Redshirt sophomore Angel Parra provides the Gators with an intriguing newcomer in throwing events. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath)
Taking Flight: Gators Newcomer Parra a Natural at Success
Thursday, February 11, 2016 | Track and Field, Scott Carter
Angel Parra recently joined the UF men's track team as a thrower
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Ken Dunn first met Angel Parra when they were paired together by the Take Stock in Children program in which Dunn serves as a mentor.
A longtime administrator in the thoroughbred racing industry, Dunn was retired as president of Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens and once a week would meet with Parra at Miramar High School, where Parra was a student.
Parra made an immediate impression on Dunn, whom if you know anything about life at the track, met about every kind of character known to man during his 40 years in the horse racing business. When he arrived home from their first mentoring session, Dunn told his wife, Jody, about his new pupil.
"I've never seen a young man as dedicated and driven,'' Dunn told her.
First impressions can be deceiving. Not this time. The more Dunn got to know Parra, he knew the teenager was the real deal.
Dunn rattles off story after story about Parra's ingenuity and commitment to make the most out of a life that started in the Dominican Republic, where he was born, and began to blossom in South Florida after his parents immigrated to the U.S.
"The only time he wanted me to come in to meet with him was during his lunch hour,'' Dunn said. "He did not want to miss a class. Every other student I had, and it didn't matter if they were male or female, they couldn't wait to get out of a class."
Dunn recalls the time he asked Parra if he had a computer. Parra said he did, one he had built from scratch. A member of the Civil Air Patrol, Parra also designed his own flight simulator in high school. Parra joined the track team at Miramar High more or less by accident.
One day as he ran to stay in shape for ROTC, the track coach asked him to come out for the team as a distance runner. Parra did and soon he started to hang out with the shot put and discus throwers, who sort of coached themselves.
The Patriots had a discus to use at practice, but when they went to meets, they had to borrow one since the school's was not regulation size. Para quickly became more interested in throwing events than the mile.
"It's the technical aspect,'' he said. "I'm really into breaking down technique. And then the feel for it. I like seeing the progress from the work you put into it. And then the flying, too. You see something go far, it looks nice."
Parra has certainly gone far in the four years Dunn has known him.
He earned his pilot's license, spent a year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on the track team, completed a six-week training program at Quantico last summer as part of his work for Platoon Leaders Class, a program that leads to being commissioned as a Marine Corps office, and since the spring semester started, Parra has been a member of the Florida men's track team.
Parra always wanted to attend UF and compete in the hammer throw -- to prepare he made his own hammer the summer between his final year of high school and the start of college -- but didn't know if he was good enough.
He reached out via email to Gators assistant coach Steve Lemke, shared his background and interest in Florida, and spent a year between his stint at Embry-Riddle and Florida by taking online courses at UF, training on his own and holding down a job to pay the bills and flights above campus in a Cessna 172.
While Parra isn't expected to compete for the Gators until the outdoor season, the redshirt sophomore has piqued Lemke's interest in their short time together.
"For every 100 emails you get, maybe you get one that has a chance,'' Lemke said of Parra's path to UF. "This guy has more than a chance to help us."
Parra's athleticism makes him a natural as a thrower. The fact he taught himself how to throw is the most difficult part for Lemke to get his head around. There's not a day goes by at practice that Lemke doesn't see improvement in some aspect of Parra's technique.
Parra agreed. Being coached by one of the country's top teachers in the event is what Parra continues to get his head around.
"I would analyze my own videos and with my little bit of understanding of the event,'' he said. "Having a coach makes it 10 times quicker to see progress."
With the UF men's team considered a favorite to challenge for the national indoor and outdoor titles, points from the throwing events can only help the Gators' bid. Lemke isn't sure what the Gators will get from Parra in his first season, but he knows he'll be ready to compete.
In his final year at Miramar High, Parra finished third in the discus at the Class 3A state meet. He won the hammer throw title as a freshman at Embry-Riddle two years ago in the Sun Conference Outdoor Championship and qualified for the NAIA Indoor national championship in the weight throw.
Parra hasn't competed since the spring of 2014 after he decided to transfer to UF to see if he could compete at the highest level.
"Right now he is really developmental, but he is so athletic,'' Lemke said. "He is athletic and very long arms, perfect for throwing the hammer. And he loves throwing the hammer. This year is going to be a learning year."
Parra understands the challenge ahead. No different than when slept three or four hours a night and then spent the day in grueling training runs and exercises for those six weeks at Quantico. He lost about 20 pounds but considers himself stronger than ever since joining UF's training program.
He may not be expected to do much, but don't be surprised if he does.
"For my first season here, I just want to go out and perform above expectations,'' he said. "I really want to contribute."
Parra's name came up during a conversation Dunn and a friend had recently. Dunn's friend wondered how Parra might perform now that he has a knowledgeable coach and the resources Florida provides its student-athletes.
