Could This Plant High Panther Be The Next Champion?

Plant senior thrower Michael Dvornik continues to set new standards for himself and for 4A District 6 as the 2012 champion in both shot and disc. His shot throw of 47 feet 5 inches carried through from preliminary throws. Dvornik fouled in all three attempts in the final. While unofficially, at least two of those throws were fifty feet.

Then there's disc. Dvornik admits he prefers the disc to shot.

"I think with shot you eventually hit a plateau and there's only so much you can improve on," said Dvornik. "With disc there's so many things you can do, you can add feet week to week."

Dvornik has done just last through out 2012.

Back in March, at the American Division Meet, he won disc with a 140 foot 9 inch throw. He won shot, too, with a 43 foot 1 inch throw. He threw 152 feet 4.75 inches, a personal record at districts, last Wednesday. It's fair to say he's improving rapidly. However, the field itself will stiffen as he moves up to regionals and then possibly on to states. He'll need to continue on his current arc of improvement.

He feels he has the ability to do just that.

"You know I still haven't had that one great throw yet," said Dvornik. "You know, that throw and it just feels right?"

It makes sense that Dvornik is progressing in this fashion.

First, he comes from good stock. His father, Mark was a state champion thrower.

"I just remember always being around it when I was a kid," said Dvornik.

Second, he didn't throw his junior year because he was ineligible as a recent transfer. He threw 143 feet as a sophomore at Prestonwood High School in Plano, Texas. In 2012, he's almost ten feet better. If he can keep his feet in the ring, and keep improving his disc throws he could make it to state championships in May in both events.

Class 4A regionals are Wednesday, April 25, 2012, at Leto High School.