The State's top Discus thrower and defending State Champion in the Discus has decided to commit to the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA).
What was the recruiting process like for you?
It was a valuable learning experience and I enjoyed my conversations with coaches, potential teammates and each campus visit. I am grateful to all who assisted me.
In July last year, my Dad setup a large database where I monitored all recruiting activity; calls, texts, emails, visit, follow-ups, etc. After a while you see a pattern and can begin to narrow your selection as schools do the same on their end. One goal is to have good data to make an analytical decision. However, my advice to potential recruits is that it comes down to the visit and your accepting of a 4-year commitment to a university, your major, and a track program with coaches you trust. Remember, you will spend 20+ hours per week working with them. In my case, I have a commitment of 13 years, so I have to envision myself at 19, 23, 28 and 31 years old knowing that I am serving my country.
It is a privilege to be courted by a school, and part of the recruiting equation is your responsibility of contacting coaches and programs you didn't choose. It is hard. I know in my case, calling West Point (WP) was tough, but I think my younger sister Sophia might have a shot at WP in two years.
You didn't sign in November, why?
I was upfront with all schools and coaches who contacted me telling them I did not plan to sign early. I am glad I held to this promise. Your college choice is a big decision regardless of being recruited or not, so I did not want to be pressured in November. Personally, I wish they would do away with early signing based on your freshman-junior results and wait to see who ends up in their senior year worthy of scholarship funding. Schools claim scarcity around the April signing period because they spent funds in November, and miss out on athletes who excel in their senior year.
I have been patient with the process throughout my senior year, particularly with the lengthy and rigorous process WP and the USAFA use in their selection of cadets.
When did recruiting really take off?
I have been competing in AAU and USATF Junior Olympics since seventh grade, as well as the FLYRA State MS Championships. Coaches told me I was on their radar while in middle school. I began receiving letters in my sophomore year. After I hit the college mark last April at the USATF Qualifier for Nanjing China, a lot of interest letters came in and after July 1 many phone calls. Early interested schools came and went, but WP and USAFA were constant, courteous and no-pressure calls.
I enrolled in a DECA class this year and my parents sent me in early fall to their Leadership Training Convention in Tampa. This helped me tremendously and after returning from Tampa, I began considering the Service Academies. I competed in DECA Business competitions this year for the first time and ended up winning the DECA Entrepreneurship -- Franchise category for Broward County in January and the State of Florida in March. This leadership training helped me focus my school selection.
Where else did you take visits to?
I did not take any visits in the fall, instead I focused on academics. In December after completing the semester, I took my first official visit to the US Air Force Academy, which was awesome. In addition to the team and coaches, I met Dana Pounds Lyon, 2-time NCAA Javelin Champion and graduate of Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale. She was surprised to learn that I knew what she threw in high school, college and for the Olympic Trials. My Dad taught me to do research before traveling.
My next official visit was to West Point after the winter break and just like the USAFA, it was incredible, so much history. I liked the program and coaches. My last official visit was to BYU during spring break. They have a beautiful school, high academic ranking, and a really good track program.
What was it that sold you on the US Air Force Academy?
My parents told me, as well as interested coaches, that they would not intervene, go with me on a visit or select my school. It was my choice and my journey. I reviewed notes on my top choices and in the end I chose the USAFA because of my interest in Aerospace Physiology and desire to serve my country. I know the solidarity of cadets at the Service Academies is a plus and coupled with the high-caliber academics, leadership training and athletics, I believe I can succeed.
Athletics, academics and leadership are all part of the USAFA equation. While I may enjoy success in high school and college in athletics, I will end up doing something more challenging when my athletic career is over. I am confident the USAFA academics and leadership training will prepare me for this future.
You transferred from Monarch to American Heritage back to Monarch. What was that transition like?
It was not a big thing. My Dad went to Heritage last year as the Track and Field, Cross Country Program Director. We enjoyed our experience, I won 2A State Discus, but after the school year, my parents felt Monarch was a better fit for our family. Sophia and I fell right back in line with friends, teammates, coaches, teachers and administrators, and I can say it has been a good year for both of us at Monarch, academically and athletically.
Our Athletic Director, Mr. Klemke, encouraged me to win State and said not to worry about the past; stating that Monarch has the resources to award a State Championship ring and banner. I am Monarch's first State Champion. I am grateful to Monarch Principal Neer, Coach Freeman, Coach Wilcox, Mr. Klemke, and past Coaches Mr. Park and Mr. Raparelli for all that they have done to honor me this year after winning the 4A State Discus title.
You throw the discus in high school. Does the USAFA see you only as discus thrower?
I started in middle school learning discus, followed by shot put. I excelled in discus and this is my favorite event for now. My Dad is teaching Sophia and me the javelin, which is a hard event to learn. I will not be able to compete in the USATF Junior Olympics in Jacksonville this year since I have to report (R Day) to the USAFA before JO. However, I would like to be competitive at the USAFA in both discus and javelin, and hopefully have the opportunity to train with Dana Pounds Lyon in the javelin.
