Sports
Avon Lake 8th-grader Heading to States
Anthony Theilman getting tips from former ALHS track and football star Mike D'Andrea.
Anthony Theilman never thought of himself as a trackman. As a matter of fact, for him the whole reason he went out for the team last year was to have fun with his friends.
"I really thought of track as a social event," Theilman said. "But then I realized I have some talent in throwing and want to go far with it."
Talent indeed.
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All Theilman did at the Junior High School Southwestern Conference Championships, was take home first in the shot put with a toss of 44-1, second in the discus (120 feet) and second in the long jump with a leap of 16-5.
Admittedly, Theilman wasn't sure what to expect, considering he was one of the smaller guys out there.
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"I was pretty intimidated because I was one of the smaller guys there," Theilman said. "But I just went out there and gave it my all."
Theilman's next test comes May 29, at the State meet, which is different than the high school level. Participants have to pay a fee to compete, but also have to have the statistics. Right now, his throws are around the fifth best in Ohio for an eighth-grader.
"I'm pretty excited to go," Theilman said. "It would be great if I win, but it’s more of the experience of going down there and seeing what it is like."
Theilman said that his coach, Rory Scarvelli has helped him the most since he picked up the shot and discus, but if not for the influence of one of Avon Lake's greatest throwers he may never have considered it.
That person is Mike D'Andrea, who won state titles in both events, and now owns Traq3d in Avon, where Theilman did some training.
"I was at TRAQ3D and I saw one of the papers with him throwing and thought it was pretty neat," Theilman said. "Me and Mike are kind of alike, because we like working out and playing football, so I figured I would give it a try and see what it is all about."
Theilman said D'Andrea showed him some techniques and the interest began. Today he also gets some advice from some of the older throwers at such as Max Siple, who Scarvelli told him about.
"Max was like me and intimidated by the other throwers," Theilman said. "But then he finally realized he was pretty good and just went out there and threw it. And that is what he told me to do."
When the state meet is over, Theilman plans on getting ready for football season next year, where he plans on playing fullback and linebacker for the Shoremen.