At our school, the boys shot put team has been putting in a lot of work this track and field season. Shot put takes a lot of strength, technique, and consistency. The athletes on the team train almost every day, focusing on improving both their power and form.

Shot put heavily depends on explosive muscle power so most of the practices start with weight training to build strength. After that the athletes focus on their footwork, spins, and release angle inside the circle. A lot of progress comes from repetition and learning how to stay balanced under pressure.

Even though shot put is an individual event, one of the best parts of the team is how everyone supports each other. Iker Rodriguez, a freshman on the team says, “Our team hypes each other up and we say a prayer before meets and practices.” The throwers cheer each other on during meets, even practice. Kyran Cross, another freshman on the team says, “We cheer each other on for PR and when we throw.” When someone gets a personal record, the whole team gets excited for them. Having that type of energy in a team helps keep the motivation high and spirits high.

At recent meets, our team has competed against many other strong schools in the area. Some meets are more competitive than others, but every event gives the chance for the team to improve. Even when a throw doesn’t go as planned, the athletes use it as a learning opportunity to know what to fix or work on for next time. Austen Trudell ‘29 says, “My teammates and I push each other to improve by competing in practice, encouraging each other to work harder, and giving feedback. Watching others improve also motivates everyone else to do better.”

Now that the season comes to an end, the team focuses on getting stronger and improving technique. With dedication and effort we hope to see several athletes hit new personal bests for never year. For many of the throwers, shot put is not just about competition, but also about discipline, teamwork, and pushing themselves to work hard and improve every day.