RACOON TOWNSHIP -- Colin Dugan spent most of last fall throwing quarterbacks around like rag dolls while helping Springdale win its first WPIAL football championship in 30 years.
It took the Dynamo junior a lot less time to turn his new hobby into WPIAL gold.
Dugan, who took up throwing the shot put seriously this season, won the WPIAL Class AA shot put championship Tuesday at South Side Beaver High School.
He was the top seed going into the meet and backed up the ranking with a personal-best throw of 50 feet, 7 1/4 inches in the finals.
Ashton Cobb of Center was second with a throw of 49-10 1/2.
"I didn't think I'd get this far this fast," Dugan said. "People say, how long have you been doing this⢠I say a year, and they can't believe it."
Dugan was the only local boys champion crowned on a wet, weather-plagued afternoon.
Seniors Adam Isenberg and Brent Ferko of Freeport, and the Burrell 4x400-meter relay team also braved the elements to post strong finishes and qualify for the state championships.
The meet was stopped four times because of lightning, sending fans, officials and spectators into the school's gymnasium.
Dugan won his event shortly after the first weather delay.
Using the "glide" technique, which he discovered in a book -- he and teammate Lucas Cox always are looking for an edge -- Dugan also became Springdale's only PIAA qualifier.
The top three finishers and those in the top eight meeting a qualifying standard made the state meet, which will be held May 28-29 in Shippensburg.
Dugan's story is sandwiched somewhere between beginner's luck and natural talent.
When he saw how far he could throw a car tire at a football linemen competition last May, his wheels began to turn.
"I took second place. That's when I thought about trying track and field," he said. "Then I started to get good at it and I wanted to make WPIALs."
Working all season without a throwing coach, Dugan vaulted to the top of the Alle-Kiski track and field honor roll with his throw of 50-5 1/2 at a WPIAL qualifying meet at Mars.
"I knew if I kept working hard I would have a chance," Dugan said. "I bought a 16-pound shot and the regulation one is 12 pounds. I practiced with that and it helped me a lot."
The closest thing to a throwing coach for Dugan is Springdale first-year head coach Wes Hicks.
"Colin has really worked on his style," Hicks said. "I knew he had a good chance to win. He has been on a roll. Colin is a great kid and a lot of that is a credit to his foundation at home."
Although Freeport usually has a few outstanding hurdlers, a couple of jumpers made the most of their WPIAL appearances this year.
Isenberg qualified for PIAAs in the triple jump and long jump.
"I didn't have the kind of day I hoped for," Isenberg said. "I don't think the weather had much to do with it. I just didn't jump well."
He took third in the long jump (20 feet) and fifth in the triple jump (42 feet). He came in as the No. 2 seed behind Ferko in the triple jump.
Ferko took third in the triple jump with a mark of 42 feet, 5 3/4 inches.
Isenberg and Ferko said it isn't difficult competing against one another in the same events.
"It's usually a coin toss who's going to win," Ferko said. "We've always been rivals, so it's fun."
Burrell's 4x400 relay led for the first three legs of the final race of the day before South Side Beaver passed the Bucs down the final stretch.
The Bucs team of Bob Johnson, Tyler Henderson, Caleb Dunn and Steve Carney took third place with a season-best time of 3:30.05.
"They really had a nice start," Burrell coach Bob Kariotis said. "I think it's very satisfying for them to take third and meet the state qualifying time."
Other top-5 finishers from the area were Dan Ross of Riverview, who took fourth in the javelin, Nick Haynes of Freeport (fifth, discus) and the Deer Lakes 4x800 relay team (fifth).
Those athletes did not qualify for the PIAA meet.
Additional Information:
State qualifiers
The following local athletes qualified for the PIAA Class AA track and field championships May 28-29 at Shippensburg University:Burrell -- 4x400-meter relay team: Bob Johnson, Tyler Henderson, Caleb Dunn, Steve Carney.
Freeport -- Brent Ferko (triple jump); Adam Isenberg (triple jump, long jump)
Springdale -- Colin Dugan (shot put).
