Huskies hoping to seize the moment
That one throw. That perfect vault. That one time where it all comes together.
The quartet of Josh Henry, Seth Kissinger, Allison Myers and Jared Cliver, Battle Mountain’s delegation at the 4A state meet this weekend, have been finetuning their technique in anticipation of their moment in the spotlight.
All four have state experience in one form or another – Kissinger’s been to the state wrestling meet three times – so as they practiced quietly on a windy Wednesday, they know what it is going to take down in Denver.
“I know I’m strong enough to throw one out there around 50 if I put everything together really well,” Kissinger said “That one throw could be really good. Look at (Brandon) Straub last year. He threw his best throw by like three feet in his very last throw of the season at state.”
For the record, Straub’s exploits in the discus came at the league meet, but the point remains the same. Last year, Straub edged Henry by 10 inches for the school record. Henry went on to finish fifth at state. This year, he surpassed Straub with a throw of 154 feet, 10 1/2 inches at a meet last month.
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Next up, Henry hopes, is a throw in the 160s, a realistic prospect given that Henry clunked a disc well into the parking lot at Wednesday’s practice.
“Working on technique and practice, practice practice,” Henry said, while walking back to the cage. “I need to get some whip. I’ve lost my whip. I haven’t had it for most of the season. It comes in and out. You just throw the best you can and, hopefully, you get one out there. You never know. That one time. All you need is one.”
Kissinger had that “one” at the season-opening Eagle Valley Invite when he threw the shot put 47-2 1/2. Kissinger wants to finish up in the 50s this weekend, which could put him in the running for a podium finish.
Senior Allison Myers is making her fourth trip to state. As a freshman, she achieved a personal best of seven feet. But the last two trips down to the Front Range haven’t been as prosperous, including rolling her ankle in warmups last year.
“I really want to make up for the last two years on Friday,” Myers said. “The major thing I’m working on right now basically is trying to get vertical with the pole when I get up, basically getting upside down. That’s what’s going to give me that extra height.”
Myers holds the school mark of nine feet. That mark would put her in the running for the podium, but, ideally, she would like to break double-digits.
Fellow vaulter Jared Cliver’s done that. He went 13 feet, 6 inches at the regional qualifier and just missed out on the school record of 14 feet.
Cliver’s been sidelined this week by tendonitis in his left knee. Vaulting coach Charlie Alexander has been resting Cliver with the hopes that he’ll be at full strength come this weekend.