Attention to detail helps Babicz thrive

One requirement for being a great track and field thrower is a certainly ability with numbers.

Having the ability to take and break down, on tape, the ability to launch a 2-kilogram disc nearly 200 feet in the air is quite a task.

When Prospect senior Matt Babicz took an accounting course recently, he sat down, crunched the numbers and made everything add right up.

"It really turned out to be easy," Babicz said. "I just worked all the numbers and everything added right up."

It wasn't always that easy. When Babicz started throwing the discus as a sophomore, it certainly didn't all add up right away. But as he continued to study tape, the numbers began to make perfect sense.

"He is a tireless worker and is really never satisfied," said Prospect track coach Mike Kamedula. "He works so hard and is never satisfied."

In his first season, Babicz came out for the sport more to stay in shape for football and quickly began to fall in love with throwing the shot put and the discus. While the results did not translate immediate, it was clear that Babicz had found his calling.

"I have always loved to compete," Babicz said. "I love working hard and striving to get to the top."

The throwing fraternity at Prospect is about as good as it gets, and halfway through his junior season, Babicz began to emerge as a the next potential pledge to an elite group that includes state medalists Matt Kennedy, James Powers and 2000 discus state champion Clark Wilson.

"(Matt's) sophomore year he got the bug," said Prospect throws coach Rich Hedstrom. "Last year he ended up getting to state and medaling and that kind of surprised us coaches. But your best athletes are not necessarily overachievers and Matt is a good athlete."

Babicz grew into one of the elite throwers of the discus in the area as he captured his first conference title with a personal best throw, at the time, of 169-8. Two weeks later, Babicz earned just the third medal in school history in the discus when he placed eighth overall.

"That whole experience of last year was such a great learning experience for me," Babicz said. "I was so nervous last year because I never threw with the big guys like (Dan) Block, and (Marcus) Popenfoose - guys like that. But when I made it to finals I really felt like I belonged."

Besides coach Hedstrom, Babicz also credits now second-year coach Joe Rupslauk. Rupslauk came to Prospect last season after a successful run at Schaumburg and has been a mentor to Babicz, particularly in the shot put.

"The mindset that (Babicz) has is that he is extremely driven to get better every time out," Rupslauk said. "He is tireless as a worker and he gets so mentally charged up each time he gets ready to throw."

Babicz was all set for a breakout senior season when near disaster struck in early January. While plowing out from yet another January snowfall, Babicz injured his left hand seriously enough that it required surgery. Fortunately, the hand he uses for throwing is his right hand.

"I was worried because I couldn't work out and I felt like I wouldn't be ready for the season," Babicz said. "When I got my cast off, it took a while to get back in the flow."

While most athletes would take a few months, Babicz was lifting and doing light throwing within a week after the cast came off.

Roughly 6 weeks later, Babicz captured the MSL indoor title and earned himself a berth at the Illinois Prep Top Times Invite. While his best throws have come in the discus, Babicz established himself as a medal contender with a best mark of 56-1 to place fourth overall.

"It was great to get back and compete against the big boys again," Babicz said. "I love to compete and I love to watch the best compete and it was a great experience for me."

Once the outdoor campaign hit, Babicz showed early that he was ready. At the prestigious Fremd Throwers Invite that featured some of the best throwers in the state, Babicz measured up quite nicely.

On his second discus throw, he tossed the disc well over 180 feet. Despite the throw being a scratch, it was clear Babicz arrived.

"I think that throw gave him a big confidence boost," Rupslauk said. "He began to believe right there that he could compete with the best in the state."

Two weeks later, on a cool but calm Saturday afternoon at Maine East, Babicz put up one of the best throws in state history. His effort of 183-2 ranks among the 40 best discus throws of all time and puts Babicz out there as "the guy" to catch in the area this spring.

"I love being in the position where I get to go last and everyone is there to watch me," Babicz said. "It's a different breed here at Prospect. The people around the program are great, the coaches are great - it's just a special atmosphere every time you put on the Prospect uniform."

Rupslauk and Hedstrom credit Babicz' ability to breakdown film on his throws to the smallest detail until, at the end everything adds up to the perfect throw.

"He can watch himself on film and pick out every little thing," Rupslauk said.

Now that the 180-foot plateau has been passed, Babicz' sites are set to two higher steps on the throwing ladder. First is the school record of 190-1 set by Wilson in 2000. Then comes the magical 200-foot barrier which only Block has eclipsed.

"Records are simply benchmarks - nothing more," said Hedstrom who coached Wilson to the 2000 Class AA state title. "They are made to be broken and I think 200-feet is not out of the equation for Babicz."

That is, if everything adds up.