Armed and dangerous
JACKSON TWP — Nothing should be taken for granted in sports, especially at the high school level.
But this season, Ryan DeBoer and Zach Gehm became as close to a sure thing as the Seneca Valley track and field team could hope for.
In the team's eight dual meets, DeBoer was undefeated in the boys shot put, while Gehm was just as impressive in the discus.
They both won their events in last Tuesday's meet against Butler, helping the Raiders advance to the WPIAL Class AAA team playoffs for the second straight season.
“The team works best when everyone is doing their part,” said DeBoer, a senior. “I was just concentrated on my throwing and wanted to do my best.”
DeBoer's junior season didn't end as he had hoped. He failed to emerge from the Class AAA individual qualifier at Pine-Richland.
“My best throw as a junior was 46 feet, 1 inch, but at the qualifier, I just had a bad day,” he said.
But hard work and confidence have made the difference this year and it started last winter when DeBoer broke the school's indoor shot put record with a throw of 51-9½.
His best outdoor effort to date is 51-6.
“I began lifting heavier weights more consistently,” said DeBoer, “but a lot of it (improvement) has just come down to me focusing on achieving my goals.
“First, I want to break the school record (currently held by Tim Miles, 54-7½ in 2007). I also want to help us win a WPIAL team title and place in the top five as an individual.”
SV shot put coach Anastasa Williams has seen DeBoer's progression in the event.
“When throwing the shot put, you have to keep your left foot back a bit as you release, let your hips come through,” she said. “Ryan is doing that consistently now and it's added at least a few feet to his throws.
“Ryan always gives 110 percent,” she added. “His will to win is what drives him.”
DeBoer, who throws the discus as well, will attend the University of Akron.
“I don't plan on being part of the track and field team there my freshman year,” he said. “I want to get things in order academically, but may join the team after that.”
Gehm, a junior, was introduced to the discus at a young age.“He's been around it since he was in elementary school,” said Zach's father and Raider discus coach Craig Gehm, who has been with the team since 1993. “He's close to 6-foot-4 and the length of his arms has helped him excel. When he hits his block at the front of the circle, his arm is like a slingshot.”Gehm's best throw before this year was a 158-3 from last season when he earned a medal at WPIALs by placing eighth and earned a spot at the state meet. But he showed early on this season that he intended his junior campaign to be even better.“I broke the school record (previously 163-3 by Steve Swanson in 2011) with a 171-2 in our first meet of the season against Morgantown,” said Gehm, who also competes in the shot put and javelin. At the Mars Invitational last Friday, he bettered his own school record by throwing the discus 180-3.“I started lifting this year and that has helped me a lot and I've been improving my form. A lot of times, when I make my first throw at a meet, I hear people talking who haven't seen me yet. They say, 'Whoa, look at this kid. Look how far he's throwing.' I've embraced the fact that I now have a target on my back. But once I get to WPIALs, I won't have that target anymore because there will be a lot of guys who can throw far.”Gehm still has a year of high school remaining.“He wants to get close to 200 feet next year,” Craig Gehm said. “That's when Division I colleges start thinking about offering a scholarship.”In the meantime, DeBoer, Gehm and their teammates have a WPIAL team championship in their crosshairs. The Raiders will host Latrobe, New Castle and Kiski Area in the semifinals Tuesday. The district championship meet is scheduled for May 8 at Baldwin High School.“I believe we are capable of winning the team title,” said DeBoer. “We have a very strong base across all events.”
