BOYS WINNER: Hunter Joyer - Senior @ Wesley Chapel
Joyer launches the shot at the 2A Region 3 meet last week.
Photo courtesy of BILL WARD/The Tampa Tribune
Hunter Joyer spent his first two years of high school at Wesley Chapel before transferring his junior year to Tampa Catholic. This year he returned to Wesley Chapel for his senior season and throws coach Tyler Garrett is glad to have his stud thrower back.
Last year Joyer won the class 2A state championship in the shot with a mark of 57-2.25. One year later his throws have improved to over 60 feet. In the regional championship meet Joyer unleashed the implement a personal best 62-4., the seventh best throw in the country for 2011. Garrett says he is beyond pleased and believes his star senior is peaking at the right time.
“He threw four out of the six throws beyond 60 feet. I think he had thrown maybe 60 feet two or three times all year and to have four at one meet is impressive. I knew he had it in him and I believe he has more.”
Garrett and Joyer have spent the past couple weeks working on positioning in the circle, hitting those positions right, and coming through the middle. Garrett says positioning is key and that technique is far more important than strength.
“It’s just power position. You’re trying to hit that stand throw right in the middle, going through the glide, and coming right through it. We’ve been stressing the position at the front the last couple of weeks and we’re going to be working on it this week.”
When the senior steps in the circle his opponents are well aware of who he is and what he has accomplished. Coach Garrett says Joyer has a presence about him that strikes fear and intimidation.
“He has this psychological advantage on the competition when he walks into the area and then when he throws they are impressed with that.”
Another factor in Joyer’s success is his work ethic. A two-sport athlete in both track & field and football, Joyer has signed with the University of Florida. Garrett says he gives his all in everything he does.
“He does whatever you tell him to do and he is going to do it 100 percent. He has this drive in him that’s very rare in athletes I’ve seen and it’s very refreshing. I’m impressed with how humble he is and his ability to help other throwers and share what he knows. He is just a very impressive young man.”
Interview with Hunter at Florida Relays
Personal Bests
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Discus 155-11.5
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Shot Put 62-4
More on Hunter (Athlete Profile)
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