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Tayala unleashes the discus, hits 197 feet
By Joe Scalzo
NAVARRE
It was the last throw in the best series of throws of Matthias Tayala’s life and as he came out of his spin and released the discus, he nearly lost his footing and stepped over the front of the throwing ring.
“I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa,” the McDonald senior said later, bending over frontward and waving his arms around.
With the disc still in the air, his mother, Marianne, got up from her chair nearby and started screaming. His father, Steve, started clapping and said, “That might be close to 200.”
And Tayala, who often just walks out toward the grass without bothering to see the measurement, stayed at the ring, peering over the shoulder of the official to see him stretch out the tape.
The throw measured 197 feet — plenty good enough to win the regional title at Wednesday’s Division III meet at Fairless High School. It was good enough for two other marks: McDonald’s school record (which Tayala already held, at 195-1) and the regional record (which Springfield’s Nick Panezich held, at 192 feet in 2004).
It was also less than 4 feet off the overall Division III record of 200-11, set by Berkshire’s Dan Taylor in 1992.
“It’s as clean as I’ve seen him throw,” said his coach, Mary Domitrovich. “Those are the best throws he’s had all year.”
Tayala agreed.
“That was probably the best series of my life,” said Tayala, who topped 190 feet three times and threw in the 180s on his other three throws. “Last year at the state meet, I threw my best series but I think I just beat it out here today.”
Tayala was one of three area throwers to advance to next week’s state meet. Springfield junior Stephen Lyons (third) and Lordstown senior Mark Bahrey (fourth) will join him.
Mineral Ridge senior Dan Skiba successfully defended his regional long jump title with a leap of 22-11/4 and enters the state meet with the best jump in Division III this season at 23-6.
(Well, sort of. He jumped 23-6 at the conference meet but it hasn’t been officially recognized, since the second half of the meet got rained out and rescheduled.)
Skiba won the 2009 state title and finished a disappointing fifth in the event last year. When asked if he would consider anything other than first a disappointment next week, he nodded and said, “Yeah, I probably would. You have to set your goals high.
“I really don’t feel pressure, though. I feel comfortable with my steps and how things are going. I’m confident.”
McDonald’s boys 4x800 and Lowellville’s girls 4x800 both ran season-best times to finish third in the day’s only running finals.
East Palestine sophomore Chloe Snyder placed second in the high jump and Badger sophomore Taylor Baumiller was fourth, while Leetonia senior Clarissa Perkins advanced in the shot put after finishing third.