2008 Woodie Awards
Javelin undergoes change in leadership
By Matt Matusek
Rocket Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Sports Extra
With the indoor track season over, Slippery Rock University javelin throwers will finally be able to compete in the upcoming outdoor season. Headlining the javelin show will be SRU senior, Dave Pavone.
Pavone, whose best mark was 199 feet last year, will look to continue where he left off last season, and then some. The provisional qualifying mark for javelin is 193, which Pavone surpassed, but he missed being picked for the nationals by about five feet.
"The automatic bid for nationals is 217 feet, and I'm looking to throw 220 feet this year," Pavone said.
Pavone will be surrounded primarily by incoming freshmen, including Kevin Bittner, Jeff Luttner, Brian Juda and Nate Hardic.
"Hardic is a promising freshman, we're hoping he'll be able to throw in the mid 190s," Pavone said. "We are confident the other three freshmen will be able to consistently throw in the 180s, which is a great mark for freshmen."
Besides Pavone and the four freshmen, junior Brent Freeburg is hoping to come all the way back from a nagging bicep injury. If Freeburg is healthy, he will add strong depth to the squad.
Missing from the team this year will be last year's All-American Tony Carr, who will be forced to miss this year's outdoor track season because of grades. Carr led the squad last season in top throwing distance, with a distance of 220-5.
"It's a huge disappointment to me that I won't be back this year, but I had to make some hard decisions, and unfortunately javelin is something I can't do anymore," Carr said. "I feel bad not being there for everyone, especially Pavone. We went in as freshmen together and we made each other better."
Carr's leadership and experience will be missed by coaches and athletes alike.
"Not having Tony around has been tough already," Pavone said. "He helped me and every other javelin thrower strive to be our best. If we were unclear on something, he would be there to help us out. It's disappointing for everyone. He was a good kid on and off the field."
Pavone, whose best mark was 199 feet last year, will look to continue where he left off last season, and then some. The provisional qualifying mark for javelin is 193, which Pavone surpassed, but he missed being picked for the nationals by about five feet.
"The automatic bid for nationals is 217 feet, and I'm looking to throw 220 feet this year," Pavone said.
Pavone will be surrounded primarily by incoming freshmen, including Kevin Bittner, Jeff Luttner, Brian Juda and Nate Hardic.
"Hardic is a promising freshman, we're hoping he'll be able to throw in the mid 190s," Pavone said. "We are confident the other three freshmen will be able to consistently throw in the 180s, which is a great mark for freshmen."
Besides Pavone and the four freshmen, junior Brent Freeburg is hoping to come all the way back from a nagging bicep injury. If Freeburg is healthy, he will add strong depth to the squad.
Missing from the team this year will be last year's All-American Tony Carr, who will be forced to miss this year's outdoor track season because of grades. Carr led the squad last season in top throwing distance, with a distance of 220-5.
"It's a huge disappointment to me that I won't be back this year, but I had to make some hard decisions, and unfortunately javelin is something I can't do anymore," Carr said. "I feel bad not being there for everyone, especially Pavone. We went in as freshmen together and we made each other better."
Carr's leadership and experience will be missed by coaches and athletes alike.
"Not having Tony around has been tough already," Pavone said. "He helped me and every other javelin thrower strive to be our best. If we were unclear on something, he would be there to help us out. It's disappointing for everyone. He was a good kid on and off the field."
