WESTBOROUGH – For 46 years, nobody could touch Westborough High School’s outdoor shot put record.
A 49-foot throw, made in 1978, was considered the gold standard of Westborough athletics for years.
Then came Sebastian Grillo. In 2024, the now-graduated Westborough High School senior smashed the school’s long-standing record, registering a 54-foot, 7.5-inch throw at the MIAA Meet of Champions to capture the school record.
According to Westborough Head Coach Roger Anderson, “it couldn’t happen to a better guy.”
“We’ve had dozens and dozens, if not hundreds, of guys attempting to throw the shot well. He exceeded all of them by a mile. You can be technically good and be a good athlete, but to do what he’s done, you have to be both,” Anderson said.
While he became a force on the Rangers’ track and field team, Grillo was originally a football-first athlete. He played halfback and linebacker for the Rangers, becoming a team captain and earning Midland-Wachusett League all-star honors. Wanting to get faster and stronger in the offseason, Westborough Football Head Coach Joe Beveridge suggested Grillo join the track and field team.
His response: “Why not?”
At first, Grillo started sprinting, but Anderson quickly noticed his natural talent as a thrower. Grillo found immediate success.
“I was throwing a good distance just starting. I started throwing 30 feet, which, looking back on it now, wouldn’t be a good mark, but most guys weren’t throwing that much. People were like, ‘Wow! You’ve never done this and you’re throwing that far?’ I think I just thought that I could get better at this if I worked hard and practiced,” Grillo told the Community Advocate.
Though he missed all of his senior football season with a Lisfranc injury, Grillo returned with a vengeance for his final track and field campaign. In addition to breaking the shot put record, he set the discus record. His 159-foot, 10-inch throw broke the school record by almost 20 feet. He also holds several indoor track records.
“I’ve done all my PT [physical therapy] I’ve done my stretches. I’ve been lifting. I’m back to 100% and it’s been showing,” said Grillo.
“Sebastian is an outstanding athlete. He has tremendous strength. His weight room is outstanding, but he’s also an exceptional student of the game. He really understands technique and the value of intentional practice,” said Anderson.
Grillo attributes most of his success to his dedication and preparation. He spends most of his spare time in the gym, working to improve himself, break his own records, and become faster and stronger.
“I lift very consistently. I think if you ask my coach every time he asks me how my weekend was, my story probably starts with, ‘I went to the gym.’ I’m there five to six days a week. It’s a combination of me wanting to get better, and also me just loving being there. I started doing it because of football, but I always want to do more. I want to get better. I want to keep going,” he said.
As good as he is athletically, one might make the case he’s an even better teammate.
“He’s a tremendous, humble leader. He never talks about himself. He’s always working hard and doing the things you want him to do. He elevates others, invests in his teammates,” Anderson said. “Like any of us, he has good and bad days at practice, but the best part about it is he shows up the next day and works just as hard, if not harder … He’s just that type of competitor.”
“I love pushing my teammates … I want to get all our guys better. As cool as all the individual awards are, getting team medals and awards is much better. I try to motivate my teammates,” said Grillo.
