Westminster senior Emma Reaves went into the winter indoor track and field season with a singular focus.
Her college commitment was made to the University of New Hampshire. Her volleyball career was over, capped off with a Carroll County Player of the Year designation.
All she had to worry about was throwing things as far as she possibly could.
She won a Class 3A state silver medal in shot put during indoor season and was primed to go for gold in the spring.
“I was coming off of a really amazing volleyball season. It was my last volleyball season ever, which was kind of sad, but after that, I was all focused on track,” Reaves said. “I was able to think about my future. By that point I was already committed, so I was able to relax a little bit and not worry about coaches contacting me and watching me. I was honestly pretty relaxed coming into my track seasons and was just focused on having a good time and focused on getting better and self improvement.”
While she knew a state championship was possible, she acknowledged going into the spring she didn’t envision a state record.
“At that point I had not even though about it honestly,” she said. “I was really focused on trying to beat myself and coming into track season having a good preseason, especially during indoor, I was really just trying to get gold at states and trying to PR every time I threw. I was aiming for the top.”
Reaves won her gold medal in the discus, setting a 3A state record of 153 feet, 11 inches. She added a second-place finish in the shot put (37-2 1/2). Reaves is the Carroll County 2024 girls outdoor track and field Athlete of the Year.
Reaves grew up an athlete but never tried throwing, despite her father being a college thrower. Then, when the time was right, her father got her involved.
“I did basketball, I did volleyball, I did a lot of other sports. In seventh grade my dad introduced me to throwing because he didn’t want me to start at too young an age and see me burn out,” Reaves said. “I didn’t take it that seriously. At that point I wanted to go to college for basketball. I started playing volleyball, I loved it. I really was just [throwing] for fun. I did AAU and my dad just coached me up. I did really good actually. I placed top 35 at junior nationals. But I still didn’t think anything of it. My freshman and sophomore year, I was real fortunate to get with [my throwing coach Nick Agoris] and he crafted me into the thrower I am today.”
Reaves maintained a friendly rivalry with Gabby Cope of Northern-Calvert, the two top female throwers in Maryland this season. Despite not seeing each other until state meets, they continued to push each other from afar.
“I really owe a lot of my success to Gabby,” Reaves said. “We’ve both said it, it goes the same for both of us. We both drive each other, pushing each other’s numbers. We didn’t see each other a lot during the season just because she’s at Northern and I’m at Westminster, but knowing each other numbers and knowing when it comes down to it, we’ll see each other at states when it matters.”
Now Reaves’ attention turns toward the University of New Hampshire, a school she picked over others, such as Winthrop, mostly because of academics. The track and field program was the icing on the cake.
“When I started my search for college in my junior year, I was looking at majors and I really wasn’t looking at track and volleyball,” she said. “I was focused on finding my major; I’m going into environmental science. I wanted to stay East Coast and I knew mostly coastal schools would have good programs with that. I was stuck between two or three schools and New Hampshire came through. Coach Cullen [Aubin] is literally the greatest man. He’s so cool, I’m excited to work with him. The team was so inviting and family oriented and I can really see myself fitting in there.”
She’s also excited about doing more events such as hammer throw and weight throw that are part of the collegiate program.
“I threw weight throw for the past two years at indoor national and I love it,” she said. “Coach even said weight throw and hammer throw are going to be main events after high school. Shot put and discus are going to be a thing of the past once I get in hammer and weight.”
All-County first team
Kiera Cooper, Francis Scott Key, senior
Cooper was a two-time county champion, winning titles in the long jump (15-7 1/2) and triple jump (32-1 1/2). She was Class 2A West region runner-up in the long jump.
Nylah Craig, Westminster, senior
Craig won the county championship in the 100 hurdles, running 16.29. She was regional runner-up in the event and placed eighth at states.
Delaney Freed, South Carroll, senior
Freed’s final vault of her high school career was her best. She cleared 10 feet to win the 1A state championship.
Lyla Goffena, Manchester Valley, senior
Goffena was county champion in the 3,200 (12:00.78). She was third in the 1,600 and fifth in the 800.
Sherina Jassir, Westminster, sophomore
Jassir was county champion in the 300 hurdles (48.2) and finished second to her teammate Craig in the 100. Jassir followed up with a regional runner-up finish in the 300.
Madison Koterba, Francis Scott Key, sophomore
Koterba won county championships in both the 100 (13.01) and 200 (26.8). She was also Class 2A West region runner-up in both races.
Adeline Kraics, Francis Scott Key, senior
Kraics was the county’s top thrower behind Reaves. She was county runner-up in the shot put and discus. She was 2A West Region champion and placed fourth at states in shot put (35-5 1/4).
Emily Mitroka, Century, junior
Mitroka was already county and regional champion in the 800 before running a 5:10 to win the 2A state title. She also ran on Century’s state championship 4×800 team.
Ashleigh Porter, Francis Scott Key, senior
Porter, a multiple time state high jump champion, closed her high school career was another county championship in the event and placed third at the 2A state meet. Her top height this season was 5-5. She also was fourth at the county meet in the discus.
Charlotte Prunkl, Century, sophomore
Prunkl won county pole vault championship and was second at the 2A West Region meet. Her top height this season was 10-7. She was also second in the county in the long jump.
Cailyn Stine, Century, junior
Stine won the 2A state championship in the 800, running 2:14.49. She was also third at states in the 400 and ran on the Knight’s winning 4×800 relay team.
Elizabeth Szybalski, Manchester Valley, junior
Szybalski ran a personal best 2:12.49 to with the 3A state championship in the 800. She was also North Region champion in the 400 and won the county title in both events.
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