CHERRY TWP — Maura Kimmel named her puppy after her discus.

She's making a pretty good name for herself, too.

The Moniteau senior discus and shot put specialist signed a letter of intent Thursday to continue her academic and athletic career at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kimmel becomes the second female Moniteau track and field athlete ever to sign with a Division I program. Alyssa Deal went to Jacksonville 10 years ago.

“I feel lucky to get this opportunity,” Kimmel said. “Not many people ever get a chance like this. I'm pretty proud of myself. It's exciting.”

Kimmel had the farthest discus and shot put throws in Butler County last spring. She holds the Warriors' school record in the discus at 139 feet, six inches and is closing in on Jayne Beatty's school mark of 43-3 in the shot put.

“I've been flirting with that one,” Kimmel said of the shot put. “I've come close to it already (41-1) in indoor. I know it's in me. It's going to happen.

“I want to get the discus record into the 150's. I want to get that one out there so it's hard to break.”

Kimmel had extra motivation to break the discus record last year. Her mother promised her a puppy if the record fell.

Once the record went, the puppy arrived.

“I've been working on that for 17 years,” Kimmel said of getting a puppy. “It's a golden retriever. I named it Pacer, after my discus.”

And when she goes away to college?

“I'll miss it ... a lot,” Kimmel said of the puppy.

But she'll keep busy working at other things.

Kimmel carries a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked No. 2 in her class. She plans to major in chemical engineering.

She also made official visits to Cornell and Massachusetts — along with six unofficial visits — before deciding on Penn. The Quakers had the NCAA men's discus champion last spring in Sam Mattis.

“Maura took her time and made a well-informed decision,” Moniteau track and field coach Sue Scialabba said. “She made a great choice. Penn is a good fit for her.

“She is dedicated to the sport and is an excellent athlete. Academically, she's outstanding. She's been a part of every honors program at this school.”

Ryan Protzman is Moniteau's throwing coach and believes Kimmel's best throws definitely lie ahead.

“She's already accomplished so much. Now we're stressing technique,” Protzman said. “The discus is her strongest event and I'm sure she'll try the hammer throw in college.”

With a little hesitation.

“I'm a little bit clumsy,” Kimmel said, smiling. “We'll see how that one works out. I'll definitely try it.”

Kimmel said she selected Penn for the academics as well as the chance to work with throwing coach Anthony Tenisci.

“I love the passion he shows for the sport. He reminds me of Coach Protzman that way,” Kimmel said. “I've seen how hard he works with the athletes, the dedication to the weight room. And he's coached a national champion.

“I'm sure they're going to get the best out of me there.”

Kimmel is in her second season of competing in indoor track. She has been doing throws in field events since her freshman year and does weight room work three times a week.

She will return to the New Balance Nationals (indoor meet) in mid-March.

“Coming from a small school like ours and earning this type of college opportunity — Maura has a lot to be proud of,” Scialabba said. “It's great for our younger kids in the program to see this.

“If they work hard, the same thing can happen for them. Hopefully, Maura's success will inspire other kids to strive for it, too.”