Draven Stodgel sends Hillsboro to state podium in Division II discus event
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS — In his second event of the 2019 OHSAA Division II State Championships, Hillsboro junior Draven Stodgel reached one of his goals on Saturday by finishing his track & field season standing on the podium at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at The Ohio State University.
Stodgel was a two-time state qualifier this year, as he also placed ninth overall in the shot put event on Saturday when he and senior teammate Deon Burns competed in the same event, a first for the Hillsboro program.
In his eighth-place finish in the discus event, Stodgel’s best throw came in the first flight on his third throw, as it advanced him to the finals with a distance of 158-02. In the first flight, Stodgel’s first throw was for 154-05.00, and his second throw was ruled a foul.
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The finals saw Stodgel have distances of 142-00.00, 153-01.00 and 154-02.00. This was the second consecutive year Stodgel competed in the state discus throw, as his finish as a sophomore was 13th place overall.
“It is a great feeling to make the podium,” Stodgel said. “Throwing 158 wasn’t my best throw, but it got me to where I needed to be.
“Last year, I was really nervous and not ready for the competition, but this year I was more prepared because of last year’s experience.”
Hillsboro coach Bud Marsh spoke of the state performance and season of Stodgel.
“He is a competitor, and all of his final three throws were in the 150s, but it just didn’t work out,” Marsh said. “He had a small flaw where he was releasing (the discus) too late, and later on he was releasing it where he needed it but just wasn’t getting it up in the air where he needed it. Sometimes the little flaws can mess you up because there is a lot of technique to it.
“Draven did well. We are really proud of him, and he is only a junior, so he has an opportunity to be back, and of the ones on the podium there are only three who are underclassmen, and he competes well with those kids. He was in the right frame of mind, he was ready to go, but it just didn’t work out today and that is the way it goes.
“That doesn’t take away from the fact he got here and made the podium, and from all of his accomplishments throughout the year,” Marsh continued. “If you look at from where we were at last year to this year, it was a big improvement, and we’ll just go back and work hard in the offseason and make that much more improvement next year and he’ll climb himself higher on that podium. I can’t say enough about him. He’s a great kid, has a great work ethic, and there is no doubt he’ll be back and he’ll improve.”
Stodgel improved his state performance by over 26 feet, as his state distance his sophomore season was 131-09.
In 2019, Stodgel was a regional champion in the discus event with his PR of 169-00. At districts, Stodgel had a distance of 160-02, and at the Frontier Athletic Conference Championships he threw for 144-10.
“The season was really great,” Stodgel said of his accomplishments. “I want to thank Coach (Bud) Marsh, Coach (Ethan) Hurtt and my family for being here today.”
On Friday in the shot put event, Stodgel placed ninth overall with a distance of 52-04.00.
Stodgel was making his second career state appearance, as last year he was 13th overall as a sophomore, but on Friday he fouled his first two throws in the prelim round, but his third and final throw of the prelims in the second flight went for a distance of 52-03.75 to put him into the finals.
“In the finals, Stodgel had a first throw — his top throw of the day — for an aforementioned 52-04.00. His second and third throws were ruled fouls.”
“I could have done a lot better,” Stodgel told The Highland County Press following the completion of the shot put event. “I wasn’t doing too hot at the beginning, but then I started to throw better, but I just couldn’t keep it in the ring.”
This season in shot put, Stodgel was the regional runner-up in the shot put event (53-09.25), and he also won a district championship (56-03.50), plus he was the Frontier Athletic Conference champion (52-10-25) on his way to his second state tournament.
“His last two throws in the finals were 57 … they were out there, but just couldn’t stay in the ring,” Marsh said. “I thought he stayed in on his final throw, I looked down to write the distance, then I looked up and there was the red flag. He was competing, and that is what you have to do at this level.
“Fouls can really work on you, but he rose to the occasion on the final throw of the prelims, and he rose to the occasion in the finals. That last one in the finals (if not fouled) probably would have been the school record, and now he knows he can compete at this level.”
Stodgel was a two-time state qualifier this year, as he also placed ninth overall in the shot put event on Saturday when he and senior teammate Deon Burns competed in the same event, a first for the Hillsboro program.
In his eighth-place finish in the discus event, Stodgel’s best throw came in the first flight on his third throw, as it advanced him to the finals with a distance of 158-02. In the first flight, Stodgel’s first throw was for 154-05.00, and his second throw was ruled a foul.
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The finals saw Stodgel have distances of 142-00.00, 153-01.00 and 154-02.00. This was the second consecutive year Stodgel competed in the state discus throw, as his finish as a sophomore was 13th place overall.
“It is a great feeling to make the podium,” Stodgel said. “Throwing 158 wasn’t my best throw, but it got me to where I needed to be.
“Last year, I was really nervous and not ready for the competition, but this year I was more prepared because of last year’s experience.”
Hillsboro coach Bud Marsh spoke of the state performance and season of Stodgel.
“He is a competitor, and all of his final three throws were in the 150s, but it just didn’t work out,” Marsh said. “He had a small flaw where he was releasing (the discus) too late, and later on he was releasing it where he needed it but just wasn’t getting it up in the air where he needed it. Sometimes the little flaws can mess you up because there is a lot of technique to it.
“Draven did well. We are really proud of him, and he is only a junior, so he has an opportunity to be back, and of the ones on the podium there are only three who are underclassmen, and he competes well with those kids. He was in the right frame of mind, he was ready to go, but it just didn’t work out today and that is the way it goes.
“That doesn’t take away from the fact he got here and made the podium, and from all of his accomplishments throughout the year,” Marsh continued. “If you look at from where we were at last year to this year, it was a big improvement, and we’ll just go back and work hard in the offseason and make that much more improvement next year and he’ll climb himself higher on that podium. I can’t say enough about him. He’s a great kid, has a great work ethic, and there is no doubt he’ll be back and he’ll improve.”
Stodgel improved his state performance by over 26 feet, as his state distance his sophomore season was 131-09.
In 2019, Stodgel was a regional champion in the discus event with his PR of 169-00. At districts, Stodgel had a distance of 160-02, and at the Frontier Athletic Conference Championships he threw for 144-10.
“The season was really great,” Stodgel said of his accomplishments. “I want to thank Coach (Bud) Marsh, Coach (Ethan) Hurtt and my family for being here today.”
On Friday in the shot put event, Stodgel placed ninth overall with a distance of 52-04.00.
Stodgel was making his second career state appearance, as last year he was 13th overall as a sophomore, but on Friday he fouled his first two throws in the prelim round, but his third and final throw of the prelims in the second flight went for a distance of 52-03.75 to put him into the finals.
“In the finals, Stodgel had a first throw — his top throw of the day — for an aforementioned 52-04.00. His second and third throws were ruled fouls.”
“I could have done a lot better,” Stodgel told The Highland County Press following the completion of the shot put event. “I wasn’t doing too hot at the beginning, but then I started to throw better, but I just couldn’t keep it in the ring.”
This season in shot put, Stodgel was the regional runner-up in the shot put event (53-09.25), and he also won a district championship (56-03.50), plus he was the Frontier Athletic Conference champion (52-10-25) on his way to his second state tournament.
“His last two throws in the finals were 57 … they were out there, but just couldn’t stay in the ring,” Marsh said. “I thought he stayed in on his final throw, I looked down to write the distance, then I looked up and there was the red flag. He was competing, and that is what you have to do at this level.
“Fouls can really work on you, but he rose to the occasion on the final throw of the prelims, and he rose to the occasion in the finals. That last one in the finals (if not fouled) probably would have been the school record, and now he knows he can compete at this level.”