NILES — For Charles Nelson, a former Niles High School cross country, track and wrestling athlete, it took him moving away from Niles and an eventual return for him to truly appreciate the community.

Nelson competed in high school athletics from 2000 to 2004, and one memory that stood out to him was when Niles won the West Division of the Big 16 Conference the school was in. For Nelson, who at the time was a senior, said Niles had not won a conference championship in about 30 years.

Another memorable sports moment for Nelson was when the wrestling team beat Dowagiac on Senior Night.

“I can’t remember if we were tied or down a couple of points, but I had a twin brother, and he ran and wrestled too,” Nelson said. “It was the last match of the evening and he won. We ended up winning the meet, and it was senior night too, so that was really cool to walk off with that win on the mat.”

Despite teammates moving after graduation and attending different colleges, Nelson said he still is friends with many of them. He continues to run at least four times a week, but finds racing more difficult now than when he was in his youth.

“I have to work twice as hard to be slower,” Nelson joked.

After graduating from Niles High School, he attended Stevenson University in Maryland, where he ran cross country for a year before having his first child. After graduating, Nelson returned to Niles and worked for WNDU and Wonderland Cinema in Niles. Eventually, he became a Niles business owner after opening On Base Productions, a multi-media company in downtown Niles.

“We’ve been in this building a year and a half, but I’ve been on my own for five years with my own business,” Nelson said.

Although Nelson said his demeanor is laidback and as easy going as it was in high school, he has found a new appreciation for the community.

“As a kid, your first thought is when can I leave, when can I get out?” Nelson said. “Having gone away and come back and now being a business owner and working with other business owners, this is a great place. My wife is from Niles as well, and she is a city councilwomen, and we love it here. As I get older, I have an appreciation of a city like Niles where you can feel safe.”

Another perk of living in Niles is the abundant areas to run, added Nelson, who will sometimes run down by the St. Joseph River or through town.

Nelson now participates in the 30 to 35 age group in races and has won a few first-place trophies, in between the time he spends supporting Niles track and cross country. He still attends a wrestling match every now and then, he said.

“It was all great memories,” Nelson said. “Most people still recognize me now that I went to school with. I was kind of laid back then and laid back now, so I roll with it.”