Senior Salute: Beaver’s Stovka ready for new hurdles at YSU

A love of shows like Dateline and Forensic Files led Grace Stovka to Youngstown State, where she’ll major in forensic science and complete in the hurdles for the Penguins’ track team.

There’s nothing wrong with a little TV binge-watching, especially when it leads you to your college major.

Beaver senior Grace Stovka has watched her fair share of shows like Dateline and Forensic Files, and the science used to solve cases fascinates her.

“I find that just absolutely incredible,” Stovka said.

It’s interesting enough to Stovka that she’ll be a forensic science major at Youngstown State University in the fall, where she’ll also be part of the Penguins’ track team.

“I met the coach when I went down and visited,” Stovka said. “I really enjoyed talking with him, and I’m really excited to be on their team.”

Stovka earned a bronze medal in the 300 hurdles at the WPIAL championships her junior year and was hoping to parlay that into more success as a senior. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled her senior season, but she’s confident that her success as a junior and the work that she put in this offseason will help give her a good base for a strong start to her college career.

“What I was looking for in an athletic program is something that isn’t as business-like, if that makes sense, someone who would give really good coaching advice and improve my athleticism,” Stovka said.

Stovka also runs the 100 hurdles and is a member of two of Beaver’s relay teams – the 4 x 100 team and the 4 x 400 team. But the 300 hurdles have evolved into her best event.

“As time went on, I realized sprinting wasn’t my specialty,” Stovka said. “So a lot of my workouts were centered on middle-distance, so that’s why I think I had better success in the 300 hurdles.”

The WPIAL bronze in 2019 was the result of a year’s worth of work. Stovka finished 12th in the 300 hurdles as a sophomore and she was determined to find her way onto the podium as a junior.

With a time of 46.79, Stovka got the reward she was looking for.

“It definitely meant the world to me,” Stovka said. “I knew I wanted to come out stronger my junior year. I practiced all year round, did a ton of workouts and lifting. I had a pretty good feeling that something great would come out of the WPIALs.”

Stovka finished ninth in the state championship meet in the 300 hurdles, but the atmosphere of the state track championships and the overall sense of accomplishment stuck with her.

“That was definitely one of the best memories I’ve had,” Stovka said. “It really showed all my work paid off in the end.”

“The bonding we had is great and the coaching staff – they go above and beyond everything we could ever think of,” Stovka added. “Overall, I’d say it’s a pretty great six years. Unfortunately it had to end like this but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”