Stacy Schroeder was a three-sport star for Grand Island winning local All-Star awards in volleyball, basketball, and outdoor track. She actually captured her first state championship as a junior in 1991 in the Shot Put before going on to become the first girl to win both the Discus and Shot at States in 1992, setting meet records in both events. Along with setting the still standing State Meet Discus Record of 166-5 in 1992, her big throws during the season gave her the USA #1. Able to work in some Shot Put throws among her basketball free throws, Schroeder also won two indoor scholastic championships and was Gatorade Circle of Champions State Winner and Player of the Year.
Schroeder launched her big throw of 172-0 on May 9, 1992 at the Jamestown Track Classic. The distance was 10 feet further than the longtime discus record before Schroeder entered the scene. In the years since, only Gina LoMonaco of Half Hollow Hills has come close to the record with a toss of 170-5 back in 1995.
Schroeder broke a 13-year-old state discus record that was held by Diane Pugh of Amityville, who threw 162-0 in 1979.
Schroeder went on to the University of Florida and was an SEC champ and twice All-American in track and field before an injury ended her throwing career. She majored in microbiology, earned her doctorate at Syracuse's SUNY Upstate Medical University, and stayed close to home as a pediatric anesthesiologist at Women and Children's Hospital in Buffalo with Kaleida Health. After marriage she became Stacy Schroeder-Watt and has two daughters entering their teen years, Alexandria and Audrey.
Guided through her school and working career by supportive parents, coaches, and health area mentors, Schroeder-Watt has devoted a huge amount of time in later years giving back to kids in sports and younger colleagues in her medical field. Her message to young athletes always revolves around the importance of taking pride in the accomplishments of themselves and teammates, and to celebrate the strength and power of working for a goal.
As the mother of two daughters on the way to their high school years, Schoreder-Watt is especially concerned with helping to build up self-confidence for female athletes. She talked at length about her views this week in Girl Power Part 2: Reality Check, a podcast article for WBFO and NPR.
"I still help with the throwers events," she says, and though she is aware that the discus and shot put are maybe not the first events that girls flock to, she works hard to help the athletes celebrate their individual gains and be proud of their strength.
Schroeder-Watt believes that being part of a team early an athlete's career makes them less prone to personal and social issues in their later years. She also advises kids to find the right models to emulate, not necessarily the ones "with multi-colored hair, and are fake." She says, "My biggest concern is about images out there for women right now," and she urges them to look to athletes like the top women's beach volleyball players who are marked by an aura of power and confidence. Also make sure throughout life to devote time to physical development and to keep "our foundation, our house," as she refers to the body, strong and standing tall.
And whether or not you are an elite athlete, says Schroeder-Watt, you can still make a huge difference in the world by throwing that arm around a shoulder when needed or just being a friend or coach. "Sometimes we're not all meant to be here and achieve some level of greatness. Maybe our greatness is helping others achieve greatness."