Athletics

Learning to Let Go

N Our Voice by Kalynn Meyer

Learning to Let GoHope Shortridge

It’s hard to explain the feeling of a perfect discus throw.

You start with a quiet pivot, build speed as your body coils, and—if every piece of the sequence clicks—let the disc roll off your fingertips in one smooth release. 

In that instant you know: this one will fly.

That sense of rhythm took years to master, beginning on our family farm in Superior, Nebraska.

I wasn’t chasing track and field titles back then. I was chasing my older sisters and soaking up every bit of knowledge from my dad, my first coach and biggest believer.

Today I’m an All-American shot-putter, a three-time state discus champion, and a proud Cornhusker aiming even higher in my favorite event, the discus. 

But the medals only tell part of the story. 

The real lesson has been learning when to let go of expectations and focus on the work that makes me feel alive.

A Small-Town Start

Sports were woven into our family’s DNA.

With two older sisters leading the way, I signed up for every season—volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter, track in the spring. Summers meant club tournaments, long drives and quick meals between games as my parents hauled us from one event to the next.

Growing up in a small town worked in my favor.

Coaches leaned on the same students to fill every roster, so I was able to play three sports year-round while still carving out time to refine my throws technique.

That nonstop cycle—paired with quality strength coaching, my dad’s technical eye, and endless reps—paid off: three state discus crowns, two in shot put, one volleyball and one basketball state title, and a state record for kills in a match and rebounds in a career.

Recruiting letters flooded in for all three sports. I was flattered, but also overwhelmed.

How do you choose when you love everything?

Ultimately, Nebraska offered me the best of everything: a chance to compete in both volleyball and track, stay close to family, pursue an engineering degree, and represent my home state on a national stage.

Choosing One Dream

My freshman year, I was all-in on volleyball. I wanted to prove I belonged; I gave it everything I had.

In my sophomore year, I added track, and the wheels wobbled. Balancing two Division I sports and an engineering course load meant little sleep and less recovery. 

After falling short of my goals at Big Tens, I knew something had to give. 

Leaving volleyball was gut-wrenching. Those teammates felt like family. Yet I knew my long-term future lived in the ring, where I could chase professional opportunities after college.

That decision gave me the clarity and focus I needed.

Relationships with my new event group deepened, my technique sharpened, and results followed. 

I reached outdoor nationals, then earned First-Team All-America in indoor shot put—validation that the difficult choice was the right one.

However, one of my favorite moments didn’t come at nationals or a championship meet. It happened at the Drake Relays, when my dad stepped in to coach me.

My coach had athletes competing in two places at once, so he asked my dad to help out. And just like that, I was back in high school—except this time, we were on a big stage. 

I hit a personal record at the Drake Relays and added another PR at Regionals with my Dad still by my side. 

I’ll never forget that.

But this journey hasn’t just been physical. Competing at this level has also forced me to grow mentally.

In college, you’re up against the best of the best. I had to develop mental toughness and learn how to compete with myself, not just the field. 

That’s been one of the hardest, but most important, lessons I’ve learned.

What Comes Next

This weekend is the Big Tens, followed by regionals and nationals. 

It’s hard to believe I only have a few meets left in Husker Red, but I plan to savor every one.

Wearing “Nebraska” across my chest still feels surreal. For a kid from a town of 1,800, representing this state on a national stage is a privilege I’ll never take lightly.

I’ll spend another year in Lincoln finishing a master’s in agricultural engineering and then see how far this sport can take me. 

The 2028 Olympics are on my radar. 

Nothing is off the table.

Whatever happens, I’ll bring Nebraska with me. My family’s support, Husker Nation’s pride, and the lessons learned in that dusty farmyard ring will never leave my side—and that’s worth more than any record I might set.