Callaghan Finnegan '26 Recruiting Profile

Hi, my name Is Callaghan Finnegan and I am a sophomore at the Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia. I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself and how I started my throwing career. 

My school coaches made it very clear to me at the beginning of my throwing journey that they did not have the resources to aid me in my throwing journey aside from the implements, but were and continue to be extremely supportive. I knew that if I wanted to pursue this sport, I needed to take matters into my own hands. I watched countless videos and left many holes in my backyard all in the hopes of creating an opportunity for myself. I am a strong leader and took on the role of sharing the knowledge that I gained from camps and clinics with my teammates.

During the spring season of my freshmen year, I knew that this was something that I wanted to continue at a collegiate level and knew that it was up to me to make connections with coaches and athletes to create a name for myself after many hours on the phone with clubs in my area and many emails left un-replied I started to lose hope and thought that I had possibly peaked in my events. But during the GA State Meet in May of 2023 I hit a PR of 37.4 and secured 1st place in the meet. I knew from there on that with the right coaching, I could achieve whatever I wanted to. 

That summer, I attended two sleepaway throwing camps and competed in the AAU Primary National Championship in Orlando, Florida, unattached and placed in both shot and discus. Later that summer I competed in the Junior Olympics In Iowa for not only shot and discus but Javelin as well, which I had only learned how to throw earlier that summer but qualified for in nationals. 

I am a well rounded student maintaining a high GPA, taking accelerated classes as well as being recommended for honors and seminar classes for my upperclassmen years. I participate in many events and campaigns as well as being a Georgia state Champion for the National Organization Best Buddies which helps connect kids and young adults with IDD with neurotypical peers.

I recognize that having the opportunity to compete at a collegiate level in any form of athletics is an honor and am looking for a school where I can cultivate my athletics as well as my academic knowledge and overall better myself as a person.