Q&A with Keegan Digby; All-American Shot Putter
QA 1-1
Keegan Digby is currently a Junior at Ohio Northern University. As a sophomore in 2022 he won the indoor and outdoor conference title in the shot put, broke the school outdoor record and finished 7th place at the national championships to earn All-American status. He is a graduate of Otsego high school.
What made you want to attend Ohio Northern as compared to other schools?
When I first came to Ohio Northern for a visit, I was very happy to see that the atmosphere made me feel like I was "at home". Then, meeting with the track team and coaches, the feeling carried over and was even stronger. I could tell the team operated and felt like a family. Never had I seen teammates truly cheering each other on during a practice without being told or feeling like they needed to, you just wanted to.
Last year you set the outdoor school record, won the conference and were an All-American, what are your goals for this year?
This year my goals are set even higher, anyone who knows me knows that I always expect more out of myself, and know I can do better. Currently, my goal is to set a new PR and break the indoor shot put record. More specifically, I would like to throw consistently in the 17 meter range (17 meters = 55ft 9in.) by the end of the season, and place higher at the NCAA Championships. In outdoor, I would like to further this mark and my record, as well as be a contender for the Outdoor Shot Put Champion.
How did growing up in Wood County and attending Otsego prepare you for college sports?
Growing up in my area and attending Otsego played a great role in preparing me for collegiate sports. Specifically my throwing coach, Chad McClory, and many other coaches, did a really great job of helping me be more competitive. He showed me not only that I had the chance and potential to compete with some of the best, but he also helped me to reach that potential.
What are the difficulties of being a college athlete and mechanical engineering major?
The biggest difficulty with being a collegiate athlete and mechanical engineering student is time management. For me, high school did not prepare me for the amount of time I would have to spend outside of class working on homework and studying. I am also very passionate about throwing so I knew this would take a bunch of my time as well. On top of all of this, you still want to be able to have a social life in college, so it was very difficult to find a balance.
What piece of advice would you give younger athletes who want to shot put at the college level?
The biggest piece of advice I would give younger shot putters is to put the time in. It sounds simple but a lot of throwing is just about giving the time and effort into everything you do. Whether it is actually throwing reps, lifting, or even everyone's least favorite, drilling. There are no easy paths when it comes to throwing. No matter how much some people are naturally better than others, it takes a ton of time and effort to compete at the higher levels.