University Southern California Trojans
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Throws
/ Track & Field
Getting To Know Preston Beery
March 07, 2025 | Track & Field
This edition of "Getting to Know" features freshman thrower Preston Beery. He talks about his defining moments in his high school career, his dream of becoming an astronaut, and his pre-meet rituals.
Q: What inspired you to become a thrower in track and field?
P.B.: In middle school, I took it up, and then I was watching videos on YouTube. Ryan Crouser is the best thrower right now, and he's definitely the one that I took after when I first started. He definitely inspired me.
Q: You set the Nevada state high school record in the shot put. What was that moment for you?
P.B.: That moment was everything. That was the moment that I knew I could go here. It was the defining moment of probably my entire high school career.
Q: What made you choose to come here?
P.B.: The history, the facilities, the coaching and especially how they treat their athletes. Those factors pushed me to choose to come here.
Q: How did you feel when you were named 2024 Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year back in high school?
P.B.: It wasn't as good as the state record moment, but I didn't know that my coach signed me up for that. When I got it, I was actually really surprised. I guess it just gave me a little ego boost.
Q: How has the transition been from high school to competing here at USC, but also just life compared from Vegas to Los Angeles?
P.B.: In Vegas and Nevada in general, there really wasn't anyone close to where the marks I was hitting. So, I was basically the best in Nevada. Every meet I went to I would always win. There'd be some competition, but it wouldn't be as much as I wanted. But coming here, and especially with the other throwers, there's definitely way more competition. As the season come up, I know I'm going to have to train as hard as I did in high school to beat those people that I know can throw farther than me.
Q: You chose to go down the route of aerospace engineering for your major. What made you choose that?
P.B.: I was in the STEM academy at my high school, and I was going to do computer science coming here, but I thought that that'd be too easy. I chose aerospace engineering because I really want to be an astronaut. There's a very slim chance that happens, but that's like a dream goal so I might as well go down the route that'll get me there.
Q: Why do you want to be an astronaut?
P.B.: I think my dream goal in life would be to go to the Olympics and medal, be an astronaut, and retire. That'd be the best-case scenario for the rest of my life.
Q: If you could be a part of any space mission, past or present, which one would you go on?
P.B.: The Apollo flight that went to the moon, and then maybe grab a shot put and throw it on the moon. I want to be the first person to throw a shot put on the moon.
Q: Growing up in Vegas, what is your favorite thing about your hometown?
P.B.: I'd say probably, the strip, there's a lot of cool casinos that have a bunch of cool places. Basically, if you want to do something fun, you have to go to a casino.
Q: If you weren't a thrower, what other sport or track event would you want to compete in?
P.B.: I would probably be a distance runner, because my mom did distance in high school and college. I did distance as well as throwing in middle school.
Q: Do you have any pre meet rituals or superstitions that you know get you in the zone?
P.B.: I have to tape my wrist and my fingers the exact same way, or else, it just won't feel right. It's like a boxing wrap. I tape the tips of my fingers.
Q: Do you have any hype song or playlist that could get you going before meets?
P.B.: I'd say Jail by Kanye West. That was my walk-up song before I threw the state record. The intro is pretty good.
Q: What is one fun fact about yourself that most people don't know about you?
P.B.: I like line dancing. Line Dancing is very fun. Country swing dancing.
Q: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
P.B.: Respectful, determined and funny.
Q: What inspired you to become a thrower in track and field?
P.B.: In middle school, I took it up, and then I was watching videos on YouTube. Ryan Crouser is the best thrower right now, and he's definitely the one that I took after when I first started. He definitely inspired me.
Q: You set the Nevada state high school record in the shot put. What was that moment for you?
P.B.: That moment was everything. That was the moment that I knew I could go here. It was the defining moment of probably my entire high school career.
Q: What made you choose to come here?
P.B.: The history, the facilities, the coaching and especially how they treat their athletes. Those factors pushed me to choose to come here.
Q: How did you feel when you were named 2024 Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year back in high school?
P.B.: It wasn't as good as the state record moment, but I didn't know that my coach signed me up for that. When I got it, I was actually really surprised. I guess it just gave me a little ego boost.
Q: How has the transition been from high school to competing here at USC, but also just life compared from Vegas to Los Angeles?
P.B.: In Vegas and Nevada in general, there really wasn't anyone close to where the marks I was hitting. So, I was basically the best in Nevada. Every meet I went to I would always win. There'd be some competition, but it wouldn't be as much as I wanted. But coming here, and especially with the other throwers, there's definitely way more competition. As the season come up, I know I'm going to have to train as hard as I did in high school to beat those people that I know can throw farther than me.
Q: You chose to go down the route of aerospace engineering for your major. What made you choose that?
P.B.: I was in the STEM academy at my high school, and I was going to do computer science coming here, but I thought that that'd be too easy. I chose aerospace engineering because I really want to be an astronaut. There's a very slim chance that happens, but that's like a dream goal so I might as well go down the route that'll get me there.
Q: Why do you want to be an astronaut?
P.B.: I think my dream goal in life would be to go to the Olympics and medal, be an astronaut, and retire. That'd be the best-case scenario for the rest of my life.
Q: If you could be a part of any space mission, past or present, which one would you go on?
P.B.: The Apollo flight that went to the moon, and then maybe grab a shot put and throw it on the moon. I want to be the first person to throw a shot put on the moon.
Q: Growing up in Vegas, what is your favorite thing about your hometown?
P.B.: I'd say probably, the strip, there's a lot of cool casinos that have a bunch of cool places. Basically, if you want to do something fun, you have to go to a casino.
Q: If you weren't a thrower, what other sport or track event would you want to compete in?
P.B.: I would probably be a distance runner, because my mom did distance in high school and college. I did distance as well as throwing in middle school.
Q: Do you have any pre meet rituals or superstitions that you know get you in the zone?
P.B.: I have to tape my wrist and my fingers the exact same way, or else, it just won't feel right. It's like a boxing wrap. I tape the tips of my fingers.
Q: Do you have any hype song or playlist that could get you going before meets?
P.B.: I'd say Jail by Kanye West. That was my walk-up song before I threw the state record. The intro is pretty good.
Q: What is one fun fact about yourself that most people don't know about you?
P.B.: I like line dancing. Line Dancing is very fun. Country swing dancing.
Q: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
P.B.: Respectful, determined and funny.
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