Monarchs' Scherff wins in dramatic fashion
By Steve Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Saturday, May 17, 2008
DES MOINES -- Saving his best for last, strapping 6-foot-6, 270-pound Denison-Schleswig sophomore Brandon Scherff won Iowa's Class 3A shot put title Friday with a dramatic final throw.
"It's all about the competition,'' said Scherff, whose last and winning throw measured 59 feet, 5.5 inches, a personal best for a young man who is probably Iowa's most imposing prep quarterback. "I was getting some good throws in, but I was confident I could win it with that last throw.
"You have to learn how to compete in athletics. When your back is to the wall, you try to do better.''
Scherff, the Drake Relays runner-up, defeated Drake champ Drew Clark of Marion, who uncorked a throw of 58-0.5 on his last attempt. "I'm looking forward to next year when 60 feet will be my goal,'' said Scherff. "I might be losing my coach (Scott Larson), too, so this was for him.''
Larson, a graduate of Denison High and Morningside College, coaches the Monarch throwers, but he's leaving teaching to become the school's business manager.
Most of Friday's action was confined to prelims, but Sioux City Bishop Heelan also competed well on a perfect sunny and warm day at Drake Stadium.
The Crusader boys started the day with Kyle Poss anchoring a boys medley relay quartet to fourth in 3:33.03 and finishing in the early evening with the second-fastest 4x400 prelim, a 3:24.41.
Sophomores Preston Ives and Nate Berger and junior Brendan Dougherty ran with Poss, the junior anchorman.
"I'm enjoying this state meet a little more than some, maybe,'' said Poss, who anchored in 1:58.2 and will run the open 800 today. "I missed the first month of the season with mononucleosis, so I missed a lot of conditioning.''
The medley winner, Charles City in 3:30.87, got a 1:52 anchor from Isaac Wendland, who will try for his fourth straight 1,600 title today.
Also contributing to Heelan's Friday showing was junior Brennan Cougill in the shot put. The 6-9, 265-pound University of Iowa basketball recruit unloaded a personal best heave of 51-3.25.
In the 100-meter hurdles, Heelan's Tori Vondrak and Slone Masters of Storm Lake advanced to the finals. Vondrak was clocked in :15.65 in her prelim.
Heelan did experience a couple of minor setbacks in the two long jumps.
Sean Keane, hampered with a hamstring injury, tried to work through the injury, but finished fifth with a best of 20 feet, 6.5 inches.
"It's pretty frustrating and disappointing not being able to do my best and it makes it even worse when the winner did 21-6,'' said Keane, a junior who finished eighth at the Drake Relays.
"I honestly felt I could win if it weren't for this darned hamstring,'' said Keane, who had a season best of 21-7 in the City Meet and led qualifiers with a 21-5 district effort.
Trevor Galbreath of Keokuk had the winning jump (21-6.50)
Meanwhile, in the girls long jump, Crusader Michelle Lund had to settle for 11th at 15-9.25 after leading regional qualifying with a 16-9.5 jump.
Lund, though, teamed with Mariah Irwin, Allison Jordan and Rebecca Anderson to steam home fifth in the girls distance medley Anderson, a senior, anchored in 2:19.7.
The Crusaders also finished third in the 4x200 relay, running 1:46.66. Freshman Kelly Daniels anchored Jessica Bennett, Irwin and Lund.
Another freshman, Katie Dougherty, anchored Heelan into the 4x100 relay prelims with a school-record :49.95 clocking.
The time erased the previous record of 50.14 seconds and in the process, Heelan became only the second Sioux City school to run under 50 seconds in the event. West has gone under 50 seconds three times, including once this season.
Also earning a medal was Sergeant Bluff-Luton sophomore Emma Gray, who was fourth in the 400 hurdles in a personal best 1:06.41.
"It's all about the competition,'' said Scherff, whose last and winning throw measured 59 feet, 5.5 inches, a personal best for a young man who is probably Iowa's most imposing prep quarterback. "I was getting some good throws in, but I was confident I could win it with that last throw.
"You have to learn how to compete in athletics. When your back is to the wall, you try to do better.''
Scherff, the Drake Relays runner-up, defeated Drake champ Drew Clark of Marion, who uncorked a throw of 58-0.5 on his last attempt. "I'm looking forward to next year when 60 feet will be my goal,'' said Scherff. "I might be losing my coach (Scott Larson), too, so this was for him.''
Larson, a graduate of Denison High and Morningside College, coaches the Monarch throwers, but he's leaving teaching to become the school's business manager.
Most of Friday's action was confined to prelims, but Sioux City Bishop Heelan also competed well on a perfect sunny and warm day at Drake Stadium.
The Crusader boys started the day with Kyle Poss anchoring a boys medley relay quartet to fourth in 3:33.03 and finishing in the early evening with the second-fastest 4x400 prelim, a 3:24.41.
Sophomores Preston Ives and Nate Berger and junior Brendan Dougherty ran with Poss, the junior anchorman.
"I'm enjoying this state meet a little more than some, maybe,'' said Poss, who anchored in 1:58.2 and will run the open 800 today. "I missed the first month of the season with mononucleosis, so I missed a lot of conditioning.''
The medley winner, Charles City in 3:30.87, got a 1:52 anchor from Isaac Wendland, who will try for his fourth straight 1,600 title today.
Also contributing to Heelan's Friday showing was junior Brennan Cougill in the shot put. The 6-9, 265-pound University of Iowa basketball recruit unloaded a personal best heave of 51-3.25.
In the 100-meter hurdles, Heelan's Tori Vondrak and Slone Masters of Storm Lake advanced to the finals. Vondrak was clocked in :15.65 in her prelim.
Heelan did experience a couple of minor setbacks in the two long jumps.
Sean Keane, hampered with a hamstring injury, tried to work through the injury, but finished fifth with a best of 20 feet, 6.5 inches.
"It's pretty frustrating and disappointing not being able to do my best and it makes it even worse when the winner did 21-6,'' said Keane, a junior who finished eighth at the Drake Relays.
"I honestly felt I could win if it weren't for this darned hamstring,'' said Keane, who had a season best of 21-7 in the City Meet and led qualifiers with a 21-5 district effort.
Trevor Galbreath of Keokuk had the winning jump (21-6.50)
Meanwhile, in the girls long jump, Crusader Michelle Lund had to settle for 11th at 15-9.25 after leading regional qualifying with a 16-9.5 jump.
Lund, though, teamed with Mariah Irwin, Allison Jordan and Rebecca Anderson to steam home fifth in the girls distance medley Anderson, a senior, anchored in 2:19.7.
The Crusaders also finished third in the 4x200 relay, running 1:46.66. Freshman Kelly Daniels anchored Jessica Bennett, Irwin and Lund.
Another freshman, Katie Dougherty, anchored Heelan into the 4x100 relay prelims with a school-record :49.95 clocking.
The time erased the previous record of 50.14 seconds and in the process, Heelan became only the second Sioux City school to run under 50 seconds in the event. West has gone under 50 seconds three times, including once this season.
Also earning a medal was Sergeant Bluff-Luton sophomore Emma Gray, who was fourth in the 400 hurdles in a personal best 1:06.41.
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