“You never really leave a place you love. Part of it you take with you, leaving a part of yourself behind.”
– Unknown
This quote may seem strange with the successes we achieved at the Area Meet but intermixed with the success are the last throws. Every thrower who has thrown for Lytle since 2009 when I became the Varsity throwing coach has had a last throw. When you are in the midst of high school as a Freshman, Sophomore or Junior you always have next year. As a Senior there will be a last throw. We hope to go out on our terms but as you reach these post season Meets any Meet may be the finish to a career. Last week at District it was Robey Harold and James Black. At Poth, Alex Naeglin threw her last Meet as a Lytle Discus thrower. She leaves the rings as a two-time Area qualifier, a silver medalist in District and a Personal Best throw of 102’4”. Thank you, Alex for all you have left behind for me as a coach.
We began the day with the ladies in the Discus ring. The Poth rings are opposite of Jourdanton’s rings. I can see every shot put throw and discus throw from one spot. Noelia Medina began her contest with her Personal Best throw of 108’4”. This throw gave her such joy. Alex was throwing coming in as the second-best thrower. She threw 94’ but she just seemed to be thinking too much about each step in the throw. When we rearranged the throwers, she was in sixth place. She threw a 100’10” throw which put her in Regional contention but then a Halletsville lady threw 103’. In Alex’s last throw she needed 105’ to advance, however, she came up short.
Next came the boys’ discus and girls shot running at the same time. Cort Haltom had his entire clan there to support him and he did not disappoint. As he and Alex Medina were in the discus ring, April Bodie and Noelia Medina were in the shot ring. I was writing two sets of numbers and trying to record each of the Lytle throwers attempts. Noelia entered the contest as the second-best thrower and April the fourth best. Noelia’s first attempt was a big 33’.5” throw. April also finished the first round with a 32’9” Personal Record. Both were assured of advancing to the Regional Meet and Noelia ended the day with two silver medals and April took the bronze. Noelia continues on with her second trip to the Regional Meet and April makes her first trip to Judson. While this was going on Cort had a goal of 140’. Twice he hit 139’ in his first three attempts. He was leading the competition after three throws and on his fourth throw he threw past the last marked line and set his new Personal Record of 141’’9”. Alex Medina also threw his Personal Record on his second attempt and threw 130’3”. He never improved this mark but he remained in bronze medal position 3” ahead of the boy from Palacios. Cort Haltom’s 141’ throw impressed the judges running the rings and he ended up as the Area Champion, claiming the first Area Championship in shot or discus I have had the honor to coach. Both Alex and Cort have the opportunity to do what no throwers have ever done for Lytle and that is score points as one of the top three throwers in the Region. Armando Martinez is the current best thrower finishing 7th in the 4A Regional Meet in 2016. This year Noelia will have a last throw for Lytle before she goes to Hardin Simmons, I just would love to have the opportunity to coach her for two more Meets.
Parents are such a great help to these athletes. They were there supporting them and providing encouragement. I truly appreciate these parents trusting me with the greatest gift they have been given, their children. I close with a couple of lines from Julie Yantz-Foley’s poem I teach…
“I watch them grow and am happy.
They watch themselves grow and feel pride.
I share to allow an exchange.
They share to find a piece of themselves.
I care because they belong to me.
They care because we belong to each other.”