Fulton’s Lyndsi Wolfe ended her prep career the right way: as a Division 4 state champion.
Wolfe was in two events at the state meet on June 1 at Hudsonville. She threw the shot put 30 feet 5 inches for 15th place. She had thrown it almost five inches farther for her PR in the regional meet.
But the discus had been her main event all season and it was again at state with a throw of 130-5 for first place. She had won all but one of the 13 meets where she threw the discus.
“I knew that I was ranked first,” Wolfe said. “When I we were throwing in the first round, I had a pretty good throw, I had a 119. Then I threw 125. I thought I was pretty set with 125. The girl in second place only threw a 112. But when we got into our finals throw, she threw a 127. It made me nervous because I knew I’d have to throw it farther to beat her.”
Wolfe also high jumped and had the season record of 5-0 at the state meet. At the 2018 state meet, she was eighth in the discus and 15th in the high jump.
But this has been her best season.
“I improved by quite a bit,” she said. “My best throw last year was 113. My best throw from this year was 130.’’
The key to getting more distance in the discus, Wolfe said, ‘is staying relaxed. I could never throw well when I’m nervous or anything. If you’re not tensed up and you stay relaxed, it what helps me throw the best.”
Wolfe said she was “superexcited” placing in two events at state.
Wolfe also played basketball and volleyball but indicated she was equally successful and talented in all three of her sports.
‘She is a great kid who works very hard,” Fulton coach David Sheahan said. “She is just a tough competitor and a very versatile athlete. She has played multiple years of varsity volleyball, varsity basketball and track and field. She has qualified for the state meet in high jump and discus for three years in a row.
“Her strength levels have improved due to her dedication in the weight room. The added strength was obviously seen in the discus pit. But it was also very evident in her shot put as she threw a season best 35-1 at the regionals. I also think as a senior her competitive spirit was always in over drive. This kid doesn’t like to lose.”
Sheahan recalls how important it was for Wolfe to get the discus school record
“Lyndsi was a fierce competitor this year in the discus circle. As a coach I was just amazed at her ability to make huge throw after huge throw all year long. Winning is very important to Lyndsi. Setting the new school record was very important to Lyndsi. Her first memorable throw came at the CMAC Championship Meet. She was conference champion by one inch with a throw of 126-4. This throw not only won the conference but it was her career best and set a new school record.
“But the biggest throw of her career came at the state meet 10 days later.”