Nationally-ranked Cookinham will continue his shot put career at the University of Kansas

DARTMOUTH — When Jacob Cookinham first picked up a shot put nearly four years ago, he never imagined where it would take him.

“I picked it up, saying this is going to help me get stronger,” he recalled. “Ultimately I did it to stay in shape and it took off.”

It took off to the point that the nationally-ranked Cookinham had so many colleges reach out to him with offers that he had to make a spreadsheet to keep track of them all.

The Bishop Stang senior had it narrowed down to five Div. 1 schools —  Dartmouth College, Arizona State University, University of California Riverside, Texas State University and University of Kansas — when he stepped to the podium in his school’s cafeteria on Nov. 9.

Surrounded by more than a hundred classmates, teammates, coaches and faculty, Cookinham removed his tie and unbuttoned his shirt — in a tribute to Superman — to unveil that he will be attending the University of Kansas next year.

“When I stepped on campus, it felt like home,” said Cookinham, a Tiverton resident. “I said, ‘This is the school for me.’”

Cookinham said he felt an instant connection with Kansas assistant track coach Doug Reynolds.

“Coach Reynolds and I have a great relationship,” he said. “My personality and his match up really well. I just knew in my heart of hearts that he was the coach for me.

“The school is also a great academic school. They have the exact major that I wanted and the exact master that I wanted.”

TOP HONORSBishop Stang's Jacob Cookinham is the 2022 Standard-Times Boys Track Athlete of the Year

The 17-year-old Cookinham plans to major in sports management with a double minor in business and psychology before getting a masters in sports management.

“After I retire from throwing professionally, I’d like to coach on the D-1 level and help others succeed as well,” he said.

Cookinham didn’t start throwing the shot put until his freshman year at Bishop Stang.

“Three years ago in the fall of his freshman year, a young man was carrying his double base down the first floor hallway and I said to him, ‘Have you ever thought of throwing the shot put?’” recalled Bishop Stang track coach Steve McGonigle. “He said, ‘I don’t know. I never really thought about it. My parents threw the shot put. I’d be interested in doing it.’ As they say the rest is history.”

Cookinham got his first taste of success in the winter of 2019-20 when he placed fifth (48-8) at the divisional meet.

“I was the No. 1 freshman in the country and at that moment I knew I could take this somewhere,” he said. “That’s the moment that I said, ‘This is what I want to do with the rest of my life.’ I’ve tried to pursue it as much as I can.”

Only a short time later, the pandemic forced most of the world to shut down and with it high school spring sports.

“A big piece of this took place during COVID on his own,” McGonigle said. “It was unbelievable the strides he made and the things he did, the work he’s done and the sacrifices he’s made.”

Instead of sitting back and doing nothing, Cookinham spent all of his free time working on his craft, competing in online meets and learning as much as he could about the event.

“His determination and his drive,” said Bishop Stang throwing coach Jim Fortin of what makes Cookinham special. “His lust for getting better at the sport. He was good his freshman year. Much better than the normal freshman coming in. I knew he had potential, but I did not expect this at all."

A switch from gliding to spinning added nearly 20 feet to Cookinham’s throws.

“It was just his determination on what he wanted to accomplish," Fortin said. "He didn’t take no for an answer when I said, ‘Hold off on this technique.’ He was determined. It got to the point where I’m not really your coach anymore. I’m here for moral support because now I’m starting to learn things from him. He took it to the next level.”

Cookinham finished his sophomore season at Stang by winning the MIAA Div. 2 title with a throw of 60-10. Over that summer, he took sixth at Nationals and won the 2021 USATF Junior Olympics.

Cookinham was dominant in his junior year, winning back-to-back indoor and outdoor state championships in addition to finishing first at the 2022 USATF Youth Nationals, second at USATF Region 1 2022 Junior Olympic Nationals and fourth at Nike X NSAF Indoor High School Nationals.

“We knew we had a gem here,” Fortin said. “It was awesome. He had a great experience his sophomore year. He ended up going to nationals and placing sixth. Enter his junior year, back-to-back state championships. I couldn’t have asked for any more success than as of now. What an awesome ride.”

Even though Cookinham has the goal of one day becoming an NCAA champion and Olympic medalist, he isn’t done yet at Bishop Stang.

“I really would like to throw 70 feet and break the state record,” he said. “I’d like to break the New England record too. We’ll see. I’ll make a good attempt at it.”

What makes Cookinham’s accomplishments even more impressive is that he’s achieved them while being a Type 1 diabetic.

“There are so many additional challenges I have to face as a Type 1 Diabetic that most student athletes don’t have to face so that’s an added layer,” said Cookinham, who was diagnosed at age seven. “It has helped me be more mature as an athlete and more disciplined.”

As Cookinham looked back on the road to the University of Kansas, he couldn't help but remember the moment it all began.

“The first time I picked it up, it felt like electricity was running through my body,” he said. “I said, ‘There is something different about this sport.’ I love it. I can’t get enough of it. It’s an obsession.”

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Bishop Stang's Jacob Cookinham signs to University of Kansas