Eighth grade brought something unexpected into twelfth-grader Aidan Vigus’ life: track. Having first started competing with Pine View in middle school, Vigus continued the sport throughout high school at North Port High and will be pursuing it at Roanoke College in Virginia in the fall.
Specializing in shotput, Vigus’ athletic growth since he first joined the North Port team has been “absolutely exponential,” according to his coach, Hans Duque. Vigus started with an eight-and-a-half-meter throw and finished this season at districts with a 13.84-meter personal record.
“He has been so dedicated, and it’s all on him,” Duque said. “He wanted to throw in college, and he made it happen. I’m so happy and proud of him and all the way he has come.”
Vigus toured Roanoke in January; a combination of the location, the dynamic he formed with the track team and coaches, and the hospitability of the school’s environment led him to committing to Roanoke. Although he originally intended to attend a school closer to home, Vigus looks forward to “settling into a rhythm up there” — though he will “miss the brotherhood between me and the [North Port] guys,” he said.
Having won third place in the county meet this last season, Vigus hopes to break some shotput records at Roanoke. Despite not focusing on javelin, he’s already Roanoke’s best thrower.
“He has what it takes to do whatever he wants,” Duque said. “I’m going to miss Aidan because I constantly pick on him — in a good way… He has adapted over the years and now is a mature guy who still cracks jokes, and I’m going to miss that.”