SPFHS Thrower Places Fourth at Meet of Champions

Scotch Plains-Fanwood senior Frank Mellana doesn't mince words when it comes to what the javelin means to him.

"It changed my life,'' said Mellana, who finished fourth Thursday in the event at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's Meet of Champions. "It totally re-directed my path. Without it I wouldn't be going to school. I'm happy to have it.''

Mellana threw 188 feet, nine inches for fourth.

"For a kid that was throwing in the 160s last year, he did a heckuva job this year,'' said Raiders coach Jeff Koegel. "He's been a little flat the last two meets, but to go from a kid who didn't even throw his freshman year and to come out and being average and being above average last year. He didn't even make the sectionals last year.

"For a guy like him not built like a javelin thrower, he just found something he had a passion for," Koegel added. "The growth he has shown not only as a javelin thrower, but he has changed a lot as a person. He volunteers on the rescue squad. I can't say enough about him. How many schools are there in New Jersey – 300 something – and you finish fourth out all the javelin throwers? Not bad. Not bad at all.''

Mellana finished second in the state Group IV meet last week after winning the North 2 Group III meet the week before. He had a tough time in the group meet since he was coming off Scotch Plains-Fanwood's prom the night before.

"It feels pretty good. I just wish I could have beaten my personal best, but you can't win them all,'' said Mellana. "My legs have been kind of sore, but there's no excuses."

Mellana said he will attend Union County College next year, then go on to Ramapo University where he hopes to continue to throw. He will continue to train and lift weights during the summer.

"I wasn't, like, the best of students. I didn't really pay attention and really follow the rules, but as soon as I picked up the javelin it changed my mindset and put me on the right path,'' Mellana said. 

Senior Kim Wenson placed 13^th in the javelin with a 124-foot toss.