Oswego State freshman shot putter Roger Trigo will participate in the ECAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, where he will look to establish himself as one of the best shot putters in the conference.

Trigo has impressed spectators and coaches all season long, placing first three times, along with a second place finish in Men’s Shot Put. On Jan. 23, Trigo threw a personal-best 14.85 meters, which qualified him for next month’s ECAC Championships.

When Trigo was a high school freshman in Rome, N.Y., he began throwing shot put, although he did not start to get serious about it until his senior year. Going into his final year of high school, he put more work in during the off-season in order to get in shape. Trigo started to lift weights in the summer, preparing himself for the upcoming season, which ultimately paid great dividends. He received coach’s awards in high school for his work in the throwing circle, but was not recruited by Oswego State to be a thrower.

It was not until Trigo had been accepted to Oswego State as a business administration major that he began talking to head coach of the Indoor Track and Field team, Andrew Hunsinger. Trigo and Hunsinger were put in to contact by another member of the track and field team, sophomore Sean Bereza. Bereza was a teammate of Trigo’s in high school, and told Hunsinger to give Trigo a look. Trigo did talk to Hunsinger prior to coming to Oswego State in the fall of 2009, but according to Hunsinger, Trigo was "definitely off our radar."

Hunsinger is happy with the addition of Trigo to his team, "He’s tremendous…a soft spoken kid, but when he gets in that throwing circle, he’s a monster," Hunsinger said.

Trigo has stepped up to be a leader on the team as a freshman, much to the delight of Hunsinger. The biggest element to Trigo’s success in the throwing circle is his strength.

"He’s obviously the strongest person in weight room, which translates well to the throwing circle," Hunsinger said.

Before putting up the mark of 14.85 meters, Trigo’s personal-best was 13.28 meters, set a few weeks prior. In all of the indoor track and field meets this season, Trigo has thrown over 13.2 meters, establishing himself as a top contender in the SUNYAC. Each time he steps foot in the throwing circle, he is capable of throwing farther than all of his competitors, and in his mind, he is only getting better.

"I haven’t peaked yet," Trigo said.

The ECAC Championships will be Trigo’s first time on the big stage.

"I’m excited; it’s the first time for me at a big meet," Trigo said.

With Trigo’s big throw last week, he assured himself a spot as not only the Oswego State male Athlete of the Week, but also a chance to compete for the ECAC Championship. It is too early to tell just how Trigo will do in the ECAC Championships, but one thing is for sure, he plans to work hard leading up to it.

"I hope to do well, I’m going to practice hard," Trigo said.

Hunsinger wants to see Trigo continue to progress as a shot putter, and would like to see him go even farther than the ECAC’s.

"I’m really excited to see what happens, he’s definitely someone to be reckoned with," Hunsinger said.