Hillsboro’s Stodgel 9th, Burns 11th at 2019 OHSAA Division II State Shot Put
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS — The Hillsboro duo of senior Deon Burns and junior Draven Stodgel competed at the 2019 Ohio High School Athletic Association State Track and Field Championships on Friday morning, as both athletes took part in the state shot put event.
Hillsboro’s Stodgel — a junior — placed ninth overall with a top distance of 52-04.00, while Burns wrapped up his senior year with an 11th-place finish in a field of 18 throwers, as Burns had a best throw for a distance of 51-02.50.
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.
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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 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, 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.
Hillsboro head coach Bud Marsh spoke about both Burns and Stodgel following their state throws.
“They both did well, and I was pleased,” Marsh said. “There were others who didn’t perform to what got them here, and our kids did. They were more consistent. Draven struggled a little bit early with staying in the circle, but he got his last throw in in the second flight and qualified for the finals.
“His last two throws in the finals were 57 … they were out there, but just couldn’t stay in the ring. 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. We’ll wipe this clean, get this off his mind and get ready for discus on Saturday.”
Stodgel will also compete at state on Saturday in the discus throw event, an event where last year he was 13th at state. Stodgel won a regional (169-00), district (160-02) and FAC championship (144-10) in discus this season.
“This was a fun experience, and I knew I could do it, but now I just have to get ready for tomorrow,” Stodgel said.
Burns, in his 11th-place finish at the state championships, had his best throw of the day on his very first throw at state with the aforementioned 51-02.50, as he was just one of 11 athletes to throw for 50-plus feet in the state event.
On his second and third throws on Friday, Burns had distances of 49-08.00 and 47-08.00.
“My throws were all right,” Burns said. “It wasn’t what I wanted, and my best throw today got me 11th, so even if I would have gotten my PR, I still would have probably got bumped out, so I just did what I could do. It was a fun experience.”
Burns had a rare feat his senior year as he’s now competed in a playoff football game, was a member of the state bowling team and now he threw at the state track and field championships.
Also this season, at regionals Burns finished with a fourth-place shot put distance of 52-03.50. At the district championships, Burns had a throw of 51-00.00 (fourth place), and at the FAC Championships, Burns was second with a distance of 51-07.00.
“It was a great experience,” Burns said of competing at state. “It was a crazy atmosphere, way different and better than throwing at a regular event. It was nice to see a good number of kids able to throw 50-plus, and it was good competition — the best competition I’ve seen all year, other than regionals.
“It was nice to be here with Draven and having all the support from my family. Even our superintendent came and supported us, and that was nice. It was a fun senior year … it has been a crazy year. Some of my goals got accomplished, some didn’t, but it was still a pretty good senior year, if you ask me.”
Marsh spoke highly of Burns and his performance all season.
“I’m proud of both of them, and Deon, I’m happy he got to finish this way,” Marsh said. “He was in the hunt for a while. I’m so happy for him and how he competed today. He’s had a great season, and he competed on the big stage. Both Deon and Draven represented us well.”
The Division II state shot put champion was senior Adam Riedinger of Springfield Northwestern with a championship throw of 59-07.50.
For complete results, click here.
Hillsboro’s Stodgel — a junior — placed ninth overall with a top distance of 52-04.00, while Burns wrapped up his senior year with an 11th-place finish in a field of 18 throwers, as Burns had a best throw for a distance of 51-02.50.
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.
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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 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, 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.
Hillsboro head coach Bud Marsh spoke about both Burns and Stodgel following their state throws.
“They both did well, and I was pleased,” Marsh said. “There were others who didn’t perform to what got them here, and our kids did. They were more consistent. Draven struggled a little bit early with staying in the circle, but he got his last throw in in the second flight and qualified for the finals.
“His last two throws in the finals were 57 … they were out there, but just couldn’t stay in the ring. 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. We’ll wipe this clean, get this off his mind and get ready for discus on Saturday.”
Stodgel will also compete at state on Saturday in the discus throw event, an event where last year he was 13th at state. Stodgel won a regional (169-00), district (160-02) and FAC championship (144-10) in discus this season.
“This was a fun experience, and I knew I could do it, but now I just have to get ready for tomorrow,” Stodgel said.
Burns, in his 11th-place finish at the state championships, had his best throw of the day on his very first throw at state with the aforementioned 51-02.50, as he was just one of 11 athletes to throw for 50-plus feet in the state event.
On his second and third throws on Friday, Burns had distances of 49-08.00 and 47-08.00.
“My throws were all right,” Burns said. “It wasn’t what I wanted, and my best throw today got me 11th, so even if I would have gotten my PR, I still would have probably got bumped out, so I just did what I could do. It was a fun experience.”
Burns had a rare feat his senior year as he’s now competed in a playoff football game, was a member of the state bowling team and now he threw at the state track and field championships.
Also this season, at regionals Burns finished with a fourth-place shot put distance of 52-03.50. At the district championships, Burns had a throw of 51-00.00 (fourth place), and at the FAC Championships, Burns was second with a distance of 51-07.00.
“It was a great experience,” Burns said of competing at state. “It was a crazy atmosphere, way different and better than throwing at a regular event. It was nice to see a good number of kids able to throw 50-plus, and it was good competition — the best competition I’ve seen all year, other than regionals.
“It was nice to be here with Draven and having all the support from my family. Even our superintendent came and supported us, and that was nice. It was a fun senior year … it has been a crazy year. Some of my goals got accomplished, some didn’t, but it was still a pretty good senior year, if you ask me.”
Marsh spoke highly of Burns and his performance all season.
“I’m proud of both of them, and Deon, I’m happy he got to finish this way,” Marsh said. “He was in the hunt for a while. I’m so happy for him and how he competed today. He’s had a great season, and he competed on the big stage. Both Deon and Draven represented us well.”
The Division II state shot put champion was senior Adam Riedinger of Springfield Northwestern with a championship throw of 59-07.50.
For complete results, click here.