It may have taken up until the upperclassman portion of his high school career, but John Panzera has found his niche athletically. And, in that short time frame, he found his footing and moved fast to rousing results for both himself and the Haddam-Killingworth boys’ track program.

The senior first played baseball until middle school before trying wrestling and fencing, but as he notes, “I could not find my fit.” Then entering his junior year, John was encouraged to try track and was a state championship qualifier last indoor season for the Cougars.

This winter season, John has picked up right where he left off and then some. After helping the Cougars finish third as a team at the Shoreline Conference Championship, where he took the high jump title (5-10), he was good enough to qualify for the State Open Championship in that same event, where he finished 11th with the same Shoreline mark.

“I knew I would be a good runner and jumper; I’ve always been good at jumping over stuff,” says John with a laugh. “It seemed like a fun environment. There is a great energy at the meets; you are anxious, but you are ready to go. I made states last year, but I did not do as well as I wanted. This year, my previous PR [personal record] was 5-6, but it went up to six feet this year. At the State Open, I wasn’t sure I would make it because I had an off day at the Class S State Championship, but my muscle memory just took over.”

­Additionally, at this year’s conference championship meet, John finished runner-up in the 55 hurdles with a mark of 8.63 seconds and was fifth for the long jump. No matter the finish or accolade via being mid-air, John stays humble and grounded and always tries to beat his previous outing.

“I had a really good meet at Shorelines,” says John. “I knew I had the ability to win the high jump. Going into an event, I think that I always want to hit a new PR every time I go into it. Again, it goes back to that anxious but ready to go feeling. I will just collect my thoughts and breathe before each event.”

John notes that he has the raw talent to be one of the top performers in his specialty competitions. Still, he credits his coaches for teaching him the proper techniques to bring his abilities to a whole other level of excellence.

“I have done better on my hurdle times,” John says, as he also competes in the 110 and 300 hurdles in outdoor track. “ With hurdles, I try to get low to keep my speed up after I clear one. My coaches have definitely helped me with getting lower. I had the abilities to do these events, but they were refined by my coaches. It has also been important to have the support of my team.”

Being on the Open stage alongside the best of the best in Connecticut could create some performance anxiety for many. Yet John recalls that he thought back to his past resume that pushed him to that upper echelon and was up to the job.

“At the State Open, I had difficulty with my nerves because I was surrounded by so many talented people,” says John. “I had to remind myself that I made it here for a reason and to not psych myself out. I just focused on doing my best.”

No matter what the future brings, John jumps at the daily opportunity to score a one-up on himself over the prior 24 hours while aiming to end his Cougars’ career on high notes as he ventures towards outdoor season in the spring.

“I am undecided on college right now, but I always strive to be better than the day before,” says John. “I try to improve myself each day. I just love to work with my coaches and teammates and improve myself.”

H-K boys’ indoor track Head Coach Dick Dupuis recalls a timely and pivotal moment between him and John that helped set the stage for his tenure in track. It all led to him not only being a sensational athlete but also a consummate captain and teammate that anyone would love to emulate.

“John came out for indoor track as a junior. He had done no other sport until that time. John and I were in the gym waiting for the bus that would take us to a meet. While we were there, John was trying to touch the basketball rim. After I oversaw this, I suggested he might try to high jump,” says Dupuis. “As one of the coaches in John’s brief career, I found it truly rewarding to witness the growth of a young man develop as an athlete and a person over a relatively brief one-and-a-half-year career with us. I truly believe that he has contributed to H-K track in a meaningful way and will continue to do so during the spring. Moreover, I believe his involvement in the sport and the lessons learned will serve him well in the future.”

The unexpected camaraderie with so many individuals has left an indelible mark in John’s mind. He adds that while the coaches have been master motivators to get things accomplished, John additionally loves the rush of any run.

“It has been great to do the sport of track because I have hung out and made friends with people I normally would not have,” John says. “The coaches have been great; they always help you get done what you need to get done. It is a great time to spend exercising, and the track community here has been both important and great to me.”