Palatine trio is armed and dangerous

The skies looked threatening with a front moving in from the west last Saturday at the Palatine Invitational.

But for Palatine throwers Martha Shepard, Lauren Orris and Katie MacFabe it was business as usual.

The three seniors were focusing in on the task at hand, practicing on their spins and releases.

The lightning detector sounded, alerting those on the track of incoming bad weather, but it also could have been alerting the state of a storm brewing with the Palatine throwers.

Most teams would love to have one elite thrower, but Palatine has the luxury of three state finalists on its team.

Shepard is a three-time state qualifier in the shot put and took fifth in Class AA last season. The Illinois State-bound senior set the school record in the shot put (43-8) last season and tied it this season. On Saturday the senior increased the mark by an inch.

Orris is a two-time state qualifier in the discus, taking fourth in Class AA in 2007 and seventh last season. The University of Azusa Pacific-bound senior is second on the leader board for career marks at Palatine in the discus, hitting 139-2 last season.

MacFabe is a two-time state qualifier in the discus and also qualified in the shot last season. The DePaul-bound senior finished 10th at state last season in the discus. MacFabe also holds the fourth-best mark for Palatine in the discus (133-9) and fifth-best mark in the shot (40-11).

Now that is quite a throwing trio.

"People think we're crazy when we're together," said Shepard of the three friends. "We're always goofing around, but at the same time we work really hard - we have a great group dynamic."

"It's like throwing with your sisters," added MacFabe of the trio.

"But I think we help push each other," interjected Orris. "With your friends you can be brutally honest."

The three also have someone else pushing them to excel.

Palatine throws coach Joe Petricca has quite resume. Petricca was head coach for the Palatine football team for 13 years and guiding the Pirates to a state runner-up finish in 1994.

Petricca was the defensive coordinator for a Prospect football team that won back-to-back Class 7A titles in 2001 and 2001. And he also led the Palatine girls bowling team to a state title in 1992.

Petricca is in his 10th and final year directing the Palatine throwers; he has coached 11 girls to state medals, including 2001 discus champion Nicole Salata.

"He's meant so much to every program he's been involved with," said Palatine head coach Steve Currins of Petricca, who was awarded the Dave Pasquini Assistant Coach Achievement Award by the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association in 2003.

"He's is so good with motivating kids - he has such high expectations."

Combining the experience of Petricca with the talent of the three throwers is setting up big things for Palatine.

"Nobody works harder than these three girls," said Petricca of his talented seniors. "They work year-round to make themselves better athletes - they have the work ethic and right attitude."

The seniors have the same respect for their coach.

"He's always trying to find new things to help us get better," said Shepard. "His determination helps us, and his attitude influences ours."

"He finds out what works with us and what doesn't," said Orris. "He knows us individually."

But the girls also have a way of breaking down their coach when the intensity gets too high.

"We tell him he looks handsome," added MacFabe, "and that always brings a smile to his face."

The three seniors have been the backbone for a very talented Palatine team this season.

Orris and MacFabe took first and fifth and Shepard and MacFabe too second and fifth to lead the Pirate to a first-place finish at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Relays.

Shepard and Orris took first and third in shot put, and MacFabe and Orris took first and second in discus to propel Palatine to first place at the Downers Grove North Invite.

The next day Shepard and MacFabe went 1-3 in the shot put, and MacFabe and Orris went 1-2 in the discus, leading the Pirates to first place at Wheaton North.

"You go into the meets with points on the board and that's a big help - a very big help," said Currins of the throwers' influence.

"We come in with an attitude that we're going to do our best," added Shepard, "and the team can count on us."

Next up for the throwers are Saturday's Palatine Relays, followed by the Mid-Suburban League conference meet, sectionals and finally the Class 3A state meet.

They are ready to leave their marks.

"Right now we have three of the best throwers in state," said Petricca. "They compete and push each other in practice everyday, and they are happy to see each other get better."

And the three are looking to be their best as the pressure mounts.

The skies cleared for a bit on Saturday, allowing the seniors to do their thing. Shepard and MacFabe went 1-3 in the shot put and Orris and MacFabe went 1-2 in the discus.

The three gathered around on the infield of the track and contemplated the impending storm which is the state series.

"It's kind of our last shot together," added Orris. "We all just want it to be a great experience. It's an awesome opportunity and we all want to take advantage of it."

"Looking back and seeing how far we've come I think we're prepared for this," added Shepard. "I'm a bit nervous, but also excited because of where we've come."

"Sure we want to hit our marks, but we want to enjoy each moment," added MacFabe. "We each are so different, but we work so well together."

Now that's a winning forecast.