Rossio is discus champ

She won the title with a throw of 142-10 after placing second last year.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DAYTON -- Just so you know, Warren JFK senior Michelle Rossio does not practice throwing the discus in the mirror. Or the shot put.
She does lose sleep, however.
"I woke up at 6:30 this morning," she said. "I was really anxious to throw."
Six hours later, the ready -- but not rested -- Rossio reached one of her two goals at Friday's Division III state track and field meet. She won the state title in the discus. But she did not throw her personal best, which was her second goal.
"I didn't throw as well as I wanted to, so I'm a little disappointed," said Rossio, who placed second last year.
Disappointed? Really? After a state title?
"I guess a win's a win," said Rossio, whose best throw on Friday was 142 feet, 10 inches. "I accomplished one of my goals."
Satisfying performance
Don't mistake her lack of enthusiasm for, well, a lack of enthusiasm -- she did not stop smiling and laughing through her whole interview.
"I'm excited," she said. "This has always been a goal of mine. I set personal goals every year and I always want to meet them."
Her final goal was to top 150 feet. She came up short after throwing 147-4 at last week's regional meet. Her good friend Christen Clemson -- who won back-to-back state titles with Maplewood in 2001-02 -- set the state record last year with a throw of 157-1. Clemson now throws at Penn State.
"I talked to [Clemson] last Monday because she was throwing in the NCAA [meet]," Rossio said.
Did she tell you not to break her record?
"Yeah, she did," Rossio said, laughing.
Strong showing
Rossio also placed fifth in the shot put Friday, coming just a half-inch short of her personal best throw.
"I'm really happy with that; the shot's not my best event," she said.
Will she be wearing her medals to sleep tonight?
"No," she said with a laugh. "I'll probably just put them next to my bed."
Rossio will throw at Michigan State next year -- she also plans to try the hammer and the javelin -- and said she's looking forward to the challenge. But she'll also miss high school.
"It's a strange feeling, kind of sad," she said. "But I'm happy -- it's been a great four years. I just hope I can carry that over into a great four years in college."
scalzo@vindy.com