Tony Prepster posing with Downers Grove North track stars Tony Zea, Ryan Clevenger, and Zack Smith
The moment of truth has finally arrived and I feel that it is the right time for me to expound on a few things. I wanted to debut my personal feelings on the state of affairs in our beautiful state of Illinois in my natural state of mind. I wanted to do it last week but my conscious was in a bad spot and I knew I could not put out a product that wasn’t me. Ahh, what a difference a week makes.
I promise to not bicker and poke at “Old Man Winter” (although I wish he could go into his cave until next December). With all of that being said, let’s get this so-called exhibition of journalism underway.
Lena Giger is the latest ascension of girls shot put throwing-
If you took a peek at Highland senior Lena Giger’s indoor profile several years ago, the thought process might have been “she’s alright.” Her latest feats made think about how far the girls have come in the field events over the past eight years.
The girl’s shot put has been the most ascending event boys or girls over the past five years in the state. Grant’s Bailey Wagner and Mahomet-Seymour throws ace Dani Bunch waged war in the years 2006-2008. Bunch prevailed as the state’s best shot put upon her graduation. The mantle was handed to Kelsey Card of Carlinville. Card took things to the next level despite enduring a shoulder surgery the summer prior to her senior year. She was able to throw 47-10 indoors and win several Illinois Prep Top Times titles. Card threw 50-8.75 outdoors for #2 all-time. Emmonnie Henderson of Edwardsville simultaneously took part in the history affair. She came on the scene after basketball season with a rampage during the outdoor track and field campaign. The end result was defending her title with a smile and establishing herself as the #2 all-time performer at 50-9.5.
What do the cards have in store for Giger? Before she leaves for Stanford University this fall she may be the best Illinois girl to ever do it. Giger heaved an Illinois all-time indoor best 49-9 at the Triad Invitational in February. Giger will vie for another indoor championship and possibly the 50-foot barrier at the Top Times Indoor at the end of the month. It is going to be fun to watch.
The Illinois season is now finally under full swing… sort of-
It amazes me how high school sports work. It reminds me of the four seasons that we have: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Winter is usually designated for basketball and wrestling. Spring is all about baseball and track and field. The summer months are designated for regeneration for the following school year. For example, you will see distance runners getting in their summer mileage in preparation for cross country. At your local high school, the football team may be getting in practices and scrimmages. But one thing that is certain in the hot temperatures is there will be various legions of track athletes running for their respective track clubs. The summer time is crucial for sprinters, jumpers, and whoever else plans on being the next big thing our sport must put in the work if they hope to become supreme athletes during the high school season.
The four seasons brings us all back to winter where it’s still too cold or snowy for many school district teams to practice outside. For those fortunate enough to have indoor facilities it is almost mandatory that they host indoor meets. In Illinois, we are fortunate to have schools such as Hillside (Proviso West), Elmhurst (York), Wheaton-Warrenville South, Joliet, Skokie (Niles West), Rockton (Hononegah), and Lockport that aid to the indoor meet circuit. Several colleges have indoor facilities available for indoor meets and practices, but we all know that space and time are at a premium. We are in our fourth week of competition and it appears that virtually everyone is competition mode. I will be down in central Illinois this weekend for a meet in Champaign. It will be my first look at some quality teams in the University of Illinois region as well as southern Illinois. Check back on Friday for a weekend preview of things to come.
Last but not least-
I met a gentleman last Friday at a meet hosted by the Chicago University High School. His name is simply Nic W and he is a director for an organization called Strive. Strive is a student-athlete service organization that provides services in Kenya and Peru. The trip generally lasts about three weeks and it’s a wonderful opportunity for athletes to see the world and gain some community work experience… and training. The trip is pretty costly but obtainable according to Nic. “One cool thing that we have added this year and are hoping to expand (we are a young, small company) in the future is scholarships for athletes who can't afford the program, “he said. “We have $5000 that we have earmarked for student athletes who are deserving- it will get split amongst a few different people.” Go to strivetrips.org for more information.
Lastly, I would like to send out condolences to the Paul Vandersteen family. Paul recently lost his father Ray Vandersteen who passed away. The elder Vandersteen was a longtime president of the Illinois branch of The United States Track and Field Association (USATF). When I moved to Illinois in 1993, I met Mr. Vandersteen at a cross country meet at Lisle High School. I had no clue on how to enter kids in a meet as I was a volunteer for my brother in-law’s club team. Mr. Vandersteen was incredibly patient with me and I will never forget that. Over the years, I became fortunate enough to be on his speed dial and to also call him a friend when I joined the organization. Some of the things that I follow to this day in regard to ethics and protocol, I learned from him. I will forever be in debt to Mr. Ray Vandersteen.