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03/08/2022 11:00 PMCole DeCusati has embarked on quite a journey at North Haven High School throughout the past four years, and now the senior is fulfilling his destiny as a member of the Nighthawks’ track and field program. Cole enjoyed a plethora of success throwing the shot put for North Haven during the indoor track season this winter, taking first place at a pair of championship meets and capping it off with a victory in states.
After getting cut from the track team in his freshman year, Cole is now leading the Nighthawks with big-time numbers in the shot put that have earned him the title as one of Connecticut’s best. What’s equally exciting is that Cole, who also throws the discus and javelin, still has one more season of outdoor track to participate in with the spring campaign quickly approaching.
Cole’s athletic career began on the football field. Cole grew up as an offensive and defensive lineman and continued playing through his senior season last fall. When he was looking for something to do in the spring, Cole initially chose baseball, but then decided that he no longer wanted to pursue the sport. Moving on from baseball, Cole decided to try out for track upon entering high school.
“My mom brought it up to me one time, and I thought it was very interesting,” says Cole. “After the first practice, I started to fall in the love with the sport a lot quicker than I thought.”
With a large number of upperclassmen on the roster, Cole was cut from the team as a freshman. However, that setback only motivated Cole to get better and strive for perfection, and he went to make the indoor team in his sophomore season.
Aside from his time practicing, Cole spends numerous hours in his gym every week, increasing his strength in order to increase his distances. Head Coach Marc Celmer is impressed with both Cole’s work ethic and progression as a thrower.
“Where Cole is today to where he was then is just incredible,” Celmer says. “He is the definition of determination, hard work, and tenacity, and he does not ever want to give up.”
Cole is so driven that he doesn’t rely on anyone to motivate him. Cole’s coaches give him advice to improve his technique at practices, but Cole’s drive for success comes from his own engine. As a result, Coach Celmer expects Cole to be a leader for the boys’ outdoor track team this spring.
Cole not only broke new ground with his performance during the indoor season, but he also encouraged his teammates to strive for better results.
“I bring a lot of positivity going into each other and a lot of positivity going out,” says Cole. “It’s something my teammates have always liked about me.”
Cole saw his efforts pay dividends in the shot put circle during North Haven’s postseason meets this year. Cole started off by winning the shot put with a toss of 45 feet-2 inches at the SCC West Sectional Championship and then placed fourth in the event at the SCC Championship at 45-3.5. Cole went on to take first place in the shot with a distance of 46-4.75 at the Class M State Championship to qualify for the State Open, where he finished 11th with a 45-4.75.
“It was really amazing when they announced me as the state champion. I knew that all of the hard work, the weightlifting after practice, the working on my technique—that it was all worth it,” Cole says. “It made me want to work harder to keep getting better. Knowing this is my senior year, it made me want to have success into my outdoor season, too, knowing that my high school career is soon coming to an end.”
With a couple of indoor victories under his belt, Cole is looking for continued success during the outdoor season. When Cole first started throwing the discus, he was reaching about 75 feet. Now, with a continued focus on his strength and technique, he’s averaging double that number.
Coach Celmer believes that Cole has a chance to break North Haven’s school record of 165 feet in the discus.
“Cole is the embodiment of what hard work will accomplish,” says Celmer. “When things get difficult for Cole, he charges forward.”
Cole’s hard work and determination extend beyond the athletic fields. Cole has made the honor roll every semester at North Haven, and he also devotes plenty of time to spend with his family. Cole’s parents, Jackie and Joseph, have served as huge mentors for his growth, as has his sister Chandler, who’s a senior at Sacred Heart University.
It’s been a major transition for Cole to go from a freshman who didn’t make his team to become one of the top shot putters in the state. When he graduates from North Haven, Cole is planning to continue his track career in college while pursuing a degree in accounting and marketing. With a bright future ahead of him, Cole appreciates everything that he’s gained from his experience as an athlete in North Haven.
“I learned to be a competitor,” Cole says. “I knew there was a good chance for me to succeed, and I knew there was a good chance for me to be a finalist and maybe even win a championship. Never give up.”