Finding motivation all around, Torres preps to go Down Under

    It was a Friday, near the end of the school year and at the tail end of the high school track season. Holyoke High School freshman Emali Torres was frustrated as she struggled to make shot put throws that she could be proud of at the Burlington Invitational.
    Thinking back on that pivotal day, she said that coach Bryan Beckner urged her to get out of her own head and just throw. She looked out to the dirt sector ahead, and a single patch of dandelions stood out. Focusing solely on the little yellow flowers, Torres found herself in a mental place that resulted in a new personal best: 36 feet, 4 inches. In an event that often sees progress measured in inches, Torres, her family and coaches were ecstatic with a new PR that was a good couple of feet beyond what she’d thrown before.
    Between that throw and her subsequent trip to compete in the 2018 Colorado 2A State Track and Field Championships, recruiters took note of the young athlete.
    With her freshman season behind her, Torres was in the midst of the 2018-19 school year. On a day like any other, she was sitting in band, waiting for the lunch bell to ring. Band director Aaron Cottam delivered a letter to her from Down Under Sports inviting her to compete in Australia.
    “This is fake,” Torres recalls thinking. But it wasn’t; it was an opportunity of a lifetime.  
    Torres will join hundreds of other U.S. athletes in Queensland, Australia, July 6-15, 2019, for the 19th annual International Games. Upon their arrival, students will meet their coaches and have two days to practice with them. Working with the coaches, some of whom are Olympic athletes, is what Torres is looking forward to most.
    In the evenings after practice, participants will have the opportunity to visit kangaroo fields and take pictures with koalas. One free day will give them the chance to pick an activity — such as deep sea fishing, sky diving or dolphin watching — before going into three days of track and field competition.
    As is the goal of Down Under Sports President George O’Scanlon, the program will “use the common language of sports to bridge the continents.”
    Torres will be joined on the trip by her parents, Ozzy and Misty, and her sister, Alicia, who are excited for the opportunity to watch and support her.
    As she prepares for the summer 2019 event, Torres will be seeking sponsorships and fundraising to meet her $4,500 responsibility. Through Down Under Sports, donations can be made at downundersports.com/fgx-veq or by calling 435-753-4732. T-shirts can also be purchased to support Torres.

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