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SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – For Spartanburg High School rising senior, Riley Vaughn, success in the throwing circle didn’t happen overnight and her eyes are set on the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Vaughn began working on her technique at just six years old before transitioning to the shot put at age 11 under the guidance of her father. Years of early mornings, private coaching and hours of dedication have turned her into one of the nation’s top throwers.
This past spring, Vaughn swept the shot put and discus titles at the SCHSL Class 5A Division I State Championships, helping lead the Vikings to a fifth-place team finish. Her personal-best shot put throw of 47 feet, 3.5 inches ranked No. 29 nationally and moved her to No. 4 on South Carolina’s all-time list. She also earned All-American honors after placing third in the shot put at the Under Armour Nationals.
Vaughn’s accomplishments have drawn attention from college programs including Princeton, Miami and South Florida. Most recently, she added one of high school sports’ most prestigious honors to her resumé by being named South Carolina’s Gatorade Girls Track & Field Player of the Year.
She joins an elite legacy that spans professional athletes and coaches to CEOs, such as five-time Olympic medalist Sanya Richards (2001-02, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Florida), four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (2015-16 & 2016-17, Union Catholic Regional High School, New Jersey), 11-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix, and Jane Hedengren (2024-25, Timpview High School, Utah).
“It’s the highest honor a high school athlete can receive,” said Vaughn. “This award represents far more than athletic success. It recognizes my hard work, leadership, character and dedication both on and off the field.”
For more than five years, Spartanburg High coaches Audril Jones and Dorian Mariable have watched Vaughn develop from a Junior Olympian at seven years old into a two-time state champion. They say her work ethic and commitment to improvement have separated her from the competition.
The honors translate into the classroom where Vaughn carries a 3.88 GPA and is active in the community, volunteering at nursing homes, food distribution events, school-supply drives and church outreach programs. She has also spent time mentoring younger athletes as a youth track and basketball coach.
With two state championship rings already in hand, she dreams of becoming a sports lawyer, or agent.
She intends to major in Business Law with a minor in Sports Management. As she prepares for her final high school season and weighing her options, she’s focused on continuing to improve, competing for another state title and taking the next step toward her college dreams.
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