Mondays on college campuses are usually filled with tired students rushing to class after busy weekends of studying and working. The Harper Library is home to those students, quietly sipping Starbucks while pushing through their assignments. 

Hannah Schulz, on the other hand, is full of energy on Monday mornings. Schulz’s blonde waves and bright smile let everyone know she is cheerful and easygoing. 

With her perky personality, she could fit right in on any cheerleading team. Instead, Schulz shines in the hammer cage. 

The 19-year-old Harper College sophomore is studying Early Childhood Education. Schulz has a bubbly demeanor that is a typical hallmark for those looking to educate future generations. In the early mornings, she nannies for a local family. 

But on the track and field team, Schulz is a beast.

The cage provides an open space with an in-bounds area for the thrower to aim. Spinning around a circular pit, the thrower hurls an eight-pound ball into the V-shaped target. 

“During high school, my freshman year, my parents were like, ‘Everyone has to do a sport,’” Schulz said. “And throwing seemed like the least athletic one, or the one we had to do the least amount for.” 

Little did she know that she would find her passion in these throwing events and move on to her true love: the hammer throw. 

What started as a way to put minimal effort into her family’s sports requirements quickly turned into a deep passion. With the track and field team at Harper, Schultz trains five times per week, including heavy lifting sessions and plyometrics. 

Schulz enjoys the heavy benching, squats, and quick movements that are all part of a hammer thrower’s workout split. Despite not initially wanting to do anything too athletic, she finds peace and joy in becoming physically stronger. 

Balancing a strict training schedule with education and working as a nanny can be difficult, but she says that Harper Coaches does a great job encouraging balance. Many people may find a full schedule like that draining, but not for Schulz. 

“I just love the feeling of pushing myself, and I like feeling that tiredness,” Schulz said. “I feel like I’ve accomplished something at the end of the day.” 

When asked about how her coaches and teammates would describe her, she said, “I would hope they see me as hardworking. I try to be bubbly, so maybe they’ll see me as upbeat. I try to keep it light.” 

The track and field team has been a great support for Schulz while navigating college life. During practice,  Schulz and her teammates can share their struggles in an intimate & safe space without fear of judgment. 

“Since most of my classes are online, or I’m teaching preschoolers, I can’t really talk to preschoolers about school,” Schulz shared.

Schulz lights up when she speaks about the team. Even though there are only five members in the group, they rally around each other at meets. 

“I love our team, and I like training with them because they are really goofy and we really push each other to be better, which is nice,” Schulz said. “You don’t get that when you are training alone.” 

With a physically demanding schedule, Schulz stresses the importance of taking care of her body and prioritizing recovery. With an emotional support water bottle by her side, she explains that hydration and sleep are the most important requirements for her best performance.  

To prepare for a meet, Schulz has a specific routine that she absolutely swears by. After practice, she stretches for an hour. For an athlete’s dinner, Schulz enjoys home-cooked chicken and pasta from her mom. 

“I think about all the things that could not go wrong, but all the possibilities that could happen the next day,” Schulz said. “I kind of work, or pre-work through that in my head.” 

Schulz has learned to anticipate mistakes beforehand and accept them. At a meet last spring, her first two throws were terrible and caused her to get anxious about her next chances. 

“I had to make it to Finals so I could qualify for Nationals. So then I realized I was freaking out with my coach, and she’s like, ” You just gotta throw it away,’ My last throw was like the best throw I’ve had all season.” 

This mentality had helped Schulz significantly with the pressures of success. Like many, she aims to win and does not enjoy failing. The encouragement to do well helps her train and throw her best. 

“This is just a sport. This doesn’t determine who I am as a person or what I do after it. Especially if I don’t do well, I’m like, ‘Man, I might have disappointed someone,’” Schulz explains. “But then afterwards, I’m like, ‘No, this comes with the process.’”