By Delaney Wood

The Arizona heat is rising.

All athletes can think of is going as long as they can, and, if possible, taking another step. In Arizona’s track and field season, that extra step can take athletes far in a couple of weeks.

The track and field season is heating up as the final weeks of the regular season approach. For Amanda Wick, an 18-year-old senior thrower at Deer Valley High School, she hopes her inner fire to compete can lead to a successful regular season ending.

Wick lives and breathes track and field, but it wasn’t always that way. Since her freshman year, Wick played volleyball and basketball as well, but she grew a passion for track and field.

She chose to fully commit to it during her junior year. Wick mainly participates in shot put and discus, but her strength is as a discus thrower.

She proved it when she placed first at the Greenway invite on April 2 while competing against 18 other schools. But she also wants to prove that she’s consistent by making it to state.

Her No. 1 goal at state is to place high and hopefully accomplish her ultimate dream of becoming a state champion.

“I want to place in state and get the ring I’ve always wanted,” Wick said.

Wick isn’t the only one in her family who is a dedicated athlete.

Bruce, Wick’s father, has been involved with sports ever since he was 16 years old. It makes him extremely happy to see his daughter pursuing what she loves to do as well.

Wick’s parents support her through all of her successes, and they even created a plan to go to a majority of her sporting events.

“I’m very proud of her,” Bruce said. “She’s excelling really well. She is a good athlete, and I hope to see more of her in college.”

Once she graduates, Wick wants to move to California and pursue track and field there.

Being a straight ‘A’ student, Wick has academic scholarship offers from California State University San Marcos and Concordia University.

“I don’t know what path I’m going to take yet,” Wick said. “But we’ll get there when we get there.”

Wick’s mother, Michelle, has great satisfaction knowing how well her daughter is doing and how she strives to stay passionate in track and field.

“I’ve seen her (Wick) do well, and I’ve seen her when she didn’t do well,” Michelle said. “The best thing is when they’re enjoying it.”

Wick’s passion is evident, but she also cares about her teammates.

“Track is an individual sport,” Wick said. “But it’s a team sport when you look at the big picture.”

Delaney Wood is a sports journalism student at Arizona State. 

 

(Deer Valley's Amanda Wick. Photo by Trevor Wick.)