Manalapan's Erin Picklo is the Monmouth County AOM

Erin Picklo of Manalapan High School truly personifies what a student-athlete is and has earned admiration from teachers, coaches, teammates, friends and fellow students. An accomplished athlete, her list of awards and honors on and off the track has led to her being voted the Shore Sports Network/94.3 The Point Athlete of the Month for May.

Picklo has not only been a vital member of the Braves’ indoor and outdoor track & field teams for four years but has served as captain throughout her high school tenure. In that role she has done whatever was asked to help her team, running in several different events from the sprints to the 400 and even 800 while also being a regular part of the 4x400 relay team, which set a school record in 2019. She is a two-time division sprint champion, has earned the team MVP and Prestigious Performance Award and is a four-time member of the Freehold Regional High School District’s All-District Team.

Picklo is currently in the top 4% of her senior class, serves as Vice President of the National Honor Society, is a member of the National History, Spanish and Math honor societies, and is captain of the Consumer Bowl Team. She is an AP scholar with honor and will be attending The College of New Jersey where she’ll double major in biology and psychology. Her plans include attending medical school or some other form of clinical school so she can work with children on the autism spectrum.

Erin earned 31% of the votes cast to beat out Lindsay Cannon of Holmdel (24%) with Matawan’s Adam Coleman finishing third (16%). She received a special award from Ocean Trophies of Lanoka Harbor for winning the monthly honor, which is open to all Monmouth County high schools, who are eligible to nominate one student-athlete each month. The staff of the Shore Sports Network then determines the finalists and viewers then have the opportunity to vote over the course of a week.

Q&A with Erin Picklo:

Q: How does it feel to know that so many people supported you in the voting for Athlete of the Month?

A: It’s honestly surreal. I feel both honored and humbled at the same time. I grew up with such an amazing support system at home, but that support system also extended to my other “homes” as well: like on the track, at the soccer field, and at a majority of my volunteering opportunities. Being able to see these relationships materialize into those concrete results really cements in my head that I’ve found my people, that I’ve created such an amazing network full of supportive and benevolent individuals.

Q: You played varsity soccer as a freshman and sophomore. Why did you give up the sport?

A: One thing I know for sure is that soccer created the foundation for me to excel in track. I’ve had and always will have a passion or soccer, but high school soccer ultimately helped me understand what sport my heart really belonged to. After joining track my freshman year, I realized that running was my passion and I wanted to spend more time focusing on that. I decided to take a step back from high school soccer while continuing to play club soccer with some of the best friends I could ever ask for. I’ve been on the same team for 11 years and the people on the team right now, including some of the most amazing coaches (Coach Grimm I love you), have defined my character and work ethic like none other.

Q: Since you missed out on your spring season as a junior how enjoyable has this season been?

A: Having no junior season took a toll on me. I was lucky enough to make it to the groups for the 300 and 4x400 in the winter season, so ending on a high note was a good way to stamp my junior year, but it definitely hurt not being able to say a proper goodbye to the seniors who had such an amazing impact on my life. However, it’s made me so much more grateful for the experience I’ve had as this season has been filled with doctors’ appointments and missed practices to find out what might be causing me the pain that I’m feeling. However I have to be grateful for what I’ve been through and I would never have wanted any of it to go differently.

Q: What is your formula for success both in athletics and academics?

A: Recognizing success. It sounds simple but I still think I have trouble doing it. Throughout my high school career I have done nothing but want to be better, and that mindset will always help you in the short term but damage you in the long run. I was almost never satisfied, whether it be a grade on a test or a time on the track…even when both were still considered to be good. So, if I could give advice to anyone about how to be successful, it would be to track out, to talk to people. The connections you make during your athletic and academic careers will create a support system like no other, and that support will carry you to any form of success, and not let yourself by drowned in your own thoughts. I thank Coach Moran and Coach Papcun for teaching me that.

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