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<strong>A closer look at the people behind the magic...</strong></p>
No, it isn't that Colorado Track XC has gone to covering football. It's just that there are usually a lot more cameras around the gridiron than there are around the throwing rings. Photo by John Contrares/Lamar Ledger.
You can only be in proximity of excellence for so long before you start to sense something profoundly different from the usual. Coaching in the Tri-Peaks League means you regularly rub shoulders with Lamar. And, Lamar has been nothing short of the domimant force in Tri-Peaks League throws for several years running now. And if you somehow miss the kind of throws they're producing, you can't help but notice the number of kids the have throwing. All that means that, even though Jason Tice is not the head track coach at Lamar, I was eventually going to get around to asking him to share a little bit about his program.
It's my understanding that you grew up in Wiley. Tell us a little about your high school career there.
Yes Wiley, grew up on a farm about seven miles north of Lamar and four miles east of Wiley. Wiley was a great school for me, I was able to get a good education with some great teachers and coaches, like Dick Peecher, Randy Holmen, and Lee Rogers, who helped me become a solid high school student/athlete. I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in four sports all four years of high school. I lettered in all four sports for three years. I was a part of two state football teams, and qualified for the state track meet as a senior in the shot.
And what about collegiately?
I was recruited as an offensive lineman at Adams State College. Due to injuries at the tight end position, I was moved to that position as a true freshman and stayed at the position for all four years of college. I was fortunate to letter each of my four years at Adams State football. After my first year, Mike Preskorn (Smoky Hill), my best friend, asked me if I would like to go out for track with him at ASC. Coach Geiser supported our decision to pursue track, Coach Kernan, later Coach Martin, was also flexible enough to allow us to fulfill our football obligations. This is where I really developed a fondness for the throws. The technique I was exposed to allowed me to exceed all of my high school distances before my freshman year was over. As for my accomplishments, they were not that impressive. I believe I placed fifth at the RMAC conference meet in the hammer, when I was a senior. I was only a two-turner, wish I would have started throwing the hammer sooner.
How long have you been coaching throws at Lamar?
I began coaching the throws at Lamar in 2004, I think.
Most schools--regardless of size--can only dream of having a throws program as large or as accomplished as your program. What do you do to get the numbers out that you see?
First, my head coach, Austin Wertz, trusts us and allows us to customize our workouts and schedules to be geared toward our throwers. Second, my co-coach, Chris Medina, works with the kids that I can't always get to spend a lot of time with at practice; and he keeps them encouraged and moving forward. Third, the kids really enjoy the comradery that they develop throughout the season. With so many athletes out, we depend on older more experienced athletes to help lead our younger athletes. We really try to focus on competing first against yourself, not just distances, but technique, rhythm, or speed. The kids really promote our program for us. They help identify and recruit the athletes not out for baseball or soccer, and they really try to make it fun.
How long did it take to get big-time buy-in into the throws program at Lamar?
First, with the younger throwers it is a slower process, but when the kids implement the techniques and they see the improvement, we increase the level of trust. Second, the last few seasons we have been fortunate to have had a good number of throwers close to or in the top 18, as a result they really push themselves every practice to get to the state meet or improve their seed and that attitude is contagious.
What has a stronger hold on you--football or throws?
That is a tough question. I love football. I am where I am now because of the game of football, so I will always be a football coach. But the kids that have thrown and worked so hard for us are just as precious to me as the football players that have come through our program.
If you had to pick one favorite moment as a throws coach at Lamar, what would that moment be?
Taking four shot putters to the state meet--I think the first time it had been done--in 2012, and placing two, was fun. In 2011 Emilio Carrillo, threw very well in rainy conditions to earn second in the boys disc. Then at the same meet Summer Eberhardt threw very well and placed fifth as a freshman. But my favorite has to be in 2010 when, Adam Montoya earned second and had his best throw of his career, Zeke Aguilera threw well and placed in the boys disc, Sarah Schroeder had a career best and placed in the girls disc, and Shelby Baker placed in the girls shot. We really felt like we were on to something at that point, and we have continued to grow our program and improve. We really think this season could be one of our best as an entire throwing team.
Before you leave for the next article, it's worth taking a look at what Jason Tice and Chris Medina squeezed out of their throwers last spring after graduating seveal good ones in 2012 and 2011: Lamar 2013 Season Bests. They really do have a good thing going--almost too good, in fact, as they struggle to find meet opportunities for all of their throwers. As you look at their marks, make yourself a mental note that this is a school of only a little over 400 students.