South Park’s Maura Huwalt taking aim at SEC, national track and field titles at Auburn

Auburn track and field throws coach Pat Ebel often makes what many might consider an awkward request of Tigers senior Maura Huwalt.

For Ebel, the suggestion speaks directly to the character of the 2019 South Park High School graduate, who is one of the most decorated throwing athletes in the history of the WPIAL.

“Each year that she’s been competing she’s been getting better,” Ebel said. “That’s all based off her work ethic. There are days I have to tell her to get home.

“That’s a dream for any college coach,” he added, “someone with her work ethic.”

Huwalt, who said she first imagined one day finding success in track and field while watching the 2012 summer Olympics in London, has been living her dream at Auburn.

The reigning SEC outdoor discus champion, Huwalt qualified for the NCAA Division I championships last season for the first time in discus and shot put. She competes in the discus, shot put and 20-pound weight throw during the indoor season.

“She’s very good at all of them,” Ebel said. “I believe she could go to nationals in all three this year. She’ll be a player to score big points for us in all three events at the conference level and the national level.”

Huwalt’s personal record discus throw of 56.21 meters (184 feet, 5 inches) at the SEC championship meet set an Auburn record. She would go on to receive All-American honorable mention status.

“Every year I try to make it a step forward,” Huwalt said. “All you can do is better yourself each year, and this year I feel like I’m in a good spot to acquire my first All-American, national championship title.”

And she’s off to a fast start to her indoor season.

Huwalt placed first in the shot put with a throw of 16.32 meters (53 feet, 6½ inches) Dec. 10 at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Early Bird Invitational.  She finished second behind teammate Madi Malone in the weight throw at the season-opening event with a distance of 20.67 meters (67 feet, 10 inches).

“That first meet is always a good way to get the jitters out,” said Huwalt, whose best indoor performance last season came when she finished in eighth place at the SEC indoor championships in the shot put. “I was looking forward to having some good marks. I had a good fall season with training and stuff. My best throw in the shot put was 16.32, which is just 9 centimeters below my [personal record]. We were able to work on our weaknesses as individuals and a squad.”

A six-time individual WPIAL champion and 2018 PIAA discus champion, Huwalt earned nine individual medals in her career at the WPIAL championships. She won WPIAL titles in the shot put, discus and javelin both her junior and season seasons. She was also a 1,000-point scorer on South Park’s girls basketball team.

“I was known in high school for being able to dunk a volleyball and a tennis ball,” Huwalt said.

And it is that athletic ability that has paid dividends for Huwalt throughout her athletic endeavors.

“I feel like an athlete, especially with my peers and watching other women compete, that I have good body awareness. As a female, I’ve been a lot more explosive as compared to my peers.

“The biggest thing for me technique-wise is just being an athlete,” she added. “There are a lot of women I can name who lift a hell of a lot more than me, but at the end of the day I try to be long and athletic. I’m lucky that my limbs are really long and I try to be aware of my strengths.”

As far as Ebel is concerned, those strengths are being able to compete at a high level in multiple indoor and outdoor events.

“I’m finding as I coach more and more it’s very rare,” he said. “Most athletes at this level, they specialize in one event and maybe have a second event. Maura is very unique. She’s very talented in that she can do all three at a very high level.”

Ebel said he expects Huwalt to compete for SEC titles in all of her indoor and outdoor events, as well as being named an All-American in each. He said he also expects her to make some noise at the indoor and outdoor National Championship meets after competing in the highly competitive SEC.

“She’s got to continue to work hard, kind of trust the process that we’ve put in place for her,” the coach said. “Distance-wise, it’s going to take 72 feet in the weight throw to be an All-American, and then in the women’s shot put it’s probably going to take 56 feet or more to be in that top eight, so very much within her range this year.”

Huwalt couldn’t agree more.

“I, of course, think about leaving a lasting impact on the program, which is awesome, which is great to look back on,” she said. “Moving forward is my mentality; it’s what’s next. I’m trying to be focused and see what I can do. I’m looking forward.

“I try to leave an impact on my peers and friends here,” Huwalt added. “Every day I try to bring a different intensity, and I hope that carries on with this program.”