Nicosia burns candle at both ends

Jump farther, run faster, lift more — the laudable goals of many track athletes. But Carla Nicosia is no ordinary track athlete. Not only has she accomplished those goals throughout her high school career, she’s done it while battling diabetes, an ailment that requires near constant monitoring, especially for an athlete.

“The average diabetic checks their blood sugar levels four to six times a day,” she said. “I check mine 10 to 12 times a day.”

Nicosia did not inherit the disease. When she was three, she got the flu and it attacked her pancreas. She’s been dealing with it ever since. A pump on her hip feeds her body the insulin she needs.

“I had to grow up pretty fast,” she said.

Nicosia keeps a tight schedule, to put it mildly. A typical day finds her up at 6:50 a.m., lifting weights in the gym a half-hour later, then a full day of classes, where she squeezes in a couple of sessions of trumpet practice, then track practice all afternoon, supper, homework and “in bed by 11:30 if I’m lucky.”

She’s an accomplished power lifter, triple jumper and 100-meter hurdler. Last year at the Class A state track meet, she placed third in the triple jump, losing to the first-place finisher by a mere quarter of an inch.

This year she’s added six inches to her triple jump and needs six more to break Tanya Tesar’s school record of 37 feet, 6 inches.

Nicosia can lift more than many boys her age. She bench presses 205 pounds and squats 280. In March, she took second in the 18th annual Montana State High School Power Lifting Championships in Great Falls.

She started lifting when she was in eighth grade at the advice of her father and mentor, Michael Nicosia. He competed in track in high school and played football for the University of Montana. He was the School District 6 superintendent in Columbia Falls for nearly two decades and now travels across the West with Carla to indoor track meets.

“He leads by example,” she said.

But Carla’s not all about sports. She’ll graduate with honors, having amassed 31 credits — eight more than what’s needed to graduate. She’s also picked up 10 college credits. She’s first trumpet for the Columbians and has a better than 4.0 grade point average.

On this day, she looks a little tired.

“I need some sleep,” she said.

Nicosia will attend the University of Montana this fall on a track and field scholarship, where she looks to triple jump as well as Sammy Evans, who leapt 42 feet this season.

Someday Nicosia wants to be an athletic trainer, but the immediate challenge is finishing an advanced placement government class. Science, math, they’re a breeze, but this government class is tough, she admits.

“It’s the most challenging,” she said.

When she gets stuck, she asks her mother, Susan Nicosia. As the Columbia Falls city manager, she knows a thing or two about government.

“She always has the answer,” Carla said with a smile. “I’ve got a great support system.”