TAYLOR MORRISON/JOURNAL TRIBUNE: Biddeford High School senior Matt Brady and his mother, Tina Brady, after Matt signed a letter of intent to compete in track for the University of Connecticut on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016.

TAYLOR MORRISON/JOURNAL TRIBUNE: Biddeford High School senior Matt Brady and his mother, Tina Brady, after Matt signed a letter of intent to compete in track for the University of Connecticut on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016.

BIDDEFORD– Matthew Brady could have chosen to dedicate his hard work and athletic talent to any other sport – his mother remembers a time when she thought he would play football – but it was fortunate that he chose track. The University of Connecticut (UCONN) recognized Brady’s exceptional abilities in shot and discus by recruiting him to join its tradition of athletic excellence.

Brady signed a national letter of intent to compete for UCONN in track Friday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. in Biddeford High School’s Tiger Gym while a neon sign outside celebrated Brady’s success. Inside, friends and the athletics community waited after the ceremony to congratulate Brady and his mother. 

As much of an honor as it is for Brady to be recognized for athletic ability, he is even more excited that his track prowess is helping him pursue his dream of studying entrepreneurial management at the University of Connecticut.

“My academics are as important as my athletics. That’s why I picked UCONN, they’re a top school,” said Brady. 

 Brady practices between 15-20 hours a week since he began taking track more seriously in sophomore year. Brady described his training, “I practice in the offseason. I lift for two hours, five days a week, I’ll throw, and then I’ll do running.”

Brady wasn’t always interested in track events, his father gave him the idea, he said, “my dad said ‘hey you should do track’. I said, ‘I don’t want to run,’ he said, ‘well, no, there’s this thing called shotput.’ I picked it up, it’s like this heavy thing, and being a kid I like throwing stuff so that’s how I got into it.”

 Brady is the most recent example of how hard work and commitment to accompishing goals can change a life in more ways than athletics. Brady’s academic ambitions have been furthered by the dedication he has put into track.

“Sports taught me everything I know about accomplishing dreams, everything I know about hard work. Sports have shaped me. It helps in school, the hard work,” said Brady 

Brady’s mother, Tina Brady, stood on looking proud while Matt accepts pats on the back and handshakes. Tina said, “I’m just beyond excited at this opporunity that he has. It’s a dream come true for him. It’s really big, the future he could have. He chose this avenue and it worked.”


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