Adria Retter ’23, a junior from Quakertown, PA, took first place among all Division-III athletes in the shot put at the Frank Colden Invitational on Feb. 5. After throwing a personal best of 13.40 m., Retter holds an impressive tenth place in the national Division-III rankings.
Jacinta Fernandes-Brough: What has been your most memorable moment of the season so far?
Adria Retter: The past two years have been filled with uncertainty. I have Coach Lauren to thank for inspiring me to push myself as seasons came and went without meets. Fast forward to now, and we’re finally competing again. My most memorable moment wasn’t at a meet, rather two hours later on the walk back to my dorm. After the Frank Colden invite (Feb. 5.), I was taken aback by a rush of gratitude and contentment. I realized our hard work was paying off. We made it — all that’s left to do is enjoy the ride.
JF: What are your goals for the rest of the season?
AR: I’d like to break 14 m. in shot put, which would get me to Nationals.
JF: What is your favorite thing to do with the team outside of practice?
AR: We have a great first-year cohort, and I’ve enjoyed becoming close with them during downtime on campus.
JF: Do you have any pre- or post-meet rituals?
AR: I always wear a t-shirt over my jersey during warm-ups. My jersey is reserved for competition throws, which makes every attempt special.
JF: Why did you choose Swarthmore?
AR: My initial criteria for schools were: close to home, track team, challenging academics. Swarthmore checked all the boxes … so did ten other schools. I figured, “OK, let me visit the teams, and then I’ll decide.” Coincidentally, the first was Swarthmore. At Conference Championships, I remember watching the throwers support each other and feeling excited to someday do the same. When I went to other schools, I used my impression of Swat throws as a litmus test. Nothing compared.
JF: What is your major and why?
AR: I’m a Math and CS major because I like strategy games and definitive answers.
JF: What is your favorite class you’ve taken at Swarthmore?
AR: Discrete Math.
JF: Favorite Sharples bar?
AR: Caribbean Bar.
