Mt. Pleasant’s Savannah Slobodnik signs to throw for Mount Mercy

MT. PLEASANT — Mt. Pleasant track and field has a long and decorated list of throwers that have went on to the collegiate level.

After Tuesday, another name is added to the list as Panther senior Savannah Slobodnik signed her National Letter of Intent to throw for Mount Mercy University.

“I’m really exited,” Slobodnik said. “Mount Mercy is a beautiful campus. Their staff, everybody is really nice. I’m really excited to start my school year.”

Slobodnik plans on majoring in Elementary Education.

“I’ve worked at a day care for about two years now, and that’s just kind of showed me how much I like, you know, working with kids,” she said. “So that kind of swayed me.”

  Buy Photo

Slobodnik, who has put together a very successful career for the Panthers, specializes in discus. Her career best is 118 feet and seven inches, a mark she hopes to top this coming season.

“I want to place at state this year,” Slobodnik said. “I kind of fell off last year, so I want this year to be big.”

Last season, she finished first and second in five meets. In the Southeast Conference meet, she placed third. One of Slobodnik’s second place finishes was a state qualifying throw.

At state, she finished 18th with a throw of 106 feet and 10 inches.

Slobodnik says teamwork is the biggest thing she will take with her to the next level.

“Supporting the other teammates really affects you a lot,” Slobodnik said. “If you don’t have your other teammates there supporting you, it kind of feels like your not doing the greatest. I’ll definitely take teamwork into college.”

The 2025 season will kick off on March 11th at the University of Northern Iowa’s Dickinson Relays.

While Slobodnik is looking for success herself, she hopes to leave behind some advice for future Panthers along the way.

“I really hope that they don’t get nervous like me,” Slobodnik said. “Even if you have a bad meet, everything is fine. It will go away the next meet. You just have to believe in yourself every practice and every meet.”

Slobodnik will join a Mustang squad that finished fourth place at the Heart of America Outdoor Track and Field Championships.