Moose throwers have shot at title

Just as the Palmer High School football team has a long tradition of producing crops of the area's top linemen, the Moose track and field squad have generated some of the top throwers of the region.

The success in the two sports coincide for Palmer. Many of the throwers who have found success on the Palmer track and field team are also notables on the Moose football roster.

Annually the Moose have at least one talent who vies for the state championship in either the shot put or the discus.

"We get a lot of good recruits from football," Palmer shot put and discus coach Dale Ewart said.

This year is no different. The Moose have a pair of throwers who are expected to be among the state's best.

Junior Aumavae and Nick Pilch, also starting linemen on the Moose varsity squad, are the next in a long line of dominant Palmer throwers.

"I think Junior is capable of being in the top three or four in the state," Ewart said.

Aumavae won the Wasilla Invitational with a throw of just less than 43 feet.

As of last week, Aumavae had the fourth-best throw in the state with a toss of 44 feet.

Pilch finished second in the Wasilla Invite with a throw of 41-feet 8-inches.

Ewart noted that Aumavae and Pilch each have the potential of hitting 50 feet.

"That is the goal," Ewart said.

Last season Palmer senior Zack Pettit placed second in the state with a throw of 52.5 feet.

"He was right around 50 feet all year," Ewart said.

Pettit also won the state discus title and was the Region III king in both the discus and shot put last season.

Ewart said the progress of Aumavae and Pilch is comparable to Pettit.

He added that each has been gaining distance steadily, and in just their junior year, each has the opportunity to improve drastically by the end of their senior campaign.

Ewart also noted the progress of a third Palmer thrower, Justin McCain.

McCain finished second in the discus in the Wasilla Invitational with a throw of 122 feet.

"He is really starting to come around," Ewart said.

Ewart noted that the competition in the discus could be down in the state.

"We should have three guys in the 120-130 range," Ewart said. "One-forty might place."