True Gehm
BUTLER TWP — Zach Gehm found himself in a bit of a slump in his favorite event at the Butler Track and Field Invitational.
Yet Gehm, a Seneca Valley senior, was still in high spirits after a mostly satisfying Friday night.
“I did pretty well in a couple (events),” Gehm said. “Not a great day on the discus. I know I have potential the rest of the year. I feel like I can get better once these last meets come around.”
Gehm placed in three events, winning the javelin with a throw of 180 feet, 10 inches. He finished second in the shot put with a heave of 52-2 and third in what he calls his best event, the discus, with an effort of 147-9.
Gehm was just happy to get his competitive juices flowing at a large meet such as the one in Butler that featured more than 1,600 competitors across all the events.
“It's the first big competition where I can feel the pressure,” Gehm said. “I haven't been pressured in any meets so far, so this is a good milestone for my year.”
Another one for Gehm will come next week when he competes in the Penn Relays.
“That's another high-pressure meet,” Gehm said. “Hopefully I can gain experience throughout the year and put up some good numbers.”
Gehm is mostly happy with where his numbers are now, except in the discus.
Gehm didn't know why he is struggling in that event, but he is confident he can turn things around quickly.
“This week wasn't that great,” Gehm said. “I'm trying to hit 190 in the discus and I'm at 170 right now. I'm trying to hit 190 in the javelin and I'm at 185, so I'm pretty close to that, and in the shot I'm getting there. I want to hit 60 feet and I (hit my personal best) today by a foot-and-a-half.”
Gehm is also saw a familiar face at the Butler Invitational, one he will see often as the season continues.
Sam Mastro of South Fayette won both the shot and the discus. Gehm is good friends with Mastro and they are in the same throwing club.
“He's like a brother,” Gehm said. “When we compete against one another he sets a (personal record) and I set a PR. I think it's going to be between me and him when it comes down to states.”
Gehm has been throwing since he was in the fifth grade. His father, Craig, is a throwing coach at Seneca Valley.
“I've been going to practice with him since the fifth and sixth grades. I started throwing the little baby shot and the baby disc and over the years I've kept on progressing to a place where I am now,” Gehm said.
Where he is now is one of the best throwers in the state.
He wants to be the best, especially in the discus.
“I love the discus,” Gehm said. “The shot put is not my favorite because it's a real heavy ball and you're just pushing it. And the javelin, sometimes after I throw a lot, it hurts my arm. The discus is a happy medium.”