I can say definitively, I will not be a 1600m runner. I had to pass the WP and USAFA Cadet Fitness Assessment (CFA) in February as well as other medical exams. I had to train for the CFA because I consider long distance as any run over 400 meters. I successfully completed the timed mile and passed the other components of the CFA. I now begin elevation distance training to get in shape for my R Day. I have to be in top physical condition for Basic Cadet Training (BCT).
How excited are you to enter the USAFA and what are you looking forward to most about the next level?
I met many high quality student-athletes during my visit to the USAFA, many who have been accepted as cadets. The Service Academies admission exams, testing, and interviews are different than most schools, so leading up to State, I did not know I would be accepted. I was excited to receive my Letter of Acceptance (LOA) and officially clear all my medical exams. I now begin the process of preparing for R Day at the USAFA Preparatory School. This is an intense 10 month preparatory program for the USAFA. I will enter the USAFA in June 2016. I am most looking forward to this opportunity and next phase of my journey.
Your sister is also a two-time State Middle School Champion in Discus. What advice can you share about winning State in High School, signing day with her and is there a sibling rivalry?
Sophia is going to do well in discus and be a top javelin thrower in the US. She has been my teammate, training partner and top competitor for seven years. Above all she is my only sibling. My guess is she will sign in November of her senior year since she understands the recruiting process. She is a top sophomore in the AP/Honors program at Monarch High School and is taking on leadership positions in school earlier than I did. Sophia has broken my MS records and will continue to break my HS records during the next two years. Once I enter the USAFA I will only see her at Christmas and over short summer breaks. It's going to be tough leaving, but she will do great.
Now that this decision is behind you, what is your next athletic challenge?
Our goal each year is to train for and win the State Meet. We now have 6 consecutive State titles in Discus. Each invitational, district and region meet is treated as a practice session. My Dad has us working on specific technical tests each meet, sometimes we pass, sometimes we fail, but the goal remains fixed.
I have finally broken the mental and technical barrier of 150 feet, throwing 151-05 at Ansin. I have hit 160' and Sophia 140' in practice so we know that we are capable of a bigger throw. The key is to remain focused on a good technical throw and enjoy the moment when it happens.
We plan to compete in the Golden South Classic and BAYTAF meets later this month. In June we will compete in a few meets out of State and then Sophia will prepare for USATF Junior Olympics held this year in Jacksonville.
My Dad continues to train us in the evening and weekends, and helps Northwood University, Monarch and Lyons Creek Middle in the throws, as he had done for the past 7 years. In fact, Sophia and I also volunteer coach the throwers now that we are back in Coconut Creek. We work with younger throwers at Lyons Creek to give back to our community. Our Lyons Creek thrower Charlotte Hood just won the Broward County title in Discus.
My Coach's Two-Cents
As you know, Track and Field is the number one high school participation sport for girls and second for boys, and is relatively lower cost per athlete compared to other sports. There are incredible opportunities for scholarship funding, particularly for girls in the field events. We have outstanding weather and competitive athletes, now we just need training centers and coaches to develop track and field athletes.
Unfortunately, we do not have a public track facility in the city of Coconut Creek, and our Monarch HS track is off-limits and a safety issue due to its deteriorating condition. We encourage our city and school board to consider the lost opportunities, scholarships, and health benefits for our residents and student-athletes and move quickly to repair or replace the facilities. We have the land and parks to put in a track; we just need the resolve to get it done in Coconut Creek. I hope this happens soon for our school and community.
The National Athletic Scholastic Foundation (NSAF) has spent considerable resources developing high school age javelin throwers and hosting javelin clinics around the USA. We went to their clinic in "freezing" North Carolina in January. NSAF trained throwers are now the top in the US and ranked internationally. It has been a very successful development program. South Florida would be the ideal location to be a regular fall, winter, or spring host, bringing in national and international Olympic Team coaches, training and resources for their quarterly 3-day clinics.
My Dad has been our throws coach for the past seven years. He would like to establish a permanent Throws Academy here in South Florida, partnering up with a local high school to build the resources and facilities to develop championship throwers in a year-round training program. This would build name recognition for the host school, attract national attention and coaches, and open up scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors. Hopefully, it would become a permanent location for the NSAF clinics, particularly in winter.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, I have enjoyed throwing for the past seven years and meeting athletes, coaches, officials and administrators from around Florida and nationally. I got my big start in 7th grade winning the FLYRA Middle School State Championship after narrowly missing the qualifying standards in 6th grade. Hard work followed. The FLYRA State MS Championship is where I began to gain confidence and think of myself as a track and field athlete with potential. It is because of the flrunners and milesplit support, organization and FLYRA meets, that I compete today and have progressed in my journey. THANK YOU!
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