Justin Bieber’s “Beauty And a Beat” blasts in junior Ainsley Bramer’s headphones as she shakes off her nerves.
Taking a deep breath, waiting for her turn to throw shot put or discus, she hopes to beat her personal record.
Bramer is set to attend the University of Texas at Austin in 2026 while also garnering offers from the University of Tennessee, Florida State University and the University of Iowa.
“It really surprised all of us,” Bramer’s father Michael Bramer said. “Recruiting for track is usually a senior year thing. Whichever one she chose, we wouldn’t have anything negative to say, it’s the best problem to have in the world.”
Ainsley originally began to take an interest in track and field, specifically throwing events in seventh grade at Coppell Middle School North.
“My dad taught me the basics of shot put and I was as good as any seventh grader could be,” Ainsley said.
In eighth grade, Ainsley joined The Throwing Factory, a private throwing club for girls and boys led by founder Jayson Hayes who is also Ainsley’s coach. Together, Ainsley and Hayes developed weight training technique and proper throwing form to set herself apart.
“Throwing is such an individual sport,” Hayes said. “It creates so much pressure for them to do their best at all times.”
Hayes emphasizes Ainsley’s discipline and work ethic, marking her as naturally gifted.

“Ainsley’s work ethic is inferior to none, she grinds when nobody is watching,” Hayes said. “When I met her, she was this shy junior high girl, and she has only transformed into a better athlete ever since.”
Struggling with anxiety, Ainsley’s passion for being active has been an outlet for her.
“Being active and lifting is what helps my anxiety calm down,” Ainsley said. “I had a bad experience with a coach when I was young in soccer and that’s when my family discovered some of the anxiety. For a while I would worry about pleasing others rather than myself.”
Following her heart and surrounding herself with loved ones allows her to prosper in her sport.
“Throwing just clears my mind,” Ainsley said. “Obviously, I do want to do my best and there is that pressure on me, but I have a huge support system around me which I can count on, especially my parents.”
Throughout middle school and her freshman year, Ainsley excelled in both throwing sports as well as volleyball. Torn with the decision, after a year in both of the sports, her heart was set on track and field.
“Sometimes it can be difficult for multi-sport athletes in terms of scheduling conflicts,” mother Erica Bramer said.“But it wasn’t hard for her to leave, she loves to throw so she followed that.”
Currently, Ainsley holds two school records for shot put and discus at 42 feet, 4 inches and 127 feet, 2 inches respectively.
Even though Ainsley’s determination leads her to defy school records, not every day is perfect.
“Ainsley can be her own worst critic,” Coppell track and field coach Allen Oh said. “If she performs a little bit off, she starts to overthink. That’s a testament to her because she has trained so much. At the end of the day, I just want her to go out there, correct her mistakes, trust herself, her technique and compete.”
With her head held high to finish off her high school career and begin her journey at UT, Bramer is motivated to continually launch herself and her shotput to new personal records.
“At the end of the day, Ainsley bleeds burnt orange and that’s where her heart sends her too,” Hayes said. “I’m ecstatic for her, she’s going to do great things at UT Austin.”
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Rhea Choudhary • Feb 3, 2025 at 1:04 pm
amazing!!