high school coaches helped me a lot with encouraging me to allow God to guide me!” He also credits his father. “It comes back down to doing it for my Dad. The last thing my Dad would want me to do is give up. That thought helped a lot. What he would have wanted, is doing what I am doing now.”

Everyone interviewed for this story said that the impression Wainscott made on them will never be forgotten.

Janet Barnhart said of Justin: “He has a warm glow. We have a special place in our heart for Justin. Truly, we see kids that get lost because of their circumstances and I think Justin’s resilience just resonates with all of us. We have so much respect for him. Justin’s journey, finding his faith and finding his purpose is one that is going to separate him for kids who have gone down the same path with similar tragedies who don’t come out of it with that path to college. He has changed the culture at this school. He has a legacy. He has done things that are going to continue on after he goes to college. We love him!”

Wainscott wants to pursue a career as an educator teaching middle school English, but is also considering accounting and would like to coach. In fact, he has already received a job offer after college as Barnhart said she would love to hire him as a teacher.

Brittney Ramos said, “He is exceptional…. there are not many Justins. He is so open. I just love how he just has a heart to serve, to give back. How much of his time he is willing to give to other people. It makes my heart so happy that he is doing so well, and I could play a small role in his success. He is a really impressive young man who is a shining example of leaning on faith to get through really hard, unfair things that have happened in his life. I am amazed at the way he gives back and shares his time…it’s impressive.”

Tom Green said, “It has been so awesome to see him blossom. He’s now very passionate about his faith and has gotten a new lease on life. He wants to share what he has been through and what he has done with that.”

Ramos, who lost her husband fighting a house fire five years ago, said Justin “is the definition of perseverance and perspective, not allowing the circumstances to crush you. It’s a God thing for him. Leaning on his faith and having the support of various people. There is a light in Justin and it’s really amazing how much of a leader he is and how much he is willing to share his story. I think sometimes he is willing to do that to help people. To let people know you are not alone you are not the only person that has gone through something difficult. His perspective on life is very cool.. a very bright outlook”

Angie Schroeder shared that “he is going to do great things. He is living breathing testimony. He is a very humble kid….he doesn’t consider himself anything special. He is obviously a resilient person and people are drawn to him – there is a presence about him. People open up to him and he is a great listener. You’ve made it through for a reason. He doesn’t see himself as a big deal…but he is. We all have our favorite books like ‘Spilled Milk’ or ‘A Child Called It,’ which are traumatic stories we use as inspiration for our students, but this story is being created right in front of us.”