STARKVILLE — Emily Woomer knew what she wanted to do at an early age.
The Starkville High School track and field athlete enjoyed competing in track events when she started in fifth grade. At that point, she made up her mind she wanted to compete in track and field at the NCAA Division I level.
“I’ve seen her work hard for it,” said Caroline Woomer, Emily’s mother and coach at Starkville High. “We started running when she was 10 and I saw something in her then. I just wanted to know could she find it, could she want it? Because you can’t want it for your child and you can’t want it for your athletes.”
On Thursday, Emily Woomer realized her dream a reality when she signed a National Letter of Intent with the Naval Academy to compete in track and field. She will enroll in the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) in Newport, Rhode Island, in August and stay one year before heading to Annapolis, Maryland, to compete for the Midshipmen.
Coach Woomer said it was overwhelming to realize her daughter’s dreams had come true, but she said Emily took ownership of her talent and paved the way for her future.
Emily said she was impressed with the level of athletics and academics at the Naval Academy. She also said the thought of serving her country was something that excited her and helped sway her decision.
But her decision comes with a price. The demands of the Naval Academy are abundant. For an athlete, they are even higher. Although she has been training every year to compete in track, she knows the next level will be even tougher.
“I feel like I’m prepared, but I’ve heard there’s no way you can prepare for it,” Emily said. “Along with the physical things, it brings mental things you can’t exactly prepare for. I know it will be a challenge. I know there will be days where I don’t know how I’m going to make it, but I think I will make it through.”
Emily feels like she has already combated some mental challenges in her young life. She is taking Advanced Placement classes in addition to the time she dedicates to practice and meets. She said she has had to sacrifice many things to make her dreams come true.
“You just find ways to work it out,” Emily said. “You just have to go to class after school and then go and practice late. I think that has prepared me for college.”
Starkville High assistant track and field coach Steven Griffin began to see a different drive Emily when she started the recruiting process two springs ago. He said she worked hard the last two summers to prepare for the high school seasons and to compete at the next level.
Griffin came to Starkville High during Emily’s freshman season and knew immediately she had what it took.
“I saw the talent and the potential and the ability to work hard,” said Griffin, who also coaches the boys team. “We knew it was just a matter of time, once she bought in, once she decided that she wanted to run and get to the next level, it was all up to her.”
Emily’s older brothers, Grant and Stuart, attended the Naval Academy, which makes the thought of being on the same campus with them even more exciting.
From a mother’s perspective, it’s a point of pride.
“I’m thrilled because I’ve seen what an amazing place the Naval Academy is,” Caroline said. “They have a great education, the coaches are very driven, and their student athletes have to live up to high standards.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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