By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Tripp Stahl is going to the dogs.
Not in the sense that his skills are deteriorating or declining. Just the opposite. Stahl, Bedford North Lawrence’s senior super thrower, is on top of his game, setting new personal marks while chasing an event record that has stood since the early days of the school.
Once he’s done with his pursuit of an icon, Stahl will compete at the next level. He officially signed with UIndy on Thursday, joining a Greyhound program that ranks among the top NCAA Div. II teams in the nation.
Records usually last about as long as ice cream on a hot sidewalk. But the discus mark that drives Stahl was set in 1977 by state champion Lee Wildman. It’s the oldest record in BNL sports, a historic throw of 175-5.
“That’s been a big goal,” Stahl said. “I didn’t think I had it in me until this year.”
Stahl stunned with an explosive throw of 167-9 during BNL’s last meet. Everything – his form, the physics of the mechanics, launch angle – was perfect. And he believes there’s more distance the next time he lofts the 1.65 kilograms into the sky.
He also throws the shot put, a 12-pound metal ball that requires brute force to move. He’s consistently launching in the mid-50s.
“In shot, the goal is to move as quickly as you can across the ring, transfer the energy and keep your hips ahead of you,” Stahl said. “In the discus, you want to be long and follow an orbit. It’s basic physics. I don’t know the equations, but I can throw.”
Business management majors don’t need to worry about physics problems. Stahl plans to take over a family business one of these days. UIndy offered the best of both worlds for that future.
“They have a great coach, and it’s a great school with proven talent, a great school to compete,” Stahl said of the decision. “They’re ranked in the top 25 in the nation, so it’s a place I want to be.”
“That’s a big deal, to compete for four years in college,” BNL coach Brett Deckard said. “The way Tripp loves the sport, there’s no doubt in my mind he will compete.”
Stahl started his track career in junior high. Big guy, has to be a thrower, right? He tried it. “It was a lot harder than I thought,” he said. But he was hooked, and he started taking the craft seriously midway through his high school career. He had found his passion.
“The work I put into it transfers directly into that,” he said. “I spent five months in the offseason just to get better. There’s a direct correlation. In track, it’s a one-man show. If you do well, you win.”
