AA Boys' Shot Put Preview
After winning the state title in the discus last season, Hickory's Brock Grundy will look to add shot put gold this weekend. The senior won the indoor state title in the shot, and he'll have a chance to add an outdoor title. He comes in with a season best of 58-11.25 and took home the District 10 win last week.
His top competition will come from his D10 rival Connor Vass-Gal of Wilmington. The sophomore is PA No. 1 with a season best of 64-4.75. He had an off day at his district meet, a rare defeat for the tenth grader, but he'll look to rebound this weekend and go after his first career state title.
Three others in the field have thrown over 55 feet this season. Duane Knisely of Chestnut Ridge, the District 5 champion, put a big PR of 58-9 to win the LHAC title. A repeat performance of that could find Knisely atop the podium by the end of the competition. Fairview's Eric Schulz, third to Grundy and Vass-Gal in D10, has a season best of 56-1.75. He's battle-tested and one to watch here. Moniteau's James Parenti, the District 9 runner-up, has a season best of 55-2.75 and could be a factor with a big day.
Among the other top seeds are Kane Area's Bailey Blint (District 9 champion), Jim Thorpe's William Munson (District 11 champion), and Fairfield Area's Travis Zimmerman (District 3 champion).
Look for a close battle on Saturday morning with a state title to put for!
ENTRIES:
Event 616 Boys Shot Put AA
===============================================================================
NFHS Record: 77-00 1979 Michael Carter, D JeffersonHS,TX
PIAA Record: 64-10.75 2007 Joe Kovacs, Bethlehem Cath 11
NFHS Hnr Rol: 61-00
49-06.00 SQS
Name Year School Seed Mark Finals
===============================================================================
1 Grundy, Brock 12 Hickory 10 57-02.00 SQS
2 Vass-Gal, Connor 10 Wilmington 10 53-07.00 SQS
3 Knisely, Duane 11 Chestnut Rdg 05 53-05.25 SQS
4 Schulz, Eric 11 Fairview 10 52-09.50 SQS
5 Blint, Bailey 12 Kane Area 09 51-10.25 SQS
6 Munson, William 12 Jim Thorpe 11 51-08.25 SQS
7 Zimmerman, Travis 12 Fairfield 03 51-06.75 SQS
8 Stafford, Jelani 12 California 07 51-04.25 SQS
9 Gose, Josh 11 Lewisburg 04 51-04.00 SQS
10 Niedrowski, Evan 10 Wyomissing 03 51-00.50 SQS
11 Sanders, Josh 12 Wilmington 10 51-00.00 SQS
12 Scalese, Quinn 12 Purchase Line 06 50-11.25 SQS
13 Lindsay, Hunter 12 South Park 07 50-11.25 SQS
14 Wertz, Joe 10 Bellwd Antis 06 49-09.75 SQS
15 Donlan, Troy 12 So Columbia 04 48-10.00
16 White, Jaxon 12 Central Vly 07 48-08.75
17 Parenti, James 12 Moniteau 09 48-06.00
18 Farrell, Kevin 12 Bristol 01 48-02.00
19 Calhoun, Chase 12 Southmoreland 07 47-01.00
20 Goncher, Cullen 11 Purchase Line 06 46-07.00
21 Miles, Mitch 10 Laurel 07 45-11.25
22 Dippre, Cj 10 Lakeland 02 45-00.00
23 Sledzinski, Eddie 12 Western Wayne 02 43-06.00
24 Tran, Duy 12 Bish McDev 12 41-05.00
25 Grycywiecz, Luke 12 Devon Prep 12 41-03.75
26 Walker, Brendan 10 Conwell-Egan 12 36-03.00