Schirmer steps back into the circle
Owatonna’s Trever Schirmer dons a University St. Thomas (UST) sweatshirt during warm-ups at the Hamline Elite Meet. Schirmer signed his letter of intent to compete for UST next year on National Signing Day in February. Staff photo by Johnnie Phillips
After rehabbing a torn ACL from 2022 that kept him out of both fall and winter sports this school year, Trever Schirmer has finally been able to step back into the throwers’ circle for Owatonna boys’ track and field.
The senior has made a name for himself over the course of his Huskies career, most recently winning the Huskies Male Athlete of the Year award in 2022.
“The rehab was a difficult road for me because it made me completely restart everything I worked for in life, but keeping God close to me helped me recover well. Now I’m finally back to being able to compete, and I forgot how much competition changes your life. I’ve become more energized throughout the day and mentally healthier because I get to do the thing I love again,” he said.
Schirmer was able to get his body back to a fully competitive level during his long recovery process; and in doing so, the senior was also able to recognize a lifelong dream.
During National Signing Day in February, the lifelong Owatonna athlete made official his decision to join the University of St. Thomas’s track and field team after graduating this spring.
“Ever since I was a little kid, the dream was always to go D-I. Little me definitely did not think that it would be in track, but it is something I have fallen in love with. My decision to go to St. Thomas fell into place when I was talking to my coach telling him I wanted a smaller school in a big city,” said Schirmer.
According to the senior, he will be competing in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw events for the Tommies next season.
Schirmer’s abilities in the throwers’ circle are undeniable, but what makes his story all the more special is how the sport found its way into his life.
“I was never planning on competing in track as a kid, but Joey Gleason – a coach for our high school team that used to coach for the middle school team – persuaded me to come out to throw for a year just to see if I liked it. I ended up breaking the seventh-grade discus record.”
Fast forward six years later, and Schirmer has his eyes set on a new record.
“My goals for this season are to hit 58 feet in the shot put and break the school record in the discus, which I’m only 17 feet away from breaking with plenty of time left to do so.”
To break the discus record, Schirmer will have to reach a mark of 187 feet and seven inches to surpass Casey Dehn’s all-time record of 187 feet and six inches from 2009.
However, just as important to Schirmer as the records and accolades during his final season as a Husky is enjoying his time spent with teammates and competitors along the way.
According to him, the best part of the sport comes from the relationships that athletes build through competition.
“Even if I’m competing against someone else, they will be so kind because you’re really always competing against yourself. Everyone just encourages one another to get better and better each day.”