As a freshman entering Auburn High School Isabel Zukowski decided that she was going to be a three-sport athlete for the Rockets. That year she took part in field hockey during the fall, basketball in the winter and golf in the spring, but that would all change come the beginning of her sophomore year. The now incoming senior had been at field hockey practice when the girls head track and field coach, Karyn Ferdella, approached her following the day’s activities.

“She came up to me in the hallway after watching me do field hockey drills and asked me to join the track and field team,” Zukowski said. “She told me that she thought that I’d be good at throwing the shot put. I don’t know how she figured I’d be good at that while playing field hockey, but I decided to give it a try even though I had never heard of the sport.”

The sophomore went home and told her mother about the sport and she had the same expression as her daughter. When she told her what she had signed up for, her mother was all confused as she had no idea what the sport was either or what it entailed. 

Zukowski was beyond scared when she first got to the tryouts, but after Coach O’Brien (the Auburn throwing coach) calmed her down and ran her through the process of throwing the shot-put things were ok. Although she now knew what she was doing, she was not that great at it.

“The first time that I threw the shot-put I was not any good at all,” she said. “I took one step and threw it – it only went about 15’.”

Shot-put is an event where an athlete propels a heavy spherical weight called a shot as far as they possibly can from a designated circle. It is more of a push from the shoulder; a test of strength, speed, endurance and explosive power using either a glide or rotational technique to generate momentum.

Despite never having lifted a shot-put, never mind not knowing what it was, Zukowski made it to the State Tournament and then continued onto the All-State Meet in her very first year in the sport. 

“When I went to the States I didn’t really know much about what was going on and thought that it was just another regular meet,” Zukowski said. “When I got there I realized that all the girls were all good and at the All States they were really good; then I realized I was there with them so I must be good too.”

Following the successful season that she had in the winter during her very first year attempting the event, she decided that she would forgo golf and throw the shot in the spring, as well as trying the discus. Zukowski noted that the discus was lighter than the shot-put and figured that she might like it better. And while the discus requires more technique and has to come off the fingers, she has come to love both events equally.

To date her best shot-put throw is 37.7”, while she has tossed the discus a best 116’ 4”.

“I know many coaches speak in hyperbole when discussing their best athletes, but Isabel is truly one of a kind, Ferdella said. “In my 24 years as head coach, I can unequivocally say that we’ve never had an athlete quite like her. What she has accomplished in the world of track and field in such a short time is nothing short of remarkable.” 

This past season as a junior Zukowski once again went to the States where she finished fourth in the discus and added a third-place finish in the shot put allowing her to move onto the All States.

“Making the All States two years in a row was simply amazing to find that I was doing things right and people were recognizing me for it,” she said. “Congratulations came from my family, friends and peers, while the support from the community was really nice.”

As she gets ready to take part in her senior campaign her goals remain the same as they have every year prior. The only goal Zukowski has for herself it to get better than she was the year before, not only in personal records, but strength -wise as well. She would also love to make it back to the New Englands in the shot-put in both the winter and indoor seasons. This past year she made it to the finals where she finished ninth. 

Participating in the discus at the All States this past year Zukowski found that things didn’t go all that well for her.

“The circle was a little wet but everyone else was throwing in the same circle,” Zukowski said. “It just wasn’t my day.”

The Auburn girls team has won the Southern Worcester County League (SWCL) indoor Championship two years in a row and Zukowksi would love nothing more than to make it three years in a row before departing. Personally if she could capture an individual championship she’d be thrilled. She won’t be doing anything special to get ready for the upcoming track seasons outside of playing a lot of field hockey in the fall while spending time in the gym doing cross-fit, lifting and conditioning.

“As a former trained dancer, Isabel understands her body, making her comprehension of the mechanics of shot put and discus both swift and precise. She also understands how to harness her explosive power and, most importantly, she understands how to demonstrate poise and grace under pressure,” the Auburn coach said. “Isabel, along with throwing coach, Jack O’Brien, put in many, many long hours perfecting her throwing style. She is a determined athlete who arrives first and stays late and I cannot say enough about her and what she has brought to our team. She is an inspiration to her teammates and always handles herself with class.”

Although it’s still over a year away before she heads out to college but the soon to be senior has been speaking to coaches.

“It’s definitely a possibility and I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately,” Zukowski said. “I have started talking to the coach from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst about me throwing there.”

Whether she gets to continue throwing the shot-put or discus on the collegiate level its already been one hell of a few years taking part in the two events for Auburn and one she never saw coming.

“When I first started throwing the shot-put, I absolutely never thought that I’d come to this in such a short time,” Zukowski said. “This was a sport that I had literally no idea what it was and I was just picking it up because it looked like fun.”

Who knew fun could become so successful in only two short years.

Zukowski’s Notables for her junior seasons

Indoor: 

• Undefeated throughout the entire regular SWCL season in the shot-put

• SWCL All-Star

• 1st place - shot-put at SWCL Championships (37’7”)

• 2nd place - shot-put at the Division 4 State Championship (36’3”)

• 8th place – shot-put at the All-State Meet of Champions (36’ 6.75”)

• 20th place – shot-put at the New England Championship (34’2”)

• Holds the school record for the shot-put with a throw of 37’7”, breaking the previous record of 36’5” held by Nicole Keller in 1997 

Outdoor:

• Undefeated throughout the entire regular SWCL season in the shot-put and the discus

• SWCL All-Star

• 1st place – shot-put at the SWCL Championship (34’ 2.5”)

• 1st place – discus at the SWCL Championship (109’7”)

• 1st place – discus at the Division 1 District E Championship (108’4”)

• 2nd place – shot-put at the District E Championship (34’ 8”)

• 3rd place – shot-put at the All-State Meet of Champions (37’ 3.75”)

• 9th place – shot-put at the New England Championships (37’)

• Holds the school record in the shot-put (37’7”) breaking her own record of 36’ set in 2024

• Holds the school record in the discus (116’4”) breaking the previous record of 115’5” set by Liz Gregoire in 1976