South's Winder out to continue hot run

By JAKE FELIX , jfelix@sungazette.com
While South Williamsport coach Dave Wonderlich searched for Ariana Winder through the shot put crowd at last Saturday’s Susquehanna Valley Conference meet in Shikellamy, the veteran coach had trouble spotting his junior athlete. But there she sat stretched across the grass near her boyfriend and father – just relaxing.

It was a side of Winder that Wonderlich has been waiting to see – especially in the circle, cage or on the runway.

“My coach makes me take a breath before each throw and clear my mind because I get really excited,” said Winder, shortly after winning the discus on Saturday. “I take two seconds to clear my head because I get so nervous. I do a checklist of everything that I need to do. I watch my focal point, hit the back of the circle, hit my block and then stop thinking completely and just throw.”

The St. John Neumann student, who competes with South Williamsport during the track season, found that peace on Saturday when she threw 106-9 to win the discus despite entering the meet as a ninth seed. She will need to find that peace again today against bigger stakes. A bad day at the District 4 Class AA Championships in Athens could lead to a long summer of what-ifs.

Teammates will offer some comfort this weekend. Winder, who added a second throw more than 100 feet last week after not reaching the distance prior to the league meet, is just one of three South Williamsport girl throwers and 11 total Mounties with sights set on the PIAA Championship next weekend at Shippensburg University. Athletes can qualify with a top two finish in their event or a top eight finish while reaching the state qualifying standard.

Joining Winder will be her younger sister, Kristiana, a sophomore, and Jessica Hohman, a junior. Earlier this season, Kristiana won the javelin at an invitational at Lock Haven University, while Hohman was listed as the top seed in the discus at last week’s league meet.

“It would be amazing for all three of us to get to states,” said Winder, who added a seventh-place finish in the shot at the league meet. “I keep pushing Kristiana because I want her to get states so bad and I just want us to go to states together.”

Amazing, yes. Far-fetched, not really.

The state qualifying standard for the javelin is 121 feet. Kristiana already has thrown 120. The discus mark is 115 feet. Hohman, who has a niece on the team and transferred to South from Williamsport, is less than five feet shy of that and Ariana is less than nine feet short.

All three are included in the Sun-Gazette’s area best. Hohman owns the top throw in the discus, Ariana Winder is second in the discus and third in the shot and Kristiana is second in the javelin. That versatility allows the group to share their specialty with each other and make the trio more formidable in all the throwing events.

“It’s nice to have one good person in each event and it’s a blessing to be on the South Williamsport team,” said Ariana, who can also watch Mark Smithgall (seeded fourth in the javelin) and talented freshman Beau Gair (17th in javelin) throw in practice. “We are kind of like a family.”

That sense of family allows the trio to be secure. Feelings aren’t hurt when one points out a place where another can improve. Critiques are looked upon as something as value, not an irritation. The group spent a day critiquing each other on Wednesday. Each girl took six throws in each event and analyzed them in coach Wonderlich’s classroom.

“It’s spectacular how they get along,” said Wonderlich. “I can’t stress enough the camaraderie between the girls. The girls are always rooting for each other and pushing each other up.”

Maybe today a few will need a push up onto the podium.