Bauer Memphis-bound
As far as NCAA scholarship offers go, there were plenty of options for Emma Bauer.
However, all it took was one trip to the southern States for the Grade 12 track athlete to decide where she would go for her post-secondary career.
On Wednesday afternoon at LCI, the track and field star who has been successfully going for distance in the shot put and discus since Grade 8 and the hammer for two years and weight throw for the past year made it official, putting pen to paper and committing to a scholarship with the University of Memphis track and field team.
“We started out by sending a few letters because I knew I wanted to compete at the NCAA and Memphis was actually the first letter we ever got back,” said Bauer. “I got a letter from coach Rob (Kevin Robinson) and we continued talking to him from then on. I got my visit and he offered me the scholarship.
“I’ve been in track and field since Grade 8 and now I’m in my Grade 12 year. I knew I wanted to compete in the NCAA (and) I thought I could be a volleyball player. I’m sixfeet tall and in the NCAA, that’s incredibly short. So I made the change and I started throwing. I learned that throwing is just absolutely what I love. So I’m happy that I’ve signed my letter because I do get to throw now and I have at least another four years of throwing.”
In the past four years, she’s put up impressive numbers on this side of the border.
Bauer has won zones in shot put and discus since Grade 8 and is also the two-time defending Alberta Schools Athletic Association gold medallist and three-time defending Athletics Alberta gold medallist in addition to winning two National medals in discus.
Hammer is not a part of the ASAA meet, but Bauer is the Athletics Alberta Provincial Champion. She also holds the title for indoor weight throw as well as being ranked No. 1 in Canada in the event (third in discus and sixth nationally in hammer).
“I really like weight throw, which is the indoor hammer,” said Bauer, who will compete in discus, hammer and weight throw at the University of Memphis and focus on the arts, studying anthropology with a minor in arts history. “I was lucky enough to be number one in Canada and on Nov. 18 I’m going for the national record, so hopefully I’ll get that. I really enjoy that and the hammer, which is more rotational.”
On hand for the signing was Bauer’s father Rob and mother Nerissa.
Rob recalled his daughter coming home from school at G.S. Lakie and asking for some throwing pointers.
“She came home one day and asked me for a little bit of advice on throwing discus,” he said.
“From there, she displayed an aptitude and from there, with wonderful coaching, she’s progressed to the level where she was on the NCAA radar.
“I participated in high school to a degree and from the first time she picked up a discus, there definitely was an aptitude. And then when you start doing well in city meets and zone meets and start going to provincials and your first national and you medal there two years after you pick up the discus, it’s an eye-opener, for sure.”
With their daughter heading to the States next summer, a few trips to Memphis will no doubt follow for Bauer’s parents.
“We always used to say my mom was life coach and my dad was my throws coach and that’s very true,” she said. “They got me to his point and I’m super-thankful. They’re amazing and supportive.”