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Throwers haul in the medals
By Joe Scalzo
columbus
On Saturday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, about 10 feet from where Canfield Dustin Brode set Ohio’s shot put record, sat a 78-year-old man with a shock of white hair and a national reputation as a throwing guru.
Ed Wilson is sort of a horse whisperer for throwers. (Or, in the case of the gravely-throated Brode, a hoarse whisperer.) Over his 55-year coaching career — the last 27 focused on throwers — the former Youngstown State coach has mentored many of the best throwers in an area that has produced a lot of them.
Brode, who won his second straight Division I state shot put title, is certainly one of the best.
“He has the most explosive power,” said Wilson, who is credited with bringing the spin technique to Ohio. “He’s probably the most focused, determined kid I’ve had in a long time.”
This weekend, Brode’s performance put an exclamation point on the best weekend for Mahoning Valley throwers since ... well, ever.
Fitch junior Ali Tolich won Division I shot put and discus titles on Saturday, helping Valley girls earn a clean sweep in the latter event after McDonald senior Joh’Vonnie Mosley (Division III) and Poland senior Allison Rice (Division II) won discus titles on Friday.
“That’s definitely a great thing for our area,” said Tolich, who wasn’t even aware she finished the Valley sweep until afterward. “We always have pretty solid field events in Mahoning and Trumbull county.”
Mosley also took second in the shot put, while Southeast senior Brooke Lamar (girls Division II), McDonald junior Matthias Tayala (boys Division III) and Brode all placed second in the discus.
Add in top-five finishes from Fitch senior George Thomas (fifth in the Division I discus), Warren Harding senior Aaron Wilson (fourth in Division I shot put), Boardman senior Valerie Hood (fifth in Division I discus) and Springfield sophomore Stephen Lyons (third in Division III shot put), and you start to wonder if something’s in the water.
“The Valley really put on a showcase in all three divisions,” Wilson said.
All spring, as the awards and records piled up, Brode set his sights on the Ohio record of 71 feet, 61/4 inches. He tied it this spring, then broke it on his third attempt Saturday with a toss of 71-71/2. It’s the second-longest throw in the country this year.
When asked to rank that moment in his coaching history, Wilson said, “Well, I’d put it right at the top of the list.”
Then, as is typical with the sport, Wilson found a flaw.
“He should have had a longer one on his first throw of finals,” Wilson said. “Then he had to turn around and watch the damn thing, excuse my language.”
Although 2010 was certainly a year to remember, the bevy of throwing championships isn’t exactly unusual. Boardman’s Corey Linsley won a Division I discus title last spring and finished second to Brode in the shot, while United’s Victoria Bates won the Division II discus title.
And over the past decade, the Valley has produced multiple state champions in the shot and discus such as Springfield’s Nick Panezich, Maplewood’s Christen Clemson, JFK’s Michelle Rossio and Western Reserve’s Alex Rathburn.
“There’s so many great, hard-working kids in the area,” Brode said. “That competition is what makes us so good.”
So, while it’s unlikely the Valley will ever again have such a huge medal haul in one weekend, there’s little doubt more terrific throwers are on the way.
“The Mahoning Valley is great in terms of not only football, as they’re known for, but track,” said Brode’s high school throwing coach, Nick Wagner. “Just great athletes and great coaches all the way around.”