The conditions weren’t ideal, but Nick Scarvelis wasn’t going to be derailed in his quest to win a state title in the shot put.
The recent Dos Pueblos graduate won the gold medal on a cool, rainy Saturday at the CIF Track and Field State Championships at Buchanan High’s Veteran’s Stadium in Clovis. He threw 64 feet to become DP’s first state champion and the Santa Barbara area’s first state winner since Carpinteria’s Noah Bryant won the shot put in 2002.
“For my coaches and my family, this is something we’ve worked for for the last four years,” Scarvelis told ESPN-RISE after the win.
On the track, the San Marcos girls 4×400 relay team ended a fantastic season by posting its fastest time and earning a bronze medal. The Royals team of Kaylin Koopmans, Hannah McDaniel, Marie Brashears and Elysia Hodges clocked 3:46.89, besting their previous best of 3:47.2
“For them to run a PR at the end is so exciting,” said an emotional San Marcos coach Marilyn Hantgin. “It’s one of the exceptional things that happened.”
The Royals finished behind Serra (3:43.21) and Long Beach Poly (3:44.00).
“It’s really cool, the whole experience,” Hantgin said. “I wanted them to end on a happy note. It’s so great. They couldn’t run any better. To finish third in the state is great.”
The UCLA-bound Scarvelis threw his winning mark on his first attempt. He followed with throws of 59-4.50, 61-0.5, 61-1.25, 60-2 and 62-1.50.
“I felt great. I’ve been throwing really well in practice the last two weeks,” he said. “As a glider, it’s nice to have that consistency and line up and bring it through every time. I was definitely counting on putting on a good performance.”
Was he nervous going into the final?
“Of course, it’s the state finals and my senior year,” Scarvelis said. “You want to make sure you go out with a bang. There were nerves, but my performances throughout the season, my performance in prelims and yesterday, I felt ready to throw big.”
Jake Fraser of El Toro finished second at 61-3 and Garrett Weinreich of Arroyo Grande was third at 59-5.50.
Scarvelis earlier in the meet finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 171-7.
Top-seeded Ethan Cochran of Newport Harbor won with a mark of 185-9.
In a wide-open girls high jump, Hannah McDaniel of San Marcos finished in a three-way tie for third place at 5-4. McDaniel, Joslyn Barnes of North Torrance and Asia Chesley of Stockdale all cleared the height on their first jump and earned medals.
Rachel McCoy of A.B. Miller took first place at 5-8 and Tess Rountree of Paso Robles was second at 5-6.
The jumpers had to deal with slippery conditions caused by the rain.
Connor Reck of Santa Ynez finished eighth in the 800 meters in 1:54.56. Top-seeded Immanuel Hutchinson of San Jacinto won in 1:49.63.
Congratulations to Nick Scarvelis. May he lend an example to us all that hard work really does make a difference!!! It was a joy to follow his high school career. He always carried himself with respect and dignity. He was a great mentor to the underclassmen as well. Good luck at UCLA.
Great job and congrats on your state title young man.!!!!
Another athletic achievement for the Dos Pueblos Chargers!!!!!
GO CHARGERS!!!!GO UCLA BRUINS!!!