It was a small tear in Cam Whalen's quadriceps his sophomore year at Stonington High School that led to him having an idea what he wanted to do with his life.

“I went to physical therapy and I kind of realized I really liked it and something I should look into, something I might want to do,” Whalen said.

Whalen, a senior, will get the chance to pursue that goal and run track starting next fall when he attends Central Connecticut State University. He made the announcement via Twitter on Tuesday and is considering a major in exercise science or athletic training.

“I like (sports) a lot,” Whalen said Wednesday. “Those kind of (majors), I wanted to keep athletics somehow in my life past college.”

Whalen considered Southern Connecticut State and the University of Rhode Island, but Central won him over.

“I liked the campus a lot when I went there for my overnight,” Whalen said. “I could see myself being there for four years running on that team and getting an education.”

Whalen has enjoyed ridiculous athletic success at Stonington. He was the 2017 CIAC Class M boys’ outdoor track and field champion in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles. It earned him The Day's 2017 All-Area Boys' Track & Field Athlete of the Year honor.

Whalen then helped the Bears boys’ soccer team to an unbeaten regular season this past fall as well as the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II and league tournament titles. He was an All-ECC, Class M all-state and All-New England selection and The Day’s 2017 All-Area Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year.

This winter, Whalen was the Class M indoor champion in the 55 hurdles.

Whalen said the plan is to focus mostly on hurdles.

He had previously considered playing soccer in college, but that’s not likely feasible.

“It’s still early,” Whalen said. “Maybe not playing on a team, but (intramurals). I want to keep it in my life somehow.”

n.griffen@theday.com