Ambar Nunez throwing hammer at the 2018 RIIL Indoor State Championships
By: Aniekan Okon
Two weeks ago, two time Youth All-American in the weight throw Ambar Nunez and New Balance Outdoor National Champion in the hammer throw Jacob Furland committed to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Nunez went on an official visit to the school last weekend and Furland went two weeks before. An official visit is when a student athlete has the opportunity to visit an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) institution and the visit is completely paid by the institution. Under NCAA rules, a student athlete is allowed no more than 5 official visits.
Nunez, who had interest from the University of Hartford, Assumption College in Massachusetts and Baylor University in Texas, and Furland, who had interest from Troy University in Alabama, UConn and other schools both chose Winthrop because of the program and the school.
“The track program is amazing and so is the coach. They are also really good with the major I want to study, political science.”
Furland also talked about how Winthrop would be close to home, since his parents are planning to move to South Carolina, and the stability of the team and the program.
“I really liked the campus and the team dynamic. The coach is also really well grounded there, so it’s not likely he’s going anywhere which is what intrigued me. The program itself has turned out some very good athletes such as Marthaline Cooper.
Marthaline Cooper, a Classical alumni, was a four time All-American, six time Big South Conference champion in the weight and hammer throw and named the 2017 Big South Female Student-Athlete of the Year at Winthrop.
The amazing thing about these two athletes are that they had no intention of being throwers. Athletic Director Robert Palazzo worked his magic by getting them to throw a weight one day.
“I never even planned on doing sports. My plan was to go to school then go home. I met Palazzo and then he had me try and throw the weight. I was hooked,” says Furland.
“Coach P literally just grabbed me and said ‘come throw this ball’, and I did. I realized the potential, and that’s what stuck”, says Nunez.
Again, let’s congratulate throwers Ambar Nunez and Jacob Furland for their commitment to Winthrop University. Make sure you follow @purplethrows to track their progress and the rest of the team as they prepare for a strong winter and spring season.