SLIPPERY ROCK — For 38 years, Ted Simon has owned the shot put record at Slippery Rock High School.

Now he's trying to knock himself down in the record book — by coaching up Sean Northcott.

“I hope it happens,” Simon said of Northcott breaking his mark.

Simon heaved the shot put 56 feet, 3 inches in 1980 — his senior year at Slippery Rock — to set the school record that is still standing.

Northcott, a junior, has thrown the shot put 47 feet in practice, 46-feet plus in meet competition. The District 10 Championships are May 19 at Slippery Rock University.

“My immediate goal is to qualify for state in something,” said Northcott, who will also throw the javelin and discus at the D-10 meet. “My long-range goal is to break that record.

“The fact the holder of such a long-standing mark is coaching me and helping me get there ... That would really make it special.”

Simon was inducted into the Slippery Rock High School Hall of Fame in 2016. It was there that the Rocket track and field coaches approached him about joining the staff and helping the throwers.

This is Simon's first season as the team's throwing coach.

“I've been wanting to do this for a lot of years,” Simon said. “I just never had the time before. Now I'm retired and I want to develop the determination and dedication of these athletes to reach their full potential.

“For Sean, part of that is breaking my record. It's definitely within him.”

Simon recalled his years of throwing the shot put “when I came home after practice each day, went outside and kept throwing until it got dark.”

He was undefeated in the event his senior year until the state meet, when Simon finished second.

“I threw myself out,” he said. “I kept throwing all day, getting ready for the event. My coach told me to stop, to rest.

“I should have listened to him.”

Now Simon sees state potential in Northcott, freshman throwers Mary Ann Ackerman and Rebecca Porter, junior Jacob Shaffer and others.

“There is a lot of up and coming talent here to work with,” Simon said. “I'm excited about what lies ahead.”

So is Northcott, who has thrown the javelin 162 feet and the discus 136. Larry Galcik set the Rockets' discus record of 151 feet in 1984.

Also a tackle and defensive end on the football team, Northcott is the third sibling in his family to become a thrower on the high school track team. Breanna and Ryan Northcott preceded him and both went on to compete at Slippery Rock University.

“I want to compete in college, too, but I'm not sure of what sport yet,” Northcott said.

Northcott competes in indoor track during the winter. He has steady improvement on his mind right now.

“He (Simon) has helped me a lot with technique,” Northcott said. “He's got me bending my knees more and tucking my block (non-throwing) arm closer to my body. I am getting much better distances this year.”

Simon isn't surprised.

“It's all about technique,” he said of the throwing events. “You don't have to be super strong to succeed at this.”

But will Northcott ultimately succeed at breaking Simon's reciord?

“I like the way I'm progressing,” he said. “I feel like I've got a shot at it.”