Sunday, June 24, 2012
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Stephen Lyons of Springfield High School is the Track and Field Vindicator Allstar.
Field
For those that have never experienced what it’s like to be a state champion in any sport, Stephen Lyons can assure you that it’s “the most awesome feeling in the world.” The Springfield thrower captured the 2012 shot put state title with a throw of 59-101/2.
“After that last throw, I knew it was good enough,” Lyons said. “The first thing I did was look up at my family and I smiled.”
It was a grin worth years of hard work and dedication. He started throwing in sixth grade under the guidance of the grandfather of friend Jeff Harper.
“He taught me everything,” Lyons said. “He watched me grow and has been with me all the way. We had a great time together as I got better and better.”
Lyons learned from former Springfield state champ Nick Panezich as well. Panezich won the shot put title in 2004 and 2005.
Lyons also placed fifth in the state in the discus. His performance came a year after missing the top spot by a few feet in 2011.
“It was a big weight off my shoulders,” he said. “I wanted to get first; it was something I wanted from when I started to practice this year. I had that mindset coming in and I was pushing for nothing but first.”
Before heading to Eastern Michigan on an athletic scholarship in the fall, Lyons competed in the Midwest Meet of Champions in Indiana that draws the best throwers in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. He placed fourth in the shot.
Lyons plans to major in early childhood education.