NRHS Junior sets sights on more program bests

By Chris Villani

You could say that throwing events are in the blood for Amelia Squires. The Nipmuc junior’s father, Nick, competed in the shot put throughout high school and college and his experience inspired his daughter to take up the same events.

“I always thought it was really cool and I just got into it because of him,” Squires said. “I have seen videos of him doing it, but it’s a lot different when you are actually competing.”

Squires seems to have inherited some of her father’s abilities. She blew past her personal best during the winter season and broke the Nipmuc program record with a throw of more than 32 feet.

“I felt like I was really improving,” Squires said. “And the school record is something I had been working towards since my freshman year.”

Squires said her dad and the rest of the family were in attendance during the meet in which she broke the record, adding to the already special moment.

The junior is now turning her attention to the program’s outdoor record in the shot put, which is only about a foot farther than Squires’ current personal best. She said she enjoys competing outside during the spring, where she also competes in the discus. 

Squires said she is looking to improve in that event, and that the mechanics had just started to click for her at the end of last season. Her best discus throw is around 82 feet, and she has a goal of hitting triple digits this year.

When she is not practicing her specific events, Squires maintains a rigorous training program.

“I go to the gym every day to do strength training,” she said. “And I do a lot of yoga to improve my flexibility.”

If she continues to improve, Squires said she would love to compete in track and field at the collegiate level.

In the shot put, Squires earned a top-10 finish in the state meet during the winter season. She said she would like to improve on that ranking and also help her team continue to advance in statewide competition and relay meets. And she knows her father will be there to help her along the way.

“We talk about shot put a lot and he comes to every one of my meets,” Squires said. “He is always giving me advice, and he is very helpful.”