State title tops off Einbecker's season

Imagine, throwing the discus 197 feet, third all-time in Illinois, and finishing second at your conference meet.

That was Brett Einbecker's lot at the Upstate Eight Conference meet.

At the Class AA boys state track and field meet the Illinois-bound Waubonsie Valley senior turned the tables on Lake Park's Dan Block in the discus competition, denying the junior first place for the first time this season.

"I was really happy with my season. But having a state title to add to the season, it's awesome," Einbecker said.

Einbecker threw 182 feet, 1 inch on his last preliminary throw, topping the field, while Block fouled twice then reached the finals at 176-0.

"I had no rhythm, no nothing," said Block, who at the UEC meet extended his own state record to 201-8.

In the finals Einbecker moved up to 184-0 then stewed before Block's final effort of 178-4.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking all three throws, you know?" Einbecker said. "You know you have Block right in front of you and he's got the state record, so he can pop one whenever."

It was a turnaround from shot put, where Einbecker scratched on his first two prelim attempts, then failed to advance at 49-7¾.

Meanwhile, Block was king of the shot put ring. Over the two days each of his six throws surpassed 60 feet. His final attempt Friday, delivered out of his quick rotation technique, took him to the top of the medal stand at 63-3¾. As a sophomore his top effort was 58-9.

"That was the best throwing day I've ever had in my life," he said. "I just felt like I could go as fast as I can, I wouldn't foul. It was great."

After initial disappointment at the discus loss, an event contested before a large crowd hoping to see another huge throw, Block acknowledged that if he didn't win it, at least it was his familiar foe who did.

"That's exactly how I saw it," Block said. "I mean, maybe if it was like some other kid, but I know Brett's working just as hard as me. I'm kind of glad for him too at the same time."

Keeping their distance: DuPage County again showed its mettle in the Class AA distance races.

Four of the top nine finishers in the 1,600 were from the county, led by Wheaton North's Chase Kadlec in third with "the race of my life."

The 800 was even more impressive, with six of the 13 finalists from DuPage. The race produced four local all-staters and a 2-3-4 finish by Willowbrook's Jeff Stapleton, Wheaton North's Graham Farnsworth and Waubonsie Valley's Sean Wiggan.

"The western suburbs in middle distance and distance, it's awesome," said Wheaton Warrenville South's Randall Babb, an all-state ninth in the 800.

Though Farnsworth said he ran his "worst tactical race," he enjoyed his progression from 24th as a sophomore to 14th as a junior to third as an Illinois-bound senior.

"In that aspect I did accomplish what I set out to do," said Farnsworth, whose time of 1 minute, 52.49 seconds broke Wheaton North's record set by Kyle Kunz.

Four local all-state finishes surfaced in the 3,200, with York's Steve Sulkin and Naperville North's Kyle Gibson going 3-4, Neuqua Valley's Danny Pawola in sixth and Hinsdale South's Brian Denk in eighth.

Naperville Central's Stephen O'Donnell came out of the "slow heat" of the 3,200 -- the field was split in two heats of 21 each based on seed times -- to place 15th overall.

A strong, steady runner, the Purdue-bound senior went out fast.

"All those times in the season where I've had to run alone, this definitely paid off in the end, when I had to do it at state," O'Donnell said.

He credited tough DuPage Valley competition with helping hone his form.

"Running with that competition all year is what you're looking for to have it pull through in the end," O'Donnell said. "To be in one of the toughest conferences and a tough sectional definitely helps when it comes to the state meet because you've seen everyone before."

That includes his teammate, future Harvard man Steve Couch, who finished seventh in the 1,600.

"My race plan was basically to play it by ear," Couch said. "We went out a little slow and I think that played into my hands a little just knowing that I can go and kick with the best of them. I was confident in my ability."

Missing his buddy: With Neuqua Valley superstar Chris Derrick missing the 1,600 and 3,200 with mononucleosis, teammates Danny Pawola and Jim Riddle lacked not only their friend but training partner.

"Warming up without Chris is really weird," Pawola said. "He's been there for every single race the past two years for me, and not having him in the race or warming up with me, it was just really odd.

"The (3,200) race went out a lot slower than I think it would have if Chris was here."

Pawola, a junior, said the Stanford-bound Derrick provides extra motivation.

"Definitely. I mean, Chris is a great inspiration when you see how many amazing things he can do just by hard work. It definitely makes me work harder. I hope next year I can sort of compare to what he's done this year."

Fast-twitch muscles: Count Timothy Christian's Rob Stein as one versatile athlete.

The sophomore qualified in the Class A discus as a freshman and repeated that feat at the Lisle sectional. In addition Stein qualified in the 100-meter dash. Unfortunately, he didn't make it out of Friday's preliminaries in either.

Nevertheless, one doesn't often see that pairing. One remembers York's Nate Wallick going downstate in discus and long jump in 2002 but such combinations are rare.

Earlier this season Stein said, "I don't always think shot put's about muscle, per se."

All-state quotes: Kids -- and their coaches -- can say the darnedest things.

Second-place York's Nico Perrino on rebounding from the disappointment of being disqualified in the 800 relay: "(Former) coach (Joe) Newton, he comes down to the state meet, told us the greatest thing is not ever having not fallen but rising up again."

Frank Cervantes, Addison Trail's first state qualifier in a decade, on why he brought teammate Rudy Esparza to Charleston with him: "He did a lot for me. At the sectional meet -- this is his last year, he's a senior -- he gave up the (400 relay) and the (1,600 relay) just so I could be fresh for the 200, just so I could make it here."

Wheaton North's Chase Kadlec, who in the 1,600 came from sixth to third by passing, among others, Hersey's 3,200 winner Kevin Havel: "I saw Havel, and I wanted to pass him. It was unbelievable. Greatest feeling in the world."

State discus champion Brett Einbecker of Waubonsie Valley: "This means four year of hard work. This is everything. This is awesome. It's just beyond words."

Lake Park's Dan Block, second to Einbecker in discus after preliminaries: "That's not a bad position. It's pretty good."

Waubonsie Valley's Sean Wiggan, on the effects of Friday's five separate weather-induced delays: "I know that it kind of tired us out a little because we were sleeping around and just chilling all day. We got a little relaxed."

Wheaton North's Dayton Henricksen, who went from a pulled hip flexor to running the third leg of a fourth-place Class AA 400 relay: "I was just thrown into this for the sectionals and state. … Now I'm back. Right in the nick of time, I guess."

Neuqua Valley pole vaulter Sam Wildeman, who wanted to "stay fast" on his run-up and benefited when wet weather moved the preliminaries indoors: "This track is really fast, it's faster than anything I've ever been on."

Driscoll's Pierre Washington-Steel, a dual spring-sport athlete who may alter his plan after placing sixth in the Class A 100 dash: "I don't know about baseball. This year I didn't have too good of a year. I might just stick with summer baseball instead of doing both at the same time."

Naperville North's Kyle Gibson, earning the Straightforward Approach Award after taking fourth in the 3,200: "As stupid as it sounds, my goal was really just to do the best I could. I can't control what everyone else does, so I just wanted to give it my best shot."

Lake Park pole vaulter Greg Haugh, invigorated by a third-place finish: "I just felt great today. This is such a wonderful day to vault, the sun's out, and there's almost no wind. This entire season's been just one bad day after another, and finally when it counts it comes down to nice weather. A great day, great competition."

Finally, York coach Stan Reddel, resplendent in wide-brimmed straw hat and sunny in disposition after his Dukes finished second in Class AA: "Coming down here, if somebody would have said (York would score) 46 points, I'd have said, 'I'll take it.' "