By Carter Melrose
Reno Tuufuli was predestined to dominate the Big Ten as a discus thrower.
He was always going to throw a discus 60.71-meters as a freshman, and he was always going to place second at the 2016 Big Ten Championships, according to his grandfather, who prophesied this before Tuufuli took his first breath.
“My grandfather predicted that I would be the best shot put and discus thrower before my birth, so when I began high school, I decided to try it,” Tuufuli said. “Before [I was in] high school, he died, and so he never got to see me throw.”
With the weight of destiny squarely on his colossal shoulders, Tuufuli displayed the type of promise that would have made his grandfather proud.
Tuufuli started the 2017 outdoor track season on a tear.
With a win in the Baldy Castillo Invitational on March 17-18 and a runner-up performance this past weekend in the Florida Relays, Tuufuli seems to be entering his prime.
“I’m the most competitive I can be,” he said. “There’s no better feeling than winning a big meet.”
With much more to prove, Tuufuli added another notch to his belt, winning the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week on March 22 after he led the nation in the discus.
“It was a great honor to be named Athlete of the Week.” Tuufuli said. “It was something I’ve wanted since I came to this school. I was happy to receive recognition for my hard work.”
Tuufuli, as well as his coaches, believe this time won’t be the last time his name will be connected to the award.
“He’ll probably win it again.” Hawkeye throwing coach Andrew Dubs said.
The honor, though prestigious, is not the end of the long journey Tuufuli has aggressively placed himself on.
He wants more, he wants and believes he can be a national champion. And it would be safe to bet, so does his grandfather.
“My goals are still the same,” Tuufuli said. “I want to be a Big Ten champion and a national champion. I believe I can achieve these goals if I throw 64 meters in discus.”
The mark of 60.71 meters stands as Tuufuli’s personal best, but with enough growth, 64 meters and a national championship could be in reach.
In the 2016 NCAA Track and Field Championships, Tuufuli had a shot at the title as a freshman.
But then his young nerves stepped in and postponed his dreams; Tuufuli committed fouls on all his championship throws.
“NCAAs was a learning experience,” he said. “I was too excited. It helped me become a more relaxed and mindful competitor.”
The next page in the Tuufuli chronicle will play out in the Jim Click Shootout in Tucson, Arizona, on Thursday through Saturday.
If Tuufuli can indeed become one of the great throwers in the history of the sport, these growth meets will surely be a must-see.
“The ceiling is the room for [Tuufuli]; isn’t that what Michael Jordan said?” Dubs said.