PHS’s Wharton to run track at Butler
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- Lily Wharton still has some work left to do at Parkersburg High School, but the Big Red senior had a ceremony Tuesday afternoon inside Stadium Field to celebrate her signing to compete in track at Butler University for head coach Matt Roe.
Aside from the Bulldogs, the only other official visit the thinclad made was to Ohio University.
The four-year letterwinner in volleyball, who has three in track, carries a near 4.4 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society, the Senior Women's Club as well as being the media manager of the Key Club.
"After leaving Butler, I had already been on a previous visit, and I thought I liked my first visit," admitted Wharton. "After leaving Butler my attitude was just completely different.
"I was actually excited about going to school and I had never felt that way before. I was leaving for college, but I wasn't excited. It felt like a good fit for me."
Wharton, who has helped the PHS shuttles team to back-to-back Class AAA state track top of the podium finishes, was runner-up in the 300 hurdles a year ago and placed third in the 100 hurdles.
"I'm excited for her," said PHS girls head coach Lia Fleek. "She's had success in the hurdles and I think that's where they will keep her.
"I hope for the best for her, I do. She's a hard worker and is dedicated. I can't imagine she won't have success there."
Wharton said Butler assistant coach Robby Burns reached out to her and that's how everything got started.
"We had a phone call in the fall and it went really well," said the Big Red, who noted her current total financial aid package will cover two-thirds of her tuition.
"Just spent a few months going through the journey, seeing my options and I took my official visit in February and went from there."
When it comes to an area of study the Big Red pretty much has her mind made up.
"As of now I'm going to enter into psychology," she said. "My kind of mindset behind that I think I want to either pursue sports psychology or working with kids.
"Since I'm going to be in athletics it will push me down that route even more. I know I have a lot of performance anxiety and I just want to help kids out with that as well."
One of the reasons she's opted to compete for the Bulldogs is because "one of the main factors I was looking for in a college was an urban environment because there are so many more opportunities.
"I'm excited to be around new people. I'm ready to branch out and meet new people. I'm really excited for that honestly."
The Big Red, who also will be competing in indoor track, said she's up for anything event-wise.
Aside from the hurdles, Wharton said she's fine with competing on relays and may start high jumping again.
"A little bit of both," Wharton replied when asked if she was more anxious to get to college or finish up at PHS. "Honestly, my extra curriculars, the track team, the choir, not so much what we do, but all my friends, my true inner circle of friends come from those things. When I think back on that every person I really value in my life surrounds me in those things and has the same goals I do."
Class size also was a factor for Wharton, who met several department heads during her visits, in deciding to head to the Indiana-based institution.
Although she's going to miss volleyball since it "was a huge part of me in high school," the Big Red is looking forward to her future.
"Some of my best friends are on that team. It's obvious track has been my passion for years and volleyball was kind of a high school thing for me," continued the Big Red. "They were here today. I couldn't be happier. I'm going to miss them all so much."
With school nearly over for the seniors and graduation looming, Wharton will be off today with her teammates for the regional track meet in Hurricane.
"I think I will be fine. Athletically, it's not a powerhouse school, but they are Division I and they are great," she added. "I just think it's the right environment for me to be in academically and athletically. Challenging, but not out of my wheelhouse at all."
Despite having some doubts while being a prep athlete, Wharton stuck with it and everything has paid off.
"Have confidence in yourself," said Wharton, who was just named prom queen alongside king Rohan Malik-Hamirani. "I would never have thought I would go D1 and go to such a nice school.
"The opportunity is there if you work and believe in yourself. I have a really strong support system. My family, and also my friends, have been so supportive through this and they just truly want to see what's best for me, and I just owe that to them."
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com