Schultz the next big thing in Custer throwing

Bobby Smith. Tyger Long. Tyler Custis. Eric Flores. Darin Smith.

If you read through the Custer High School record books for shot put and discus, you will see a who’s who of South Dakota legends, all-time state record holders and multiple state title winners who will forever be revered in the minds of Custer sports fans.

You can add one more name to that list—Tyler Schultz.

Schultz, a junior-to-be at Custer High School, first burst onto the scene his freshman year of high school when he was runner-up in the discus competition at the Class A State Track meet, finishing just behind teammate Darin Smith. This spring he put his foot in the door by winning the state championship in the same event, with his throw of 170-11 being the furthest of any thrower, regardless of class, while also placing second in the shot put.

A couple of weeks ago in California, Schultz kicked the door down.

Schultz, 16, won a pair of national championships in his age group, intermediate boys (15-16), at the U.S.A. Track and Field National Junior Olympics championships July 27 through Aug. 1 in Sacramento, Calif.

Schultz set a personal record in winning the shot put with a throw of 59-0 1/2, and was just under his personal best in discus with a throw of 169-8.

“Iâ��was pretty nervous,” Schultz said of throwing at the meet. “Iâ��went up there and the shot put went well. After that, I wasn’t as nervous.”

Terry Long, who has been instrumental in coaching all of Custer’s recent successful throwers, accompanied Schultz to the meet, and said Schultz met his expectations, although he was surprised he wasn’t able to set a personal record in the discus.

“He pretty much put it out of reach (for the other competitors) in both of the events he threw,”â��Long said.

Long could see the nerves in Schultz, and said the meet record of 180 feet might have been at the back of his mind in the discus, which caused him to press a little in some of his throws.

“He is pretty competitive. Sometimes you start thinking about things other than the technical aspect of the throw,”â��Long said. “The mental aspect of throwing is huge. I would equate throwing to golfing. As soon as you try to hit the ball as hard as you can, you’re in trouble. It’s the same way in throwing. As soon as you try to throw it as hard as you can, you’re in trouble.”

Despite the nerves, Schultz came home with the two championship medals, showing that all the work he has put in over the summer has paid dividends. Schultz has been religiously following a program of throwing and weight lifting designed by Long this summer, and is seeing the benefits.

“He’s been a great help,”â��Schultz said of Long. “He’s always been there and been able to help me. He’s helped tremendously. I wouldn’t be where I was if it weren’t for the good coaching.”

Schultz’s schedule is a rigorous one. He wakes up in the morning and throws every other day, and lifts weights in the evening four times a week. There are some days he takes off, he said, but it’s “not very often.”

After winning the two championships, Schultz traveled to Hawaii for a vacation, before getting back into training this fall.

Schultz transferred to Custer from Edgemont two years ago, wanting to play sports in a Wildcat uniform. Now, more specifically, he is focusing his talents on track and field, as he realizes what he may be able to do in the sport. His ultimate goal is to earn a college scholarship—like those esteemed throwers before him—and maybe even qualify for the Olympic Trials some day.

“Getting to college would be the big thing, getting college paid for,”â��he said. “If it goes well and I progress all the time, hopefully some day the Olympic Trials—but that’s quite a ways away.”

Work ethic is no doubt a part of some day competing for a chance to be in the Olympics. In that aspect, Long said Schultz is already a champion.

“No one around out works him,”â��Long said. “There is no doubt about that. He’s six feet tall and going against kids that are 6-6 and 280 (pounds). They aren’t as technically sound as he is. He works so hard in the weight room. He’s so explosive.”

When it comes to which event he likes the most, Schultz is quick to point out he is more consistant in the discus, but that he has been making great strides in the shot put. The