Brode, Tolich win Div. I state titles

By JOE SCALZO

scalzo@vindy.com

Canfield senior Dustin Brode and Fitch junior Ali Tolich both won a pair of indoor state titles on Saturday.

Only one of them was satisfied.

Tolich set a personal best with a throw of 42 feet, 6 14‚Ñ inches in the Division I shot put and had her second-best toss in the weight throw (49-11) to easily win both events at the state indoor meet at the University of Akron.

“I was feeling good all day,” she said by phone. “Very confident.”

Tolich sapped the drama out of both events, winning the shot by almost two feet over Reynoldsburg junior Donyelle Brown (40-8).

Then, in the weight throw, she won by almost seven feet over Brunswick senior Carley Ballow (43-0).

“I’m really happy with what I did, especially since last year I fouled all my throws in the shot last year,” Tolich said.

When asked how it prepares her for the outdoor season, Tolich said, “Well, it gives me a good perspective on what I’m throwing and what I need to aim for and work for.”

Brode also won both throwing events, repeating as indoor champion in the weight throw.

But after putting 64-3 in the shot — on his “safety throw,” no less — he couldn’t get over his disappointment of falling three feet short of the state record.

“I fell short today,” said Brode, whose personal record is 66-6.

Brode, the defending Division I outdoor champion in the shot, won the event by more than five feet over St. John’s Jesuit senior Cody Riffle (59-2).

Warren Harding’s Aaron Wilson was fourth at 53-101‚Ñ2.

Brode did set a personal best in the weight throw at 70-4, edging his previous mark by an inch.

It was more than three feet better than Fitch senior George Thomas, who finished second with a throw of 66-10.

“I actually think the guy mis-marked me,” Brode said. “I think that throw was more like 72 feet.”

Brode won the shot and finished second in the weight throw at last weekend’s Nike Indoor National meet in Boston.

When asked if he could at least take solace in knowing he won two state titles, the Harvard University said, “To an extent but not a whole lot.

“I’m still looking to the future.”

Thomas, a YSU recruit, had a few throws that went farther than Brode but had to settle with the second-best distance of his career.

“It was a real good showing for our area,” Brode said.

In the running events, Warren Harding’s Marteze Roper placed second in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:57.86 to lead the Raiders, who finished 10th in the team standings with 18 points.

Canfield was an area-best ninth with 20 points, all on Brode’s events, while Cleveland Glenville captured the title with 49.

Other top six finishers were Fitch’s Te’John Lawrence (fifth in the 60) and Boardman’s Joe Bialik (sixth in the pole vault).

Rocky River Magnificat won the girls title with 53 points while Fitch tied for sixth with 26.

Fitch’s Makayla Martin was fourth in the high jump, while Boardman’s Valerie Hood was sixth in the shot.

In boys Division II/III competition, United’s Zane Smith placed third in the 200, Maplewood’s Aaron Harrison was fourth in the 800, Mineral Ridge’s Jason Welliver placed fourth in the weight throw, South Range’s James Nell was fourth in the 400 and Poland’s Sean Murphy (800) and Salem’s Ben Eisel (60) each placed sixth in their events.

No area girls placed in the top six in Division II/III.