For those who know anything about the shot put, you know it takes a lot of physical strength and stamina to hoist that ball a long distance. For Old Saybrook junior Bardth Thaci, this event has been a staple for him to carve a path of success with the Rams indoor track and field team this season.

Bardth’s shot put career started when he was in middle school when he was looking for a way to help keep himself in shape for football season. Family persuasion convinced Bardth to stick with this strength and skill-ridden event over the last few years.

“I have been throwing shot put since middle school. Maintaining conditioning for football and mainly my sister inspired me to start because she liked track and thought I would want to do it too,” says Bardth. “She gave me that push to keep up with it. I also play football, where I am a tight end and middle linebacker.”

Bardth and the Rams compete in the Shoreline Athletic Conference (SLC), and he is tasked with throwing the 12-pound weight for the shot put in that competition.

At the Shoreline conference meet on Feb. 3, Bardth finished in first place in the shot put, throwing 52-10.50 ft. Bardth’s score not only put him on top but also set a new school and conference record.

“The most memorable meet this year was shorelines because I set the new school record and conference record and took first in shot put at shorelines,” says Bardth.

Old Saybrook Head Coach Jan Merrill has noticed a lot of improvement from Bardth throughout his high school career but also commends him for his strong leadership abilities.

“He is a leader by show, intrinsically has developed this ability to really focus on his event and perform well,” says Merrill. “He has really become a student of the sport, within shot putters or any boys on the team, he is very good as far as going out and helping his teammates.”

Being an upperclassman this season and gaining more experience, Bardth has made sure to be someone his teammates can look up to and rely on.

“I have led by keeping a good atmosphere in practice, cracking jokes here and there and being friendly with everybody but getting serious when I need to be,” says Bardth.

On Feb. 9, Bardth had the opportunity to compete in the Class S championships for his favorite event. In this meet, he threw 49-10.50 feet and finished in second place overall. His performance at states was just a reflection of the already impressive and successful season he’s had, which has included breaking school records and reaching personal goals.

After his strong performance at states, Bardth qualified for the State Open meet for the shot put. The State Open is reserved for top-level talent, so being in that group of elites is rewarding for many athletes.

At the meet on Feb. 18, Bardth not only threw a personal record, but he also finished first among the best shot putters in the state of Connecticut, throwing 53-08.50 feet in the finals.

“It went great,” says Bardth about his performance at State Open. “I had a few touch ups here and there, but overall good.”

Merrill alludes to Bardth’s work ethic and constant desire to improve as the primary reason for his success.

“He challenges himself a lot, which is good, he is challenging himself to get better, and I like that,” says Merrill. “When you have talented athletes who are a student of the sport, they really want to get better. He has been doing that all season—amazing us every time.”

With the shot put being so strenuous and tough on the body, Bardth’s wrist takes a beating during the track season with the amount of pressure he has to put on it. Bardth, who suffers from tendinitis in his wrist, finds that having to apply that pressure is one of the toughest things about being in his position.

“The biggest challenge I have faced is my wrist,” says Bardth. “I have tried to find ways around it, but it has been a struggle.”

Merrill mentions that although Bardth has been challenging himself as a thrower this season, he also struggled to throw the distance he needed at first.

“The biggest challenge for him this season was getting over 50 feet in the shot put,” says Merrill. “I think winning Shorelines was huge. For what level where we are at, he wants to get better. When an athlete is trying to succeed in something, and it comes from them, and they just go out and show you that they can do it, that comes from him. He displays those values.”

On March 11, Bardth will be competing at the New Balance Nationals indoor track meet in Boston, Massachusetts. As he thinks about the remainder of the season and prepares for that meet, he hopes to embrace the experiences with the friends he’s made throughout his track journey.

“I am looking forward to creating more moments with my friends and have memories to keep for a long time,” says Bardth. “I am also hoping to hopefully be throwing further and throwing discus in outdoor when the time comes.”