Jennifer Iozzi flat out dominated the shot put event in indoor and outdoor track in 2015-16, claiming state titles in both to close out her Cranston West career.

West girls’ track coach Keith Croft only had the pleasure of coaching Iozzi for one season, but it didn’t take long for him to realize that the senior was something special.

“She came into the year in great shape and she was able to build off her strong finish last year,” Croft said. “She worked extremely hard in the summer and fall and peaked at the right time. There was nothing fancy about her – she simply worked herself into a state champion.”

Iozzi started her year by sweeping each in-state meet that she competed in during the indoor season, taking first in the Bayha Division and at the class and state meets.

Her toss of 39 feet, 1/2 inch allowed Iozzi to cruise past the field at the state meet, before securing a sixth-place finish at New Englands.

In the spring, Iozzi claimed Northern Division and Class A crowns for the outdoor season, before comfortably taking gold by more than two feet at the state meet.

Iozzi’s second-to-none work ethic certainly paid off.

“She was an extremely hard worker,” Croft said of Iozzi. “She dedicated herself year-round, in the weight room. She did it all. She was just tremendous.”

Iozzi will now move on to Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire, where she’ll continue to toss for the Division II Ravens.

Croft is confident that her skills and work ethic will translate well to the next level.

“I think she’s going to do great at Franklin Pierce and make herself into a really good college thrower,” Croft said. “She’ll keep working hard. It’s a year-round commitment, which is a good thing for her because she has a tremendous work ethic.”