Michelini steps up to win state shot put championship; Neuqua Valley places second in team standings

CHARLESTON - A year ago, Lake Park's Tyler Michelini was a football player attempting to learn a new sport.

He displayed some potential in the shot put by advancing to the Class 3A track and field meet, but the enormity of the event overwhelmed him.

On Saturday at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Stadium, Michelini embraced the moment. On his final attempt Michelini said he was focused on making a memorable mark in his final prep meet.

"We have a saying in our room, 'The last throw, best throw' and I kind of lived by that one today," Michelini said. "I was second or in third place coming into my last throw. Today, I knew I had to stay calm and just tried to focus on one thing at a time and then I knew I would be able to execute."

Michelini, a Grand Valley State football recruit, credited his dedication to his craft and unrelenting desire to improve in the sport. He won the shot put state title on his last toss, heaving an attempt of 18.70 meters to put his name among the all-time greats in program history. Michelini ended his day with a seventh-place medal in the discus.

Neuqua Valley rode numerous strong performances in several individual and relays to notch second place in the Class 3A team standings with 42 points. Homewood-Flossmoor won the team crown with 58 points. Hinsdale Central placed fourth (37) and Downers Grove North snagged sixth (33).

Austin Belle, a Belmont recruit, sparked Neuqua Valley by scoring several points. The senior overcame an injury to place second in the 200 (21.72) and third in the 100 (10.89). Led by Belle, the Wildcats took fourth in the 400 relay. Naperville Central nudged out the Wildcats with a third-place medal in the 400 relay (41.89). Naperville North senior Danny Eloe claimed a sixth in the 100 (11.01).

"I just tried to make sure my legs felt good because I was in little bit of pain," Belle said. "I ran through the pain and happy with the way I performed and gave points to my team. It's been a season, had some good times. Last year I wouldn't have believed I would compete in the 200 at state, or even dream of doing the 100 in the finals.

Also in the shot put, Hersey junior Will Nolan placed fourth with a personal record toss of 17.96 meters and teammate Logan Farrell snared a ninth-place state medal (16.38).

Naperville Central junior Maverick Ohle climbed to the top of the podium with a first-place toss of 55.82 meters to win the 3A discus. Ohle finished in second last season.

"It felt so good because yesterday I didn't perform the way I wanted to," Ohle said. "I was just thinking to be relentless and to compete, compete and compete. I had a lot of confidence and knew I should win. This feels amazing."

After winning the state title in his sophomore season and placing second last season in the 800, Hinsdale Central senior Dan Watcke wiped away some of the disappointment from Friday's 1,600 relay by cruising to a state title in the 800 (1:52.16) on Saturday. The Oregon recruit said he was motivated to collect a second first-place medal in the finals. Downers Grove North's Ryan Eddington finished just behind Watcke for second place. Naperville Central junior Foster Shelbert tallied seventh and York's Aidan Hill picked up ninth.

"I had that motivation from last year and we wanted to make a statement, especially after Friday's 1,600 relay," Watcke said. "The baton dropped, but it wasn't our fault. I felt good in the first relay (on Saturday) and took it with 200 and made a decisive move and just went for it. It feels better winning. Last year I learned from it.

The Hinsdale Central 3,200-meter relay team of seniors Michael Skora, Grant Miller, Kyle Doorhy and Watcke also captured a state title with a time of 7 minutes, 38.59 seconds. Downers Grove North placed second in the race (7:39.03), Naperville Central took fourth, Lyons placed fifth and Downers Grove South claimed a seventh-place medal.

In the Class 2A meet, Aurora Central Catholic junior Patrick Hilby pushed himself throughout the off-season after placing third in the 800. He accomplished his goal by winning the 800 in Saturday's finals with a state-record time of 1:50.49. ACC teammate Armando Acosta also earned a medal with a PR time of 1:56.49 for sixth.

Benet sophomore Griffin Schneid added an eighth-place medal and Glenbard South's Tim Jochum took ninth. In the 3,200, Kaneland's David Valkanov and Evan Nosek finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

Hilby said he changed his mindset late in Saturday's race toward putting his name into the record books. He dominated the field but added another gear in the final 150 meters.

"When we came through the 600, I saw the time and pushed it for the last 200," Hilby said. "Last year I didn't do cross country, so that definitely helped with 300 to go when I made my big move. I feel a lot stronger than last year. I just tried to go for the win and the time would take care of itself."

Burlington Central senior Nolan Milas posted a fourth-place time of 11.14 in the 100 dash.

"I just tried to run my own race," Milas said, a Wisconsin-Oshkosh recruit. "I wasn't happy with my time, but it seemed the race went out really slow. I was more worried about getting a good place."

Milas had one more highlight run left, when he made a dramatic comeback to take home a third-place medal in the 200 (21.78). Aurora Central Catholic's Daniel Eberle notched sixth in the pole vault, with Kaneland's Brayden Farmer taking eighth and Marmion Academy's Ryan Anderson ending in 10th.

Montini senior Jayden Leise capped his season with a third-place medal in the triple jump with a top leap of 13.20 meters.

"I didn't PR but was really nervous because this was my first time, even though I went to indoor state," Leise said. "I'm happy. I wish I got second. I just needed to work more on my breathing. It was really exciting."