There's a noticeable difference in the atmosphere when the Western Washington University women's throwers step into the ring. Ranked No. 1 in the GNAC and boasting multiple national-caliber athletes, the group has quickly become one of the most dominant throwing squads in WWU track & field history. With five of six athletes already hitting NCAA Division II provisional qualifying marks, four of six in the NCAA DII top 30 for shot put and all six in the top 35, their skill speaks for itself.

And yet, the most impressive part isn't the medals or rankings. It's the growth.

Each woman on the team has evolved, not just in throwing distance but in mindset, identity, and resilience. Most of them weren't stars in high school. With the exception of standout freshman Jessica Polkinghorn—currently ranked No. 9 nationally in shot put—very few entered college with elite numbers. What they shared, however, was an uncommon drive, a willingness to trust the process, and a culture that refuses to let anyone put limits on themselves.

"I was a lot more focused on winning and being first and being the best [in high school]," said Polkinghorn. "If I did well at a meet but I didn't win, I was like, 'Well, what's even the point?'... that [mindset] really switched in college. I'm not going to be the best every time, but I can be better than I was last time. That's always the goal—to improve upon yourself."

That shift—from comparison to self-improvement—has become a foundational mindset for the team, encouraged by throws coach Damien Fisher.

Polkinghorn is an example of that mindset meeting execution. The freshman is ranked #1 in freshman shot put in the country and has smashed WWU's indoor and outdoor shot put records, jumping from 44'11" in high school to 50'8.25" this season. She's the No. 1 seed in the GNAC for shot put and ranks second in the conference for javelin—all after overcoming a torn ligament during her high school career. Additionally, Polkinghorn is the only true freshman to make NCAAs in shot put.

Close behind is Kathryn Chapin, ranked #2 in freshman shot put in the country. Chapin only shifted to throwing late in high school. After entering WWU with a personal best of 40'4", she now sits at 46'7.5" and holds the second-highest hammer throw mark in WWU history and the farthest throw of any freshman in DII.

Then there's Katie Potts, a senior and pillar of the program. Once a high school thrower with a personal best just over 38 feet, she has since broken school records multiple times and now sits No. 20 in the nation in discus with a bid to NCAA DII Nationals.

"When I came in my freshman year, I knew how to work hard, but I didn't necessarily know how to learn," Potts said. "When I fully bought into the learning process… that's when I saw the biggest change in growth as an athlete and a thrower."

Potts was also the first WWU woman since 1998 to break the 13-meter barrier in shot put, paving the way for what is now a team stacked with six women over that mark—and four over 14 meters.

Another key figure is Maddy Grandbois, a senior dual-sport athlete who transitioned from basketball to full-time track this year. Free from the lingering injuries of her basketball years, Grandbois exploded, improving her shot put mark by more than six feet to 47'10".

Mara Parks, a junior who missed fall training due to ankle surgery, has battled back with quiet consistency. A national champion in taekwondo in high school, she's now fourth all-time at WWU in the hammer throw and has added over seven feet to her shot put PR since high school.

Redshirt freshman Rylee Andrews, in her first competitive season, has jumped from 36'10" in high school to 43'1", ranking 8th in the GNAC and 6th on WWU's all-time list.

What ties this team together is more than stats. It's a culture built on attitude, effort, and community—core values that Coach Fisher drives home every day.

"Damien really works hard to understand you as an athlete," said Polkinghorn. He asks, 'What cues help you?' and 'What makes you better?' He understands that it's different for every person.

At practice, athletes enter with specific technical goals for the day—a method Fisher instilled to keep focus high and training purposeful.

"He talked to the team and was like, come to practice with points of emphasis you want to work on," Polkinghorn recalled. "That really helped me stay focused at practice and be able to find things that I want to work on and execute. I think it was really a breakthrough moment because I threw well the next meet."

Whether they throw with a rotational or glide technique—three of each on the team—the emphasis is always on self-discipline, attention to detail, and mental composure.

Mental resilience is especially crucial in throwing, where progress isn't always linear.

"The mental side of your game matters just as much, if not more, than the physical side," said Potts. "You can prep all you want physically, but if you're not in the right place mentally, it's not going to go well."

"It's not going to be perfect every time," said Polkinghorn. "And kind of realizing that and not getting in my own head about it… just taking a step back and asking, 'What's something I did well today?' That helps a lot."

At meets, the WWU women's throwers don't just compete; they dominate. It's not uncommon to see six Vikings in the finals. Their camaraderie is loud, joyful, and infectious.

"Everyone loves being there and being around each other," Polkinghorn said. "We feed off each other. Like, they had a great throw? I'm having a great throw. It's just really supportive and joyful."

"A rising tide raises all ships," said Potts. "When one of us gets better, we all do. That's what makes this group so special."

With nationals on the horizon, two out of the six throwers have qualified. An impressive feat, as only the top 20 throwers in the nation are selected out of an estimated 1000 or so throwers. For a team that once struggled to break 13 meters, it's an outstanding accomplishment.

But more important than how far they've thrown is how far they've come.

"It's not just the talent with this group," said Coach Fisher. "It's the attitude they bring each day. 'Let me go see what I can do.' They're willing to go for it. Always."