Kids put Olympics shot first

The pupils of Marcie Hughes' West Boulevard Elementary School third-grade class got a big surprise Friday. It was field day -- a mock mini-Olympics -- and a real Olympic hopeful, Adriane Blewitt, showed up to say thank you.
Rosy-faced, with soft above-the-shoulder hair, Blewitt came to visit, along with her mom and an 8-pound training shot put. The kids sat quietly at first, but before the visit was over, they exploded with smiles and raised hands, "Can I get the shot put? Can I?"
Blewitt -- a former pupil at West Boulevard, Boardman Center Middle School and Boardman High before going off to Ashland University on sports and academic scholarships -- is unusual for a shot-putter. She's strong and muscular, but small among the competitors. In fact, her high school track coach, Denise Gorski, recalled her being called "Olive Oyl" after one track meet (though she's added a lot of muscle mass since then).
She's unusual in another way, too. Just last September, in the midst of completing her student teaching en route to becoming a physical education teacher, Blewitt was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer.
After six months of chemotherapy that made some of her hair fall out and the rest turn to what she jokes is soft and frizzy, she's starting final training for the Summer Olympics in Greece. Thanks to Hughes' pupils, she is a bit closer to making the team.
A plan
After Gorski sent a letter throughout the community asking for help getting Blewitt to the Olympic trials in July, Hughes came up with a plan to raise funds.
"One of our goals [in our third-grade class] this year is to help the community," Hughes said. Others were goal setting, measurement and graphing, and working together. She planned a Throw-a-Thon to achieve all four.
Her pupils set about getting sponsors, then tossed a bean bag to earn $500.13 for Blewitt's Olympic fund.
"The students gave up recesses and used their math skills," Hughes said. Corey Fonner threw the bag the farthest for the boys, and Casey Johnson for the girls. The gold medal for most money collected went to Michael Duda, who took in more than $100.
"This is great to meet you guys; it's awesome," Blewitt said to the children. "I'm getting stronger and my energy level's getting better. I was in Arizona for a meet, and you guys helped me get there. I had to rent a car to go to another city to see a strength coach, and I couldn't have done it without you guys."
Longest throw
Blewitt's longest throw is just shy of 60 feet. Although she's in the top five in the country, she expects she'll need another 10 inches or so to make the U.S. team. During her visit, with West Boulevard's fields muddy after a night of rain, she threw the training shot put deep into the muck. Children scampered happily to dig the ball out of the mud.
"A lot of girls are stronger than me," she told the 24 little upturned faces before they went out for the demonstration, "but I'm fast." Apparently -- Blewitt is a 13-time All American and seven-time National Champion in shot put and discus. Jud Logan, Blewitt's coach at Ashland and a former Olympian, gave Blewitt one of his Olympic rings as she lay in her hospital bed, "Until you get yours in July," he said
Great success
In fact, Blewitt just missed the qualifying mark for the Olympics last time around. And last September, it looked like she might miss another. However, the chemotherapy seems to have been a great success. "The last CAT scan showed the tumor near her heart had no more cancer cells," her mother, Rae Blewitt, said.
Hard training, and, now, community support may make Blewitt's dream come true. To date, about $4,500 has been donated via Gorski, including Hughes' third-grade Throw-a-Thonners' contribution. Individuals, businesses and staff from the schools Blewitt attended are among those hoping to see her compete in Greece. It would be an amazing year if she could both beat cancer and reach a lifelong goal in one summer!
XTo contribute to Blewitt's Olympic fund, send checks to the Boardman Booster Club at Boardman High School, 7777 Glenwood Avenue, Boardman, 44512. Put "Adriane Blewitt Fund" in the memo line.
murphy@vindy.com