The RoundHouse | 2/24/2022 4:49:00 PM

 
Amanda Kakoulias' love for the shot put connects to her grandfather and one of Athanase Kakoulias' favorite Greek words – "meraki."
 
"He was always a believer in dedicating yourself," Amanda Kakoulias said. "Don't do anything halfway. That word described his attitude on life."
 
Amanda Kakoulias, a senior at Wichita State, dedicated herself to other sports. The shot put, a sport her grandfather excelled in during his youth in Hotoussa, Greece, always won out. Athanase Kakoulias, who moved from Greece to Canada and then the United States, died in 2006.
 
The inspiration of Athanase Kakoulias is always prominent for his grand-daughter. On her right calf is a tattoo of wings, the symbol of track and field, and the Greek letters spelling "meraki."
 
"He always talked about how far he could throw a discus and a shot put," she said. "He never got the chance to see me grow, but I still feel like we had that in common."
 
Kakoulias work over the past five years is peaking as the Shockers enter the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships beginning Friday at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama. She set the Wichita State record with a throw of 52 feet, ½ inch a week ago. She ranks second in the conference behind Houston's Nu'uausala Tuilefano (56-1¼).
 
Kakoulias earned a spot on the Wichita Eagle's All-Metro volleyball team in 2015 and second-team All-Class 4A Division honors in basketball for Andover Central in 2016. She set school records in the triple jump, shot put, discus and javelin before signing to play basketball at Emporia State.
 
When she transferred to Wichita State after one semester at Emporia State, she tried the multi-events before settling on throws. The combination of speed, balance and technique required to excel has always intrigued her.
 
"My heart always goes back to shot put," she said. "It's just something that I truly love and that makes it fun to work for."
 
While she doesn't possess typical shot-putter strength, her agility and attention to technique compensate.
 
"She's been at the cusp of this a number of times," throws coach John Hetzendorf said. "She is athletic. She's quick. She's explosive. She's been able to throw the shot put far using those tools, more than just strength."
 
Kakoulias finished sixth in the shot put in the AAC indoor meet in 2020 with a throw of 48 feet, 4 ¾ inches. Last spring, she finished third in the outdoor conference meet with a throw of 49 feet, ¾ inches.
 
She switched from a glide technique to the spin as a junior, modeling after Chase Ealey, a two-time USA Track and Field champion.
 
"Switching to the spin was big for me, and it takes a while to learn," Kakoulias said. "So, I feel like I've been having a lot of failure switching to that and not throwing as far as I know I can throw until it just clicks. The past few weeks, I've been seeing it click. I'm finally able to see all that work for the spin pay off."
 
She also credits Hetzendorf's guidance. She first met him almost 10 years ago at throwing camps. When she decided to leave Emporia State, she first called Wichita State coaches to see if they had a spot for her, scholarship or not. Through five years, one interrupted by COVID-19, and trial and error to land on the shot put as her best event, Hetzendorf stayed patient and persistent.
 
"He is relatable – he is not just someone who is coaching you and telling you what to do," she said. "He is there for your, through your failures, through your successes. He knows how to customize workouts and he knows how to customize his coaching for each individual athlete."
 
As a senior, Kakoulias fits track practice in during a busy schedule. In October, she married Cody Craney, a former thrower at Pratt Community College.
 
She is working on her master of business administration after graduating with a degree in business administration. In December, after an internship, she started as a talent acquisition coordinator at Bombardier, Inc. And she works on the business and marketing side for Spartan Motorsport for her father's business, which manufactures gas tanks for a variety of vehicles and solar showers.
 
Her work doesn't interfere with track practices, a requirement she insisted on. As her grandfather wanted, she is dedicated to finishing her Shocker career strong.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.