1 week Ago By George Pohly
Cameron Gramzow established a couple of career throwing bests Friday.One was good for an Anchor Bay record.Both brought a smile to the junior’s face.
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“That was a really bad decision,” Gramzow said.But then came the heave that cleared 20 feet, which was more like how the rest of his day went.Gramzow won the discus competition with a throw of 174 feet, 11 inches.
That broke the school record of 164-5 that Gramzow set on April 22, and it gave him a berth in the state Division 1 championship meet that will be May 31 at East Kentwood.“It was very surprising,” the soft-spoken Gramzow said. “I just focused and locked in on the throw.
”Anchor Bay’s Cameron Gramzow prepares for the hay bale toss, a tradition at the Barnyard Invitational at Romeo. Gramzow won the discus throw and finished second in the shot put. (GEORGE POHLY — For MediaNews Group)Previously, athletes could qualify for state finals only at regional meets, but this year they can by meeting early qualifying standards set by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
The Division 1 EQ mark for the discus is 156-0.Andrew Neumann of White Lake Lakeland also qualified when he threw the 3.5-pound implement 173-7 and finished second to Gramzow.
“I was all-state during the indoor season, and I hope to be outdoor, too,” Gramzow said.Gramzow missed making the state meet last season.Now he doesn’t have to worry about his status for the finals.
“I still have to focus on throwing, but it takes off the stress of making it,” he said.Between his freshman and sophomore seasons, Gramzow started to get tutoring from L’Anse Creuse throwing coach Michael Hale, who has produced several outstanding discus and shot performers.The results have been dramatic.
Gramzow’s best throw as a ninth grader was 63-2, and last year his best was 143-9.“I’ve added almost 112 feet in two years,” Gramzow said.Attention to technique has extended his throws.
“It’s so much better now,” he said.Gramzow finished second to Fraser’s Caleb Stanberry in the shot put at the Barnyard.Stanberry threw 47-9 and Gramzow 45-8.
The EQ mark is 53-2.Gramzow holds the Anchor Bay record of 49-6, which he threw this spring in a Macomb Area Conference Red Division meet against Dakota.“Hopefully, I’ll hit the (early) qualifier in that,” Gramzow said.
Gramzow wants to throw and study engineering in college.Most of the field events were completed before the Barnyard was halted because of lightning.Anchor Bay seniors Jaeda Tilton and Korin Hutton finished 1-2 in the girls discus with respective throws of 114-2 and 112-9.
Kelsey Williams of Lakeland won the girls shot at 36-3.High jump winners were Alysia Goudelock of Romeo at 5-0 and Simbad Murtic of Saginaw Swan Valley at 6-0.Pole vault winners were Kennedy Foote of Lakeland at 8-0 and Brock Vinter of Lakeland at 12-6.
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