Today, we salute Maura Huwalt of South Park.
During her career, Huwalt proved to be one of the state's best throwers and certainly one of the most versatile throwers in recent memory. In 2018 and 2019, she pulled off a remarkable sweep of the throws at the WPIAL (District 7) Championships, winning the shot put, discus, and javelin. Huwalt posted high school bests of 44-3 in the shot put, 149-6 in the discus, and 144-11 in the javelin.
Also for two straight years, Huwalt won state medals in all three of those those events. As a junior, she won the state title in the discus, throwing 139-1 for the victory. In May, the senior took second in the disc and the shot, and third in the javelin. She was seventh in the javelin at outdoor nationals.
The Auburn recruit reflected on her career for PennTrackXC below.
------------
My most memorable competition was at WPIAL Team Championships this past year. I have always wanted to win a championship with a team and I have always been so close to accomplishing that feat with my teammates in basketball and track. We were sitting on the bleachers on the track at Peters township high school when they were reading off the scores and places. The last score they mentioned was ours and the announcer congratulated South Park for winning the team title. I fell to the track in tears. Moments later I remember someone knocking me over and then there was a huge dog-pile of people on me. I'll never forget that moment of joy I was able to share holding up the WPIAL team trophy with my friends, family, teammates and coaches.
Definitely the hardest competition I had faced was my freshman year at WPIALS, I wasn't really ranked in the top 8 for any of the throws but I ended up having one of the best meets in my career, and I was able to be the first female in my school to qualify in all 3 throwing events at states by placing in the top 5 at WPIALS.
Out of all my high school accomplishments the two things that have stood out for me in track was winning the discus my junior year at states and winning a WPIAL championship this past season with our track and field team. Those two moments stick out to me because even though they may be a personal accomplishment nothing compares to winning something as a team and I wouldn't have been able to accomplish or contribute the way I did without the help of my teammates. Even when you win something it seems individual but people forget about who and what made the medal or trophy possible.
If I could do it all over again, the one thing I wish I could change about my high school track and field career was properly learning how to do the long jump. For our team meets I would long jump to help acquire points in the field. My best jump was 17-1 at the WPIAL Team Championship this past season. I wonder if I would have actually practiced it like I do to my throws how much further I could have jumped.
Most of the obstacles I had to overcome were being mentally tough during some meets. Some of the challenges as well were with my recent knee injuries and just overall fatigue towards the end of the season. But I have always told myself a moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory. I remind myself of that quote when I am feeling that I have to overcome obstacles that may seem impossible to deal with.
What I will miss the most is just spending time with my coaches and teammates everyday like we do during the season. Even though track is an individual sport at times, my teammates and coaches made us feel like a family.
The only advice I can give is to believe in yourself when other people do not believe in you. You may have doubters and non believers, but nothing pays off more then when you have accomplished what you have wanted, and you can look back and say to them, "you said I couldn't do it. But I thank you because without your doubt I wouldn't have had the fuel and determination to accomplish what I/we did."
My coaches have influenced my performances tremendously. Track for me started with USATF and my early coaches Mike Mehalic and Tom Damiani taught me the basic components of the sport. When entering high school I was not the best thrower, but my coaches Chuck Villa, Jayne Beatty, and Jeff Hufnagel all helped me reach my highest potential while competing in a South Park uniform. Without these coaches I have named, I wouldn't even be close to where I am athletically and I thank them for that.
My post high school plans are to attend Auburn University and continue my track and field career. Next season I plan on throwing javelin, discus, shot put, and the hammer. I will also be majoring in Mechanical Engineering at the University.
Shoutout to my throwing girls back at South Park! Couldn't have done it without you guys. Also major shoutout to my girl Maddie Raymond, she's gonna take the WPIAL and PIAA by force for the next two years.
