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Weaver was seated in health class when South Western track and field coach Bruce Lee barged into the room, saying he needed to speak with her.
Weaver had no idea what to expect.
The then-freshman had impressed gym teacher Kim Flaherty with her production in the weight room the previous day, putting up 70 pounds on the shoulder press with ease. Flaherty immediately spread the word to Lee, an avid in-house recruiter.
"Coach Lee basically told me, 'You're going out for track this year,'" Weaver said. "I didn't intend to compete that year. I told him, 'Coach, I don't do track.' He basically looked at me and said, 'You do now.'"
Four years later, it appears Lee made the right call. No athlete in the Hanover area had a postseason ascent parallel to this shotputter. Because of this, Weaver is the the All-Area Girls' Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
Weaver showed how deserving she was when she hurled the shot 40 feet, 2 3/4 inches, establishing a school record while placing fifth in the PIAA Class AAA Championships at Shippensburg University.
As the searing heat cracked 90 degrees, Weaver topped her personal best.
"I always throw better when it's hot," said Weaver. "So, I was excited. The heat keeps me loose. I had no clue I was going to get a PR (personal record).
"I worked on keeping my chest up so that the throw wasn't a line drive. That's what I had worked on, throwing at practice the last two weeks. It kind of just clicked at the right time."
What makes her better than the rest? Lee said it's her will to win and her constant efforts to improve.
During the District 3 meet, she attained a personal best with a throw of 38-9. This came after hitting 35-10 1/2 at the YAIAA Championships.
While Weaver credits Lee for sparking her career, she said she couldn't have thrived without the constant
Working extensively with Weaver, Sieg helped her garner a berth in the district championships during her sophomore and junior seasons.
Currently stationed in Cuba with the U.S. navy, Sieg continued to coach Weaver through a constant flurry of Facebook messages.
"Every five seconds, I would get a Facebook message from Tyler, telling me what I was doing wrong," said Weaver. "He made sure I was working on every little mechanic there was, and putting it all together.
"The last four years, my weak point was getting across the circle. I usually get to the center of the circle. It was just a matter of getting across the circle and using my left arm."
Focusing on the shot put -- and forgoing the discus and javelin events --Weaver maximized her abilities with the iron ball.
The summer leading into her senior year, Weaver's work ethic spiked. She spent more time in the weight room. She took out a membership to Planet Fitness in Hanover, working away at everything from dumbbells to the shoulder press.
"Sieg was always big on lifting," Weaver said. "It was just a matter of keeping in shape and practicing technique work. Throwing is really predicated on technique, so I focused on that a lot."
Weaver is leaning toward attending Carroll Community College in Westminster, Md., next year. Since she eclipsed 40 feet, however, she's researched some potential NCAA destinations down the road.
"My coaches are looking into some track colleges now, since states and 40 feet happened," Weaver said.
What will she miss the most about her high school track career? Weaver said it will be the camaraderie of a tight-knit Mustang unit.
Of course, it's an experience that wouldn't have been possible without Lee's constant urging.
"Before my freshman season, (Lee) got me out of class three times to make sure my paperwork was done and that I had completed my physical. He said he wanted to make sure I wasn't going to miss the first day of practice."
When the Shippensburg University-bound van chugged out of the parking lot at roughly 6:35 a.m., Lee told Weaver she was close to breaking the school shot put record. Throughout the season, Lee had told Weaver she was closing on the record. It wasn't until that early sun-soaked morning, as the coaching staff and Weaver piled into the van, that he divulged just how close he was.
"I think that was his method of making sure I stayed focused," said Weaver. "He didn't want me getting distracted by trying to chase a school record."
The 40-foot barrier was a benchmark Weaver had mapped out since the summer leading into her senior year. During her last hurrah, Sieg reminded Weaver of what was within reach.
"At the beginning of my senior season, Tyler sent me a message," said Weaver. "He was telling me, 'It's your senior year. This is it. Go out and get it."
Just as she did with Lee four years ago, Weaver heeded the advice.
zsmart@eveningsun.com; 717-637-3736, extension 143
