SLIPPERY ROCK — While Emily Campbell was working with throwing coach Keith Woods during the summer, she mentioned her desire to attend Wake Forest University.

Campbell, a senior at Slippery Rock High, wanted to go to Wake Forest because her basketball coach growing up, the late Robert “Posey” Rhoads, went there.

“That was sort of a dream for her,” Woods said.

Woods knew the women’s track and field coach at Wake, John Millar, and put in a good word for Campbell. As it turned out, Millar was interested in the thrower.

A little more than six months later, Campbell signed her national letter of intent to throw the shot put and the discus for the Demon Deacons.

“It’s really exciting,” Campbell said. “I kind of always knew I wanted to go there.”

Campbell was second in District 10 Class AA in the shot put last season and traveled this summer to Australia where she won her age group in the shot put at the Down Under Track and Field Championships.

During this indoor season, Campbell has been throwing the shot more than 40 feet consistently.

“My big goal is to hit 45,” Campbell said. “In my last meet, all six of my throws were in the 40s. I had never done that before.”

Campbell has dedicated herself completely to the sport, in part so she could land the opportunity she has at Wake Forest.

Campbell decided to quit basketball this year so she could throw during the indoor track and field season. She has hit 42 feet, 2 inches already, which puts her second in the state.

Winning a state title is her goal this winter.

“That would be tough because Class AA and AAA are lumped together,” Campbell said. “But I love competition. Competition always makes you better.”

And so does work, something Campbell has not shied away from.

She spent six hours a day this summer working with Woods, four on throwing and two more in the weight room.

“I always wanted to out-work everyone,” Campbell said. “I didn’t want to feel like I did after states last year.”

Campbell had a disappointing showing at the state meet, finishing 10th with a throw of 37 feet.

“After states, I was pretty disappointed,” Campbell said. “I thought I did all the right things. The results just weren’t there.”

Her work with Woods is aimed at preventing that from happening again.

And that meant throwing — a lot.

“People don’t realize how much throwing there is,” Woods said. “Not just throwing, but throwing the right way without falling into bad habits. That’s what we spent the summer doing.

“I tell you what,” Woods added. “She’s going to have some big numbers at the end of the indoor season. And she’s going to surprise a lot of people when she starts throwing the discus again.”

With her college decision made, Campbell isn’t going to rest on past accomplishments.

While she said that some of the pressure is off having made a college choice, other pressures remain.

“I’m going to push even harder,” Campbell said. “I just want to keep doing my best. I’m not one to slack off.”