PENNSAUKEN -- Despite being the reigning NJSIAA Meet of Champions winner in the shot put, it was hardly a foregone conclusion that St. Rose High School senior Josh Huisman would retain his spot at the top at the 2024 season finale on Wednesday.
"Shot was definitely a competition to remember," said Huisman. "That was by far one of the hardest (competitions), most stressful I've been in."
Huisman faced stiff competition from the emergence of Bergen Catholic junior Benjamin Shue, who hit an impressive mark of 69 foot, 2 inches to win the Non-Public A state title on Saturday while Huisman cruised to victory in the Non-Public B state title with a mark of 64-9.25.
"Coming into this meet, I knew it was gonna be an entertaining competition," Huisman said. "Last week, (Ben) threw 69 feet. That's awesome, and that pushes me to be in the right mindset. And now I think I came prepared. That was a competition to remember."
The differential was daunting, but Huisman prevailed in an incredible battle of titans. He had a strong first attempt, hitting a mark of 64-11.5. Shue surpassed that mark on his third attempt with a throw of 65-0.11.
"It was crazy to go back and forth like that," said Huisman. "Ben is a great thrower. I know he was gonna come in looking for something great. So I think that pushes both of us."
Shue could've sealed the victory as one of his throws to some observers reached his previous PR of over 69 feet, but he fouled. Huisman seized on the opportunity in his fifth throw with a winning mark of 67-3.75 to win his second consecutive state title.
"It's pretty awesome," said Huisman. "I still got my school record to beat, I don't know if I'll get it. To come into St. Rose and be a part of such a great history of throwers, it's awesome. Just glad I could keep up that tradition of having great throwers."
The senior will have one more shot at the aforementioned school record of 68 feet, which also is the Shore Conference record (set by Luke Grodeska in 2016). Huisman will compete this weekend at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
Huisman also competed in the discus throw on Wednesday, taking fourth place with a mark of 172-9. He admitted he was a bit fatigued after the shot put and considered sitting out the event, but ultimately decided to give it a go.
"It was a last-minute thing," Huisman said. "I was like, yeah I'm gonna give it a shot. What do I got to lose? Yeah, it was fun."
Huisman will continue his track career collegiately in the Big Ten with Michigan, and although he has reached rarified territory in his high school career, he leaves St. Rose in good hands as the program has a stable of elite throwers ready to take the reigns. Junior Joe Seib took fifth in the shot put with a throw of 58-4.5 Wednesday, and fellow junior John LaTesta took fourth in the Non-Public B state final.
"We have a small school and the fact that two kids can go in the top six in the state of New Jersey - I mean that's awesome," said Huisman. "Our continuous support from the St. Rose community has just been amazing. So a lot of people to thank, but I think it's awesome that we could have pretty good throwers at St. Rose."
Girls track:Zawatski, Shay close careers with Meet of Champions victories
Falkowski 2ndin epic boys 800 finish
Jack Falkowski's epic spring season came within a whisker of the ultimate prize.
The Christian Brothers senior challenged for the gold medal in the boys 800 and after a blistering kick came up agonizingly short. He crossed the line second in 1:51.65, just two-hundreths of a second shy of Passaic Tech senior Raynier Galvez (1:51.63).
“In the last 100 all of us had so much left, it was a battle to the end,” Falkowski said. “I came up a little short at the end, but I’m proud of my effort, I gave it all I had through the line.”
He wound up running negative splits, 56-55, and leaned so hard at the tape that he tumbled to the track.
“I tried to lean as much as possible and ended up falling, but anything I could do to try to squeak out the win,” he said. “It just wasn’t enough today.”
He did lower his CBA program record in the event by nearly a second and ends his career with the Shore Conference meet record in the two-lapper as well.
“I came into the season not expecting this, and found my place in the 800," Falkowski said. "Super proud of my season and super proud to represent CBA at the highest level."
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Other notable boys performances
Donovan Catholic junior Michael Thomas, who recently committed to Rutgers for football, placed third in the 100 dash in 10.70.
A blistering 1600 ended with Colts Neck junior Hunter Celkupa and Wall senior Matthew Remishofski placing third and fourth, respectively, in 4:08.92 and 4:09.14.
Red Bank senior Lawrence Hicks tied for third in the high jump at 6-6.
Manalapan senior Stephen Kyvelos placed third in the 3200 in 9:08.04.
