Houghton High School track and field standout Amy Sziber is all smiles after winning seven events at the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association Games in June held in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Provided photo) 

LAKE FOREST, Illinois — When 16-year-old Amy Sziber let her third throw of her two-kilo shot put go at the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association Games in mid-June, she was shocked by all the hoopla just after it landed.

“I was stunned,” she stated, “and so was my coach (Monica Aho).”

Sziber landed a 6.2-meter throw. The previous record was 4.7 meters set by a Bahraini para-Olympian in the 2016 Rio Paralympics who was much older than her. There was an official who was quick to verify the record toss and have Amy sign off on it.

“The key to good shot put is form,” added Sziber. “And this one had all the form. I was so happy after I threw it.”

Sziber was born with spina bifida — a spinal cord defect which effects the formation of the spine. She has been a part of the Houghton High School track and field team since her freshman year. She will be a junior this year.

While shot put is her favorite event, Sziber took home medals in the 100-meter track event as well as the 200m, 400m, and 800m races. She added that she threw the discus and javelin both for the first time.

“I just wanted to give it a try,” she quipped with a smile.

To say that Amy is a competitor and hard worker is an understatement, according to her coach Monica Aho. Aho is a physical therapist at U.P. Health System — Portage and has worked with Sziber since she was in kindergarten.

“Amy is like a daughter to me,” Aho noted. “She has never seen herself as a victim because of her disability. In fact, she sees it as a blessing as it allows her to go places and do things that she might not have to been able to do otherwise.”

Aho and Sziber try to meet twice a week at the Houghton High School track to train.

“I wish we could do more, but because of my schedule that is the best we can do,” stated Aho. “Amy’s attitude is amazing. She sets goals and meets them. Every season she has gotten better as an athlete. I am so proud of her.”

Next up for “Team Sziber” is nationals which will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in two weeks. Because of her top finishes in her seven events at the Great Lakes Games, she has qualified to compete in those same events at the Hartford Nationals as they are formally known.

With this recent record-breaking throw at the Great Lakes games, both Aho and Monica have Paralympic dreams dancing in their heads – think Los Angeles 2028.

“I don’t think it is too far off,” Aho explained. “Amy is the perfect age and wants it, and when Amy wants something, she gets it.”

Houghton High School junior Amy Sziber prepares to throw the shot put at a recent meet. The 16-year-old recently set a national record in shot put at the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association Games in June held in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Provided photo)