Mercy: More than I Deserved 

Max Cleveland, an Indianola townie, grew up just down the road from Simpson College. He was no stranger to the campus as his father, Dave Cleveland, was the head track and field coach while Max was growing up. So when it came time to choose a college, it just made sense.

“Out of all the schools I was looking at, it made the most sense to both continue to run track and stay connected to my family,” Max said.

Simpson turned into a place where Cleveland was able to build community and step into and grow his leadership skills through different opportunities. 

“I really enjoyed the small campus feel and atmosphere,” he said. “You kind of get to know most of the campus. You see people every day and are able to say hi, and that was really sweet.”

Cleveland began his time at Simpson during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with restrictions in place, he found that the everyday connection between people still existed. For him, that connection was strongest with his track and field teammates. 

“Having like-minded people around me, people I was working hard with every day was huge. We pushed each other, supported each other, and learned how to go through hard things together.”

Cleveland stepped into several leadership roles across campus. He served as a sexual assault response advocate and was a group leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 

“It wasn’t about having a title. It was just about showing up for people and letting them show up for you.” Cleveland said. 

Cleveland’s personality is one with a strong drive to improve. That mindset stuck with him throughout his career. He admits that at times he may have pushed too hard, but he also says that striving for growth helped shape who he is today.

“I really wanted to improve and get to a place where I could look back and be proud of my career,” he said. “Almost to a fault, I obsessed over how to get better in every little way. But it taught me so much about discipline and commitment and I carry those habits with me now.”

Cleveland learned and began to realize that success wasn’t just about results and personal records. He started to value rest, relationships, and the difference that he could make alongside competition.

“Later in my career, I had a fuller view of what mattered. Being healthy made me perform better. Having fun with my teammates helped me stay grounded.” Cleveland said. 

Some of his favorite memories weren’t from the podium or the success that he had. They came from the quieter moments like warmup conversations, game night, inside jokes, and bus rides. Still, he enjoyed the journey of getting better on the track. 

“The feeling of knowing you’re improving, of hitting a PR and celebrating with your team, that’s unforgettable. Going to Boston my senior year and getting to share that experience with my coaches and my dad… that was really special.”

Academically, his upperclassman years challenged him in ways that helped prepare him for graduate school. One capstone course in particular pushed him harder than he expected.

“My last couple years academically were pretty tough, which actually prepared me for the pace of grad school,” he said. “I had a professor for my capstone who expected a lot out of me during my fifth year. At the time I was like, ‘Why are you doing this to me? I’m not a graduate student.’ But now I’m super appreciative.”

All of it, whether it was the leadership roles, the injuries, or the late nights, those relationships built a sense of resilience that he says will stay with him long after Simpson.

“I didn’t always have the answers,” he said. “But I always had people beside me. That’s what made Simpson different.”

Today, Cleveland is pursuing a graduate degree in counseling. He says his experience at Simpson plays a major role in how he sees people and how he hopes to serve them.

“As a future counselor, I’m learning how to hold people’s hurts and hard things,” he said. “And honestly, that’s what I did at Simpson too. On the track team, in friendships, I got to be there for people, and they were there for me.”

Faith played a central role in how Cleveland processed his time at Simpson. 

“Mercy,” he said. “The idea of not getting what I deserved… and grace, of getting so much more than I deserved. That’s how I’d sum up my time at Simpson.”