Fitch's Cassano moves on

The senior standout wants to win a state title in the discus next week.
BY ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
AUSTINTOWN -- Fitch High's Sam Cassano's to-do list for next week is pretty simple: Break the school discus record, win a state championship and get a haircut.
The senior discus ace qualified for his third straight state track meet in the event, winning the Division I regional title Wednesday with a toss of 171 feet, 6 inches.
That was almost 5 feet better than runner-up Matt Walker of Alliance.
Cassano has sported a shaggy hairstyle and hasn't had his locks cut in over a year.
After finishing third for the second straight year at last year's state meet, he decided to let his buzz cut grow out, vowing not to cut it until he won state.
"It was kind of like the A.J. Hawk thing," said Cassano, referring to Ohio State's standout linebacker.
"I just told myself I wouldn't cut my hair until I won the state championship. It's getting pretty long."
His hair is so long now that Cassano wears a white headband to keep it out of his eyes when he throws.
Tough to beat
Headgear or no headgear Cassano has been tough to beat.
He finished third as a sophomore and junior, throwing 168 feet each year at state.
He's up to over 170 feet this spring and tossed a career-best 178-5 at the district meet last week.
He's just 3 inches away from the school record.
"My ultimate goal next week is to break the school record and win the state title," said Cassano.
"After getting third the last two years, I'm going down this year with the mentality that I'm still in third place. I went down before I got too worked up so this year I'm just going to relax and compete.
"I really want to thank my coaches, friends and family for their support these four years. And if it weren't for God, I wouldn't be at this point."
Cassano's regional title throw came in the prelims and stood up in the finals. He was happy to win the meet, but had hoped for a better distance.
"I wanted top four to get to state and I really wanted to go after it today, but it just didn't happen," he said. "But I have next week."
Joining Cassano at next week's state meet in the discus will be Warren Harding's Chris Anzevino, who earned the fourth and final qualifying spot with a throw of 153-9.
No one else finished in the top four in their respective final on Wednesday.
In contention
However, several standouts put themselves into contention for a state berth by qualifying for Friday's running finals.
On the boys side, Harding's J'Abneb Provitt made the finals in the 100 and 200 -- the events he finished sixth in the state in last year. He posted the third-best qualifying time in the 100 and the second best in the 200.
Provitt will also be competing in the finals in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays, along with teammates Dan Herron, Chris Rucker and Darren Lee. The group enters the finals with the second-best prelim times in each event.
Canfield's Trevor Carroll posted a time of 50.39 to finish with the fourth fastest time in the 400 and advance to Friday's finals.
Girls
The area girls contingent competing for a state berth is led by Latalia Jones and Antoinette of Chaney. They will race side-by-side in both the 100 and 200 event finals.
Jones, who made it state last year in the 100, 200 and 4x100, is hoping to bounce back from a pulled hamstring last year in Columbus.
"It's really made me work harder to prove myself," said Jones, who suffered the injury during the relay and couldn't run the 200 at state.
"I just need to work on my starts a little bit. I feel pretty good, but I think I have a little better chance in the 100.
"I've been focusing on my 200 because it's my weaker event, but now I just need to bring my all on Friday and then next week at state."
Canfield's Audra Frimpong will join Chaney's duo in the 100 final.
Poland's Amber Ferraro qualified for the finals in the 300 hurdles and Boardman's Breanne Romeo advanced to the final eight in the 400.
In addition to the running event finals, the rest of the field event finals will be contested on Friday. Field events begin at 5 p.m. and running starts at 6.