At East, dedication and growth define what it means to be an athlete, and for senior thrower Lia Paribello, those qualities have set her apart as this week’s Athlete of the Week.
Paribello has made a name for herself in both shot put and discus, two events that often go unnoticed compared to track’s running events. However, her commitment, consistency, and internal drive have helped her rise to the top of the program.
According to Head Coach of girls Track and Field, Steve Ideran, Lia has improved tremendously from her freshman year to now. “Lia has shown a tremendous amount of growth all the way through,” Ideran said. “Shot put and discus don’t always get the most credit, so to see her excel in something that takes a lot of internal drive is really cool.”
That internal motivation has been key to Parabello’s success. Throwing requires a high level of self-discipline, focus, and patience. Over the years, she has embraced that challenge and turned it into a strength.
Beyond her individual performance, Paribello has also played a major role in building the throws program at East. When she first joined as a freshman, the group was much smaller. Now, it has grown significantly, with more athletes joining and developing under the leadership of experienced throwers like her.
“Our throws group has probably doubled in size,” Idearan said. “Seeing that is a direct testament to athletes like her, helping build that program and showing leadership.”
Paribello’s impact isn’t just measured in distances thrown, but also in the culture she helps create. The throws team is known for being tight-knit, often describing themselves as a family. That environment has made a difference, especially for younger athletes adjusting to the size and intensity of a high school track team.
“It can be overwhelming coming in as a freshman,” Paribello said. “But throws are such a small group that you get really close. We call each other cousins, we’ve built a really strong bond.”
As one of the more experienced athletes on the team, Paribello has had to step into a leadership role earlier than expected. After older teammates graduated, she quickly became someone others looked up to, despite still being one of the younger upperclassmen.
“There was a moment where I knew I had to step up,” Paribello said. “It was hard at first, but you get comfortable because you know the sport so well.”
That confidence, combined with her work ethic, continues to push her forward. From her steady rise as a freshman to becoming a leader and standout competitor, Lia Parabello represents what it means to embody E.A.S.T. ‘s core values of excellence, academics, spirit, and tradition.
Written by junior Michelle Wannah. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.