Starting a new chapter in her athletic career might be the title for this story about Beggs High School sophomore Kadenze Coleman.

“I grew up playing and loving softball,” said Coleman. “I played school ball and competitive softball until I suffered a shoulder injury my freshman year and couldn’t play softball. I wanted to stay active in athletics and my mom had been a thrower in high school, so she got me interested in throwing the shot put and then I took up the discus this year.”

You might think how could you throw the shot and discus but not be able to play softball? But different motions and muscles are involved according to Kadenze.

“My first year throwing the shot put didn’t go too well. To start with I didn’t really have a coach last year so I learned mostly from seniors like Evin Kemp, who finished sixth at state this year that knew something about throwing. I knew I had the potential to do well but also knew that I needed to make a lot of improvements and put in the work to make it to state which was my goal for this year.”

But then there was another setback as Kadenze had gallbladder surgery last fall and she wasn’t able to start practicing track until January.

“I did have a coach this year in Ben Palmer who helped me make a lot of improvements and I ended up throwing two-and-a-half feet farther than I did last year. I threw 30 feet for the first time at the Wagoner meet and had a PR of 30’1.5” to finish third at regionals and qualified for state. I felt ready for state, but there was just so much more competition there and I was nervous and didn’t even throw 30’ so I was disappointed.”

But you can bet that this young athlete who saw one dream fade and another take its place will be even more determined to find success over her last two years at Beggs.

“I’m going to be doing a lot of weightlifting this summer-doing bench pressing and squats and hip thrusts and continue working on my technique and footwork in the circle,” said Kadenze.