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E-TC’s Witt wins shot put, takes 2nd in discus in 1st U.P. Finals

KINGSFORD — A premier basketball player, Ewen-Trout Creek’s Jake Witt, a junior, wanted to continue to improve himself as he prepares for his upcoming senior year, and that desire led to him getting into track and field this year. Following in his father’s footsteps, Witt spent the year learning how to throw discus and shot put, and that hard work paid off Saturday at the U.P. Finals, where Witt came in seeded in a tie for 12th in shot put and seventh in discus, but managed to win the shot put and place second in the discus.

“It feels amazing,” said Witt. “My dad, in high school, was a great shot putter, and it feels amazing to follow that tradition.”

Witt, who recorded 33 feet, 10 inches when he started throwing shot put at the start of the season, had only a rudimentary understanding of the technique involved and did not feel he had it fully down even heading into Saturday after throwing 37-2.75 in regional competition. But that did not stop him from producing a winning throw of 45-5.5 at U.P. Finals.

“I was just doing a stand up throw at that time,” said Witt of his beginnings. “I did a lot of work on the glide over the past week, and I brought that distance up to 45 feet, so I improved by over 10 feet over the course of the season.”

Despite his 6-7 frame, Witt learned this year that throwing shot is all about how you throw, not how tall, or strong, you are.

“Shot is not about strength, it is mostly about technique,” said Witt. “That was what I had to understand, mainly. It was a struggle for me.”

In discus, Witt entered Saturday having qualified with a length of 110-6.5 which he knew put him in the middle of the pack. He had a lot of ground to cover if he was going to catch up to Rapid River’s Logan Hardwick, also a junior, who came in with a throw of 132-9.5.

Hardwick tossed a 138-10 Saturday, which sealed him the win. But Witt improved by leaps and bounds, throwing 129-3, which was two inches further than Rapid River sophomore Gunner Larson, who placed third.

Witt looks forward to his senior year after his successes Saturday.

“There is definitely a little pressure on your shoulder,” said Witt. “But I don’t feel too much pressure because track is one of those sports where you just go out there to have fun.”

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