An All-Around All Star

"I never wanted to play sports in high school."

Yet three and a half years into high school, Charlotte Firth is on pace to graduate high school earning 10 varsity letters -  lettering in two sports her freshman and sophomore years, and lettering in three her junior and senior years.

As a freshman, Charlotte was part of the varsity volleyball and basketball teams.  Not bad for someone who had no intention of playing sports?

"I got asked to do track.  I got asked to try out in every sport I did, " said Firth.  "My math teacher asked me one day after class if I would consider doing track because I was on two other varsity sports."

She has starred in track the most, the sport that took her the longest to letter in.

"I never knew about track.  Never, ever in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be that good at a sport.  It's more of an individual sport," she said.  "You get to work on yourself.  There is really no one you can let down but yourself."

King Philip Track's throwing coach Frank Sorrento gets to watch Firth's growth and success first hand. 

"First time I met her, I thought she was shy.  It took her a little while to come out of her shell and show her true personality.  Once it came out, though, it was like trying to put a genie back in the bottle.  She has fun, likes to give high fives and is the type of person that you want on your team, " Coach Sorrento explained.

Two years ago in the Freshman/Sophomore Track Meet, Charlotte realized she compared well with her peers.

"I think she surprised herself with how well she did.  She found I'm really good among my peers.  I think that was a game changer when it comes to track," said Sorrento.

Anyone who has seen Charlotte throw the discus and shot put can see, she is talented, but Coach Sorrento said she still has untapped potential. 

This winter, she will join Coach Sorrento and the rest of the Warrior track team and forego her fourth season of basketball, even though basketball was her core concentration for three years.

"I started not having fun anymore," she said. "I just didn't get any enjoyment out of it."

Though she won't be on the hardwood with the Lady Warriors this winter, her heart and thoughts will be with her teammates, and she will miss the closeness of that team.

"No matter what happened, no matter who they are to you in school or your social life, you know they [teammates] have your back.  I've seen girls get kicked in the face and scratched in the eye, and you know someone is going to be there to give you a hand and help you back up.  It was such a family," said Firth.

Even though she is leaving one family, she is joining another. As a part of this family, she has the opportunity to make school history.

"Just has a great spirit.  She's happy at practice.  Works hard, but she's happy first.  Practices are like a little family, which has grown to over 30, I think she has a huge part in that.  I think that people see that a kid that works hard and has fun can do well," Sorrento said.

Last year she threw the discus over 100 ft, and she had the current school record holder Katie Kelleher to mentor her.  Charlotte had the opportunity to watch and learn from her, and become a leader of this team who leads by example.

The weight of the discus for women in the NCAA is the same as high school, and Coach Sorrento said he hopes Charlotte pursues track at the next level, as she already dominates and has all the potential in the world.

He explained that track at the collegiate level is a more social event, and would fit her personality excellently.

"I get letters every day in the mail.  It's interesting," said Firth. "Oh this college wants me.  This one offers me money.  I've committed so much time to sports, I feel I need to step back and take academics seriously."

Regardless of whether or not Charlotte breaks discus records, or throws the discus in college, she will leave an equal or greater impact on the people she encounters.  Her friends and teammates can attest to that first hand.

"I never thought that I was going to be able to have all the relationships I had through sports.  I got to know people who were seniors when I was a freshman.  It changed me a lot.  It made me into a group oriented person and learned a lot of responsibility," she said.

It was a change of plans for Charlotte Firth that led to an outstanding athletic performance, and equally outstanding relationships and life lessons.