Dunn expects him to succeed as usual. Same as the first time they met.
"He is just an amazing kid,'' Dunn said. "There was nothing given to him. If his parents are the people he emulates in terms of work ethic, they did a great job."
A longtime administrator in the thoroughbred racing industry, Dunn was retired as president of Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens and once a week would meet with Parra at Miramar High School, where Parra was a student.
Parra made an immediate impression on Dunn, whom if you know anything about life at the track, met about every kind of character known to man during his 40 years in the horse racing business. When he arrived home from their first mentoring session, Dunn told his wife, Jody, about his new pupil.
"I've never seen a young man as dedicated and driven,'' Dunn told her.
First impressions can be deceiving. Not this time. The more Dunn got to know Parra, he knew the teenager was the real deal.
Dunn rattles off story after story about Parra's ingenuity and commitment to make the most out of a life that started in the Dominican Republic, where he was born, and began to blossom in South Florida after his parents immigrated to the U.S.
"The only time he wanted me to come in to meet with him was during his lunch hour,'' Dunn said. "He did not want to miss a class. Every other student I had, and it didn't matter if they were male or female, they couldn't wait to get out of a class."
Dunn recalls the time he asked Parra if he had a computer. Parra said he did, one he had built from scratch. A member of the Civil Air Patrol, Parra also designed his own flight simulator in high school. Parra joined the track team at Miramar High more or less by accident.
One day as he ran to stay in shape for ROTC, the track coach asked him to come out for the team as a distance runner. Parra did and soon he started to hang out with the shot put and discus throwers, who sort of coached themselves.
The Patriots had a discus to use at practice, but when they went to meets, they had to borrow one since the school's was not regulation size. Para quickly became more interested in throwing events than the mile.
"It's the technical aspect,'' he said. "I'm really into breaking down technique. And then the feel for it. I like seeing the progress from the work you put into it. And then the flying, too. You see something go far, it looks nice."
Parra has certainly gone far in the four years Dunn has known him.
He earned his pilot's license, spent a year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on the track team, completed a six-week training program at Quantico last summer as part of his work for Platoon Leaders Class, a program that leads to being commissioned as a Marine Corps office, and since the spring semester started, Parra has been a member of the Florida men's track team.
Parra always wanted to attend UF and compete in the hammer throw -- to prepare he made his own hammer the summer between his final year of high school and the start of college -- but didn't know if he was good enough.
He reached out via email to Gators assistant coach Steve Lemke, shared his background and interest in Florida, and spent a year between his stint at Embry-Riddle and Florida by taking online courses at UF, training on his own and holding down a job to pay the bills and flights above campus in a Cessna 172.
While Parra isn't expected to compete for the Gators until the outdoor season, the redshirt sophomore has piqued Lemke's interest in their short time together.
"For every 100 emails you get, maybe you get one that has a chance,'' Lemke said of Parra's path to UF. "This guy has more than a chance to help us."
Parra's athleticism makes him a natural as a thrower. The fact he taught himself how to throw is the most difficult part for Lemke to get his head around. There's not a day goes by at practice that Lemke doesn't see improvement in some aspect of Parra's technique.
Parra agreed. Being coached by one of the country's top teachers in the event is what Parra continues to get his head around.
"I would analyze my own videos and with my little bit of understanding of the event,'' he said. "Having a coach makes it 10 times quicker to see progress."
With the UF men's team considered a favorite to challenge for the national indoor and outdoor titles, points from the throwing events can only help the Gators' bid. Lemke isn't sure what the Gators will get from Parra in his first season, but he knows he'll be ready to compete.
In his final year at Miramar High, Parra finished third in the discus at the Class 3A state meet. He won the hammer throw title as a freshman at Embry-Riddle two years ago in the Sun Conference Outdoor Championship and qualified for the NAIA Indoor national championship in the weight throw.
Parra hasn't competed since the spring of 2014 after he decided to transfer to UF to see if he could compete at the highest level.
"Right now he is really developmental, but he is so athletic,'' Lemke said. "He is athletic and very long arms, perfect for throwing the hammer. And he loves throwing the hammer. This year is going to be a learning year."
Parra understands the challenge ahead. No different than when slept three or four hours a night and then spent the day in grueling training runs and exercises for those six weeks at Quantico. He lost about 20 pounds but considers himself stronger than ever since joining UF's training program.
He may not be expected to do much, but don't be surprised if he does.
"For my first season here, I just want to go out and perform above expectations,'' he said. "I really want to contribute."
Parra's name came up during a conversation Dunn and a friend had recently. Dunn's friend wondered how Parra might perform now that he has a knowledgeable coach and the resources Florida provides its student-athletes.
Dunn expects him to succeed as usual. Same as the first time they met.
"He is just an amazing kid,'' Dunn said. "There was nothing given to him. If his parents are the people he emulates in terms of work ethic, they did a great job."
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