Since senior Courtney Daniel started throwing shot put and discus in seventh grade, she dreamed of throwing at an SEC school. Daniel had five trips planned over consecutive weeks this semester, but one trip to Tennessee changed everything.
“I showed up and I kind of fell in love with Tennessee, and I knew that that was my home,” Daniel said. “I knew that’s where I needed to be.”
Daniel, who is ranked fifth in the nation in shot put, also throws the hammer, discus and weight. She has made tremendous improvements in her throwing since her sophomore year when she first qualified for the State Championships.
In her first State appearance, she finished sixth in the shot put with a throw of 40 feet, 7 inches.
During her junior year, she finished third at the State Championships with a shot put throw of 45-5.75. She also placed sixth in the discus throw.
“I think the first thing that I think drew in some coaches was just the stark improvement that I had, coming out of my sophomore year,” Daniel said. “My shot PR was 40 feet, 7 inches. Then my junior year, I got up to 47 feet. And if you don’t know anything about shot – that is practically unheard of.”
With her athletic talent and academic prowess, Daniel attracted attention from college coaches across the country.
Since she was young, her parents always made academics a priority for her and her older sisters. Both of her older sisters played college softball. Kaylyn Daniel, who graduated from Kingwood Park in 2019, ranked No. 8 in her class.
“[High academics] shows not just the commitment, but the time management skills,” said Tracy Daniel, Courtney’s mom. “It shows that the athlete is able to excel academically and athletically, which gives them a little more confidence that they’ll be able to continue that when they’re at the collegiate level.”
Courtney is taking AP and Dual Credit classes while also still on the golf team and throwing for the track team.
She said she learned a lot as she balanced school, her teams and the recruiting process.
“It has been a blessing, but also a lesson as well,” Daniel said. “A lot of lessons thrown into one. I have learned about myself. I’ve learned a lot about others. I’ve learned a lot about what I value. It’s been a learning process.”
As much as the schools that recruited Daniel were interviewing her, she also was interviewing them.
Daniel was looking for coaches who shared her same values, a place where she could improve and a program with a good team culture. Tennessee coach Erik Whitsitt met every requirement Daniel set.
“He has built champions,” her dad Craig Daniel said. “He’s got a proven track record. He’s a great person to be around. The kind of person you want to be with, he’s built a team that’s a family. Very positive atmosphere.”
Daniel is excited for the new journey she will be starting after her senior year ends.
“I’m really happy that God had my back,” Daniel said. “I found my new home.”
