The Derry Area Trojans have benefitted from a strong track and field program over the years. Recently, their go-to athlete has been bringing the program to new heights, while gaining her own attention.

The Trojans’ state champion javelin thrower, Sophia Mazzoni, made her commitment to continue her career in the SEC for Auburn.

“Immediately, when I got there, I felt very comfortable with the town, the community, and the coaches,” she noted. “Coach (Pat) Ebel was great. He was the only coach out of all my visits that had a plan for me coming in as a freshman and going up to my fifth year.”

With the connection to the coaches and the team, Mazzoni immediately knew that it would be a perfect fit. Thus, she canceled her visits to Pitt, Penn State, Princeton, and Bucknell.

When she heads off to college, she plans to major in psychology and wants to do something in sports psychology. She feels that the mental side of sports is the biggest piece to success when performing.

“Where you are at mentally has to be number one,” she noted. “You have to be prepared and have to know what you are feeling, but also know your limits.

Mazzoni has been locked in, both mentally and physically, as a thrower since she first started in middle school. She initially was a softball player when she was younger, playing both catcher and center field.

Mazzoni feels that the repetition of throwing a softball was able to build up her shoulder strength and motion. However, with any new sport, there were some challenges she faced.

“The hardest thing I needed to understand was how to hold it,” she added. “That was my biggest problem. But after the first or second meet, I got it down and just went from there.”

The hard work culminated in capturing the PIAA Class 2A Championship this past spring. Not only did she capture a state title, but also had her personal best throw of 161 feet, 10 inches on the first throw.

“Usually, my first throw was my best throw last season,” she mentioned. “As soon as I walked on the runway for my first throw, I was thinking ‘Let’s get this done.’ I put it all into the first throw.”

With a title to defend, and one more year at Derry before going to Auburn, Mazzoni still has a lot of winning left to do in Western PA. However, with her sights set on college, she is eager for what the future will bring.

“I’m excited to be on my own and my own freedom,” she shared. “I’m really excited to finally start this new chapter in life.”