Perkins hopes routine practices become routine championships

PERKINS TWP.

The Pirates have always had a strong showing at the state meet. They hope today and Saturday are no exceptions.

Six of the seven participants from Perkins will run, throw and vault today at the 102nd annual boys State Track and Field Championships in Columbus, where the defending state champions won three individual titles last year.

"Coming into the year, we figured we'd be back in the top five again, it would just depend on how many we got down there," coach Shane Burrows said. "Our expectations are high. They expect to do well when we go down there."

The Pirate athletes set personal records in previous years -- a testament to the coaching staff and training program, Burrows said -- and broke state records in the process.

Junior Matt Hoty already owns a Division II title from when he launched a 62-foot, 1/4-inch throw to break a state-meet record. Saturday, Hoty broke the state record with 64-foot, 81/4-inch toss.

The secret, Hoty said, is in the routine.

"Don't do anything different. You do everything the same -- the same amount of throws, the same amount of practice time," he said. "It's another meet -- with a lot more people."

Hoty is just as confident this year as he was in 2008, knowing if he throws as well as he has, another medal joins the one he owns.

Senior Kyle Steinhauser will throw the discus Saturday in hopes of setting another personal best. He was second a year ago when he threw 180-5, and faces defending state champ Justin Welch of Eastwood.

"I've PR'ed last two years. I'm hoping to PR once again, and if I do that, I can't be disappointed," said Steinhauser, who was second at the district (172-11) and regional. "I definitely want to do the best I can and go out there and have no regrets."

The lone senior headed to Columbus -- state-placer Ben Kalis injured his hamstring at the district meet -- Steinhauser has been superb, Burrows said, because his leadership is unbelievable.

"I'm hoping the best for him. No one believes he can beat Welch, except us," Burrows said. "If he can get (a throw) out there, it'll put pressure on someone else."

Ben Bacni is the third thrower, competing in the shot put with Hoty, and has a chance for a top-eight finish.

Hoty said he told Bacni to keep his routine the same, and try to have a little fun and avoid the stomach knots that result in poor throws.

The 4x800 relay returns two of its four members of a squad that was second a year ago and first two years ago. Junior Michael Mulvin and Nate Huntley will team with junior Michael Mulvin -- who has a state swimming title -- and freshman Bill Fial, while junior Jordan Burrows, Shane Burrow's son, will compete in the pole vault.

When the Pirates won the state title a year ago, it was Hoty who won the first state title to start the run before Cory Leslie came back with titles in the 1600 and 800. Leslie is graduated, but Hoty still has another year left, and is driven to be the best in the country.

He wants the record Jimmie Pacifico set in the shot put -- 71 feet, 61/4 inches -- to break the mark in all divisions, and won't rest until his throw is the best in the nation.

He ranks eighth in the country.

"There's (seven) guys ahead of me," Hoty said. "There's always something to keep you going."