After NYSPHSAA (New York State Public High School Athletic Association) adopted the 20 lb. weight throw as a NYS Indoor Championship Meet event in August, it was only a matter of time before two weights were purchased and plans were made to introduce the new event at the start of the indoor season.
Members of the throws squad showed up at 7:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of the season to take part in a mini-clinic led by Coach Young and Sachem East alumnus and school weight throw record holder Gabrielle Trejo.
Gabrielle currently throws for the College of St. Rose. A brief tutorial on the new event including vocabulary like D-ring, the trying on of leather left hand gloves (for right-handed throwers) and lifting and warm-up swings was followed by a demonstrated of the mechanics of the overhead swing of the weight.
Twenty pounds swinging overhead after a brief but powerful backswing of the weight followed immediately by a quick half-turn pivot and a release elicited nervous laughter by Sachem athletes.
Gabrielle assured all that they would survive the move. Fifteen minutes later all throwers had successfully completed the task and were listening attentively as Gabrielle gave additional instruction.
After several additional workouts over the first three weeks of the season, four athletes were selected to compete in the weight throw at St. Anthony’s Developmental Meet – the first meet on the team schedule.
Junior Kira Audia, sophomores Erin Maryzek and Danielle Bongiorno and freshman Grace Lipponer headed down to the throws area of the infield immediately upon arriving at St. Anthony’s High School.
The squad had no time to get nervous. The event began at 7:30 a.m. Meet start was published as 9:00 a.m. for all events including the weight throw. While Sachem’s arrival at 8:00 a.m. was more than ample time for athletes top warm-up for first events, Sachem was thrust into the weight throw competition without so much as a warm-up throw.
Kira ran up to the bleachers to report the surprising development and Coach Young moved down to the infield with her. Grace – first in Sachem’s rotation – fouled on her first throw (the first competition throw ever in the weight throw for a team member). Danielle did the same. Erin got the first measured throw in team history with a 17’ 0” toss.
Kira settled the squad down with her first throw – a 26’ 0” throw that bested any of Kira’s measured practice throws. The girls used the time between throws to get in a warm-up. There was enough time to do this as all 19 throwers (boys and girls) were competing in a single flight. Second throws were better for all Sachem athletes.
All exceed practice marks. Erin’s second throw of 26’ 9” would briefly reign as a school record until Kira threw immediately following Erin. Kira hit 26’ 10”, a mark that will be the school record until the next weight throw competition at which Sachem competes. The throws squad was part of team history today and all look forward to continued study, training and competition in an exciting event.
-Submitted by Sachem North coach Alex Young