Personal Records:
Discus - 109-10
Shot Put - 42-11.25
2017 Class A State: 2nd place Shot Put
Where were you born? What sports did you play growing up?
I was born in Fairmont and played basketball, softball, and volleyball when I was younger. I live on the lake and have always enjoyed swimming and boating.
Which of those sports helped you become a good thrower?
All sports have helped me be a thrower as they have taught me teamwork, discipline, and leadership. The sports I play in high school at the varsity level are basketball, volleyball and track/field.
Who coaches you? What does he do that works for you?
Brad Johnson is my throwing coach. He always is pushing me to do my best. He always video tapes my teammates and I to show what we need to work on. He sets lofty goals with the expectations that we meet them. But while he is coaching us he makes the practices enjoyable, which creates a real bond among our throwing team and Coach Johnson.
Which teammates inspire and motivate you?
Two of my best friends are also throwers; twins Brenna and Claire Cutler. We are known as ABC (because of our first names)! At most meets we take 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in disc and shot. We are always encouraging each other to do our bests while being each others main competition for most of the meets this season. I think Brenna, Claire and I inspire each other to do our best. We are competitors trying to get first place while encouraging each other. No matter how the day goes we always have each other to fall back on.
Who was your greatest competitor this year?
I was very happy to make it to state this year and state is where my greatest competition was. I found it exciting to find harder competition because it would push me to throw harder and farther. I want to train this off season to be a better competitor next season.
Which opponents did you most enjoy talking to in meets?
At state the athletes that took places 1st through 9th were waiting to go on the stage to get medals. While we were waiting we all started to bond and talk about the colleges that were contacting us. I look forward to seeing these throwers next year since most of us were juniors this year. I have also enjoyed talking to Lindsey Norman (Blue Earth, MN). We have competed in basketball and volleyball for many years.
How do your parents support you?
My parents have always supported me with everything throughout my life. They come to all my sporting events. They encourage me to spend extra time in the weight room to get better at my skills. My dad has a special interest in me being a shot putter as he also threw the shot put and disc at Fairmont High School. He still holds our school's shot put school record; 56' 10 3/4" set in 1986. He was thrilled when I set the girl's shot put record. Now I hold the girl's record and he holds the boy's record. (Nick Lardy was also coached by current Head Coach of the Fairmont Cardinals, Bob Bonk, who is in his 48th year at the school!)
(Photo provided by Allison Lardy)
Do you watch video of great throwers or instructional videos? Where can we find them?
Sometimes before meet days and before I go to bed, I watch YouTube videos of Olympic athletes throwing shot pot and disc. I watch both boys and girls throw and try to learn so I can improve.
What other activities are you involved with at your school?
YOCO (Youth Coalition) which is a group that is against under age drinking and drug use. I also play tenor saxophone in the band; am involved in CLC - Cardinal Leadership Council which is leadership development for students involved in activities and sports; and I am on the Prom committee.
Does your team or even just a few of your teammates do anything that is unusual to have fun or to inspire the team. I'm thinking in terms of games, cheers, routines, etc.
Our throwers group have an unusual bond. We all have funny jokes that we say to each other. We call ourselves the "T Squad". We had shirts made that say "Its Really Field and Track". At home meets, we would bring a grill and grill up hotdogs and hamburgers. This year 6 throwers went to sub-section and all 6 qualified for sections in either shot or disc. This is hard to do because our subsection is very difficult. As a result at the end of the sub-section meet in Wells, our thrower coach, Brad Johnson, jumped into a pond to celebrate this success.
What are your future goals?
My goals are to attend a 4 year college to get a degree in secondary education and possibly special education with a minor in coaching. I am hoping to continue throwing at the next level as I truly enjoy this sport and the competition it has to offer.
