Schuykill Valley’s PIAA double-gold medalist Ashlyn Giles to throw big for Wake Forest
LEESPORT, Pa. (BVM) — Everything happens for a reason. This couldn’t be more true for Ashlyn Giles, a thrower from Schuykill Valley High School (Class of 2021) who earlier this month was named as the Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Track and Field Player of the Year. The phrase is relatable so much so, that she even got the words tattooed on her ribs.
Giles had received DI offers to throw for Nebraska, North Carolina, Penn State, William & Mary, Robert Morris and Wake Forest before the start of her senior season. At that point, Giles had no outdoor state medals or Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association records — only great potential that few coaches saw. She went into her senior season committed to Nebraska and from there Giles soared to unfamiliar heights.
At the 2021 PIAA Track and Field Championships in May, Giles won gold in the shot put and then gold in the discus. She even made history when she broke the PIAA meet record after she threw 165-feet-4-inches in the discus (the runner-up threw 25 feet behind her). Giles’ gold winning shot put throw of 49-feet-2.25-inches also helped Schuykill Valley take home their first-ever girls PIAA team title.
“The spin is the same for both, but just different implements,” Giles said. “It’s not rare to see someone be good at both, but some people only specialize in one. I just have been fortunate enough to master both.”
The 18-year-old within the same month also set the all-time Pennsylvania state record in the discus when she threw 169-feet-2-inches during the 2021 BCIAA Firing Championship Track Meet. This broke a 37-year-old record which is now ranked by MileSplit as the nation’s No. 4 performance. Her personal record in the shot put of 52-feet-11-inches is ranked as No. 1 nationally among 2021 prep girls competitors.
“I didn’t think a lot of this was possible,” Giles said. “My happiest moment out of everything has to be when I threw 169 in the discus. Also, becoming a part of school history for the team at the championships is my favorite too. Looking back, I surprised myself. I threw 32 feet my freshman year and now it’s up to 52 feet in the shot put. It’s crazy that I’ve improved that much.”
Giles’ junior high school season essentially never happened because of the pandemic. Her DI offers were based off of her sophomore season and the training she did as a junior while at Garage — a strength training gym for college-level and national athletes. Giles contributes a lot of her progress to the Garage competitions. Her junior year personal record was 46 feet in the shot put and 139 feet in the discus.
But, amidst the outburst of success she experienced the following year competing for Schuykill Valley, Giles was also just trying to figure out her next steps. She had already asked to be released from her National Letter of Intent in the month prior to her record breaking meets. Giles said she opened up her recruitment again after the Huskers’ throws coach, Scott Cappos, announced that he would not be returning for the 2022 season.
But, everything happens for a reason according to Giles. Fortunately for her, the Wake Forest throws coach, Collin Post, decided that he was not going to let Giles slip away again. Post offered Giles a full-ride scholarship and came to her house for a family dinner to convince the star athlete once again to join the team.
In early July, Giles finished at No. 13 in the discus and No. 6 in shot put at the Outdoor Nationals. A few days later, she gave her commitment to bring her strong arm to Wake Forest.
“I needed to make a decision fast,” Giles said. “I really liked Ohio State, but they never offered me. Everything happens for a reason, though. Coach Post showed me that he really wanted me on the team.”
Giles said she is ready to bring her energy to Wake Forest and noted that she’s only getting started out on the field. She’s determined to make historic moments on the women’s team for both discus and shot put.
“At Wake Forest, I want the school record in shot put and maybe discuss,” Giles said. “I want to win an ACC championship.”
