Athlete Name: Katie Noriega
School: Fairview
What was your most memorable meet and why? Cullman County Championship. A coach that I was very close to and whom helped me throw recently passed away. That meet I threw my heart out for him and I won first place in discus. I also won second place in shot put, and I knew that he was in heaven watching me and still guiding me.
Where did you face your biggest competition? I faced my biggest competition at the same place every year. When I compete and sectionals and at state.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments which stands out the most and why? My biggest high school accomplishment would be the four years I spent mascoting. People see a mascot and think a goofy animated character, but it is much more than that. The years I was able to spend mascoting, are the years I would not trade for anything. The smiles I was given when children seen me. The laughter the audience gave me when I would dance on the field. I was able to make people happy. I had the power of turning someones day right side up just by being in the suit. I may have not been able to help the football team win playoffs, or help the band stay in step, but I was able to make people happy and to me that is the best accomplishment ever.
If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school? I would not change a thing. I am very satisfied how I am leaving high school. I tried my best in everything that I did. I am proud of who I am and what I have become and therefore I would not change a thing.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome? My whole life I have been bullied. The hurt and pain I experienced motivated me to show people what i was capable of doing. I practiced long and hard out on the field and in the classroom to bring myself success. Instead of crying and moping around, I used this obstacle as way to help myself.
What will you miss the most? I will miss the hard workouts, and the coaches yelling at me to keep pushing myself. Why? Because I will not always have someone there to cheer me on when the going gets tough. The workouts were miserable, but my coaches seen the potential I had for greatness and pushed me on.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes? Never give up. Do not feel down because you are not on the same level as everyone else. Compete against yourself until you are where you need to be.
What are your post-highschool or college plans? I plan to attend to University of Alabama and major in Marketing.
Who would you like to say thank you to? I would to first thank God because he gave me this talent and ability to throw and compete. I would like to thank my amazing family for taking me to and from practices when I could not drive, and staying out late with me until I was happy with what I was throwing. Lastly I would like to thank two amazing coaches. Coach Mayo and Coach Black. Even though Coach Mayo is no longer with us he taught me never to give up on myself, and Coach Black taught that love and compassion comes before anything else.