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08/19/2021 12:00 AMWhen Morgan Schultz started high school four years ago, she had a pretty good idea of what sport she wanted to compete in. Morgan’s older sisters, Taylor and Adrienne, had competed for the girls’ track and field program at Haddam-Killingworth, and Morgan wanted to follow in their footsteps.
Four years later, Morgan is graduating from H-K having put together a solid career for its indoor and outdoor track teams. Morgan served as a captain for the Cougars and set several personal bests as a pole vaulter in a senior year that saw her earn All-Shoreline Conference Second Team honors.
“I started competing in track, because I have two older sisters who both did it and had a ton of fun with it. I thought I would hopefully have a similar experience, and I did,” Morgan says. “This season was definitely my most successful season, and I’m very proud of it. I improved a lot, even during some tough times. I wish I was getting another season this year, although I’m looking into competing for a club track and field team in college this fall.”
Morgan took second place in the pole vault by clearing a personal- best height of 8 feet-6 inches for H-K’s outdoor team at the Shoreline Conference Championship this spring. Morgan’s performance helped the Cougars claim their first conference title since 2014.
“My favorite moment was my senior year outdoor track Shorelines. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams came in first, and we watched a few teammates dump water on our coach,” says Morgan. “Seeing the pride and joy on his face was an amazing moment for me.”
Head Coach Matt Diglio says that it was a no-brainer to name Morgan as one of H-K’s captains for the 2021 campaign. Diglio knows that Morgan’s leadership, coupled with her efforts in the pole vault, proved crucial during the Cougars’ undefeated regular season and their run to the Shoreline Conference crown.
“Morgan focused on the pole vault and made tremendous progress over the past several seasons. She was one of the top vaulters in the Shoreline Conference and a constant qualifier for the State Championship meet,” Diglio says. “However, this past year, one of Morgan’s greatest contributions to the team was as a captain and leader for the girls’ team and the pole-vaulting group. She was a tremendously hard worker and was at every practice. She was usually the last one to leave each day.”
Diglio praises Morgan for taking extra time to assist the younger athletes on the team. Diglio says that Morgan always goes out of her way to help others.
“Morgan led by example and spent a great deal of time helping the younger pole vaulters on the team who all looked up to her,” says Diglio. “We are appreciative of all of Morgan’s contributions both on and off the track over the past four years and will miss her a great deal next year.”
Morgan formed a strong relationship with Coach Diglio as her track career unfolded. Morgan says that Diglio strikes the perfect balance between pushing H-K’s athletes and understanding when they need more support.
“My relationship with my head coach is very good. Throughout the years, I’ve gotten to know him better and better,” says Morgan. “Now that I have graduated, I look forward to going back and visiting in the future.”
Above all, Morgan felt thrilled to compete for the track team after her junior season was canceled due COVID-19. Prior to the spring season, Morgan played for the H-K girls’ soccer squad in the fall, helping the Cougars win the Shoreline Conference title.
“At the start of my fall soccer season, I was very worried that our school was going to get shut down, and we wouldn’t be able to play,” says Morgan. “Through the winter and into the spring, as more and more people started getting vaccinated, I grew more comfortable and confident that our school wouldn’t shut down, but more worried that I would be personally quarantined and miss practice, which did happen in February.”
Morgan’s appreciation for track and field grew immensely during her time at H-K. Without track, Morgan never would have met some of her best friends.
“My favorite aspect of the sport is the team camaraderie,” Morgan says. “During meets, whenever people aren’t competing, they are cheering others on and supporting them, whether they have a good meet or a bad one.”