Correspondent file photo / Michael Taylor McDonald’s Trinity Hobbs throws the discus during last year’s Division III girls state track and field meet in Columbus. Hobbs committed to compete at Malone University next season.

Trinity Hobbs wanted someplace that felt like home. She found it about an hour away at Malone College in Canton.

Hobbs, a McDonald High School senior, talked to Malone track and field coach Mark McClure. The COVID-19 pandemic put a halt on making a campus visit, but it didn’t prevent Hobbs committing to the Pioneers.

“I wanted a coach that would encourage me to go after my dreams and my goals, and he is definitely someone who wants the best for his athletes,” Hobbs said. “Malone is a Christ-centered university, which is also something that is important to me because I want to grow in my faith. Malone has a lot of opportunities and made me feel welcome even without being able to visit.”

Family has been a big influence for Hobbs, who made last year’s Division III girls state track and field meet in the discus. She’s always felt the support and love from each of them, even her extended family.

“My family is the most important thing to me in my life and seeing how much they cared about my interests, and still care, really motivated me to get better each year and preserving through hard times in my life,” Hobbs said. “Throwing became an outlet for me and a safe place.

“I look forward to throwing in college and I feel like the future will hold some great things. I feel really blessed and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to continue my throwing career in college.”

McDonald girls track and field coach Mary Domitrovich saw Hobbs’ progress at the end of last year’s season, but the COVID-19 pandemic and Gov. Mike DeWine’s stay-at-home order subsequently forced the Ohio High School Athletic Association to cancel spring sports.

“Some things were beginning to click for her and she was certainly optimistic about this season,” Domitrovich said. “She did a nice job in the offseason. She was in the weight room quite a bit.

“She was looking forward to this year. She had some pretty lofty goals that she was trying to accomplish.”

Hobbs said she was ready to work hard to achieve her goals.

She wanted to throw more than 35 feet in the shot put and surpass 145 in the discus. Her previous best throws in the outdoor season were 126-1 in the discus and 32-7.75 in the shot put.

“I also had hopes of being a Division III state champion in the discus,” Hobbs said. “Coach Mary has really pushed me to be the best that I can. She puts a lot of time into every athlete she has and you can tell that she really cares about you. She pushed me hard and believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. She is an incredible person and coach, and I will miss her very much.

“The track team at McDonald was something else. We all wanted our team members to achieve great things. We really worked together and I wouldn’t be where I am at if it wasn’t for my teammates and coaches.”

Domitrovich said Hobbs’ mentorship to the younger throws will be missed, and would’ve been beneficial if the season had been held.

“They certainly could’ve learned from her with her work ethic, with her personality,” Domitrovich said.

Hobbs started to throw her seventh-grade year. She attended a cross country meet and came across a couple of McDonald coaches.

“They told me to put my arms out to my sides and so I did, and they told my dad that I need to try throwing because of my long wingspan,” Hobbs said. “My dad ironically got a job near McDonald schools and I started attending and throwing for the track team. At first I was opposed to the idea, but once I got more practice with it I fell in love. I threw almost every day that following summer.”

Hobbs is heading to Malone where she’ll major in English. She might be going with a double major and minor, but that is to be determined.

“I love to read and as crazy as it may sound, I love to write essays as well,” she said. “I want to teach English to foreign students because I also hope to be a missionary some day. I feel a calling on my life to help people, and I just really want to impact lives while doing what I enjoy most.”

Her new adventure begins this fall at Malone.