Q & A with Gabby Cicconetti: Dalton graduate misses bond with track and field teammates

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SYDNEY AUGSPURGER
Dalton’s Gabby Cicconetti was eyeing the regionals for this year’s track and field season. She plans to attend Bowling Green and become a mental health counselor.

By ARIEL STAHLER
Gazette & News sports writer

The 2020 high school spring sports season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dalton Gazette & Kidron News is featuring Dalton High School spring athletes who recently graduated and did not get to represent the Dawgs in their final season. This week’s graduate is track and field shot put and discus thrower: Gabby Cicconetti.

What was your reaction when you found out spring sports were canceled?
I was really bummed out about it. I was very excited to go into track my senior year, really push hard, make it to where I wanted to be and, of course, working out and being around all of the great throwers Dalton has.

What were some of your goals for this season?
I would have loved to have made it past districts and into regionals. That was the first goal I had and then slowly work up from there.

What were you looking forward to most for your senior season?
I think it was being able to throw in the pits with a bunch of my underclassmen. Enjoying it, working out, building on the strength and everything like that.

What do you miss most about track and field?
I miss my teammates. People say “Oh, track isn’t such a team sport,” but it really is. You’re with those people all the time, you’re all competing for the same position. It’s like you grow a bond with them.

How have you kept in contact with your teammates?
I was friends with a lot of underclassmen from the throwing team like Katie Good and Charity Green, and I have played previous sports with them in the past, so I kept in touch with them.

How have you been keeping active during your time at home?
I take out my dogs all the time. I play basketball with my hoop.

How did you adjust to distance learning?
It was hard at first; it was really hard. I’m very lucky I had patient teachers working with me the whole time. Definitely not how I expected my senior year to go, but we all got it done. It was worth it in the end.

Are there any new hobbies or activities you have been keeping busy with?
I have just been mainly focusing on my job and doing all this college stuff, getting prepared for everything.

Have you learned anything new about yourself during this time?
I definitely learned I had a lot more patience than I expected.

What are your plans after graduation?
I am attending Bowling Green State University. I do plan on becoming a mental health counselor.

Follow Ariel on Twitter @AStahlerDGKNews