"Being at Bucknell is a special experience. The connections I've made here, both in and out of the classroom, have been incredible."

Evelyn Bliss '27 first stepped onto Bucknell's campus as a high school sophomore when she competed in the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Kinney Natatorium. "I immediately fell in love with the campus and with Lewisburg," she says. "I felt a little sad though because I really wanted to swim in college, and I knew that I wasn't fast enough to swim at Bucknell."

Little did she know, her path to Bucknell wouldn't come through the pool but through a different arena entirely. A shift in sports and a willingness to embrace a new challenge would ultimately earn her a spot not only on the Bison track & field team — but also in the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials and the U20 World Championships.

Growing up in Rimersburg, Pa., Bliss dedicated 13 years to swimming. After her sophomore season, she joined her school's track team as a way to stay in shape, and she decided to try her hand at javelin. "Because I played baseball when I was little, I thought I could probably throw," she says.

But it wasn't an immediate, natural fit. Javelin throwing is a highly technical sport that requires precise form, shoulder mobility and synchronization of the body. It's a quick motion, starting with a walk that transitions into a jog and finishes with a powerful throw. "Any slight misstep can throw off the entire process," Bliss says.

Evelyn Bliss ’27, who first visited Bucknell as a high school swimmer, found her true calling in javelin. Photo by James T. Giffen, Marketing & Communications

With guidance from her father, a former collegiate thrower, and many hours of practice, Bliss gradually improved. Together, they watched YouTube videos and pieced together her technique. By her junior year, Bliss had a breakthrough, with three standout meets that earned her a spot at the Pennsylvania state meet. There, she finished in second place, throwing 140 feet.

That got Bucknell's attention, and Bliss was invited for an official visit to campus where she stayed with a javelin thrower. "I could see myself thriving here," she says. "I'm from a rural area, and I didn't want to go to a big city or large school."

When she arrived as a student at Bucknell in 2023, she says she immediately felt at home with the tight-knit track & field community and appreciated the personalized support she received.

She and coach Ryan Protzman formulated three goals for her first year as a Bison thrower: winning the Patriot League Championships, qualifying for the NCAA National Championships, and qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. She did all three.

At the Olympic Trials in June, Bliss competed as one of the top 24 javelin throwers in the country. "I was up against these high-caliber athletes who I knew from YouTube — I had learned how to throw by watching their videos," she says. "It was surreal." On day two of the competition, Bliss set a new personal record and made it to the finals. In the final rounds, with her parents and coach there to watch, Bliss delivered outstanding performances — throwing a career-best 183 feet, 2 inches — and secured a spot in the finals.

Then in August, she won the bronze medal at the U20 World Championships in Peru, throwing 177 feet, 2 inches.

Balancing her athletic life, which entails four to five hours of daily training, with her studies as a biology major isn't easy. But Bliss feels she has the support she needs to succeed at Bucknell. "Some of my first classes felt a little overwhelming," she says. "But I saw a tutor and attended office hours for calculus and chemistry, and it made my learning experience so much better. I asked a lot of questions and got to know the professors better. I love having the Bucknell support system. It's amazing."

Her future goals include qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympics and a career in chiropractic care. In the meantime, Bliss continues to embrace the opportunities Bucknell offers. Whether she's in the classroom, on the field, or participating in the biology club, she's making the most of her time at Bucknell.

"Being at Bucknell is a special experience," Bliss says. "The connections I've made here, both in and out of the classroom, have been incredible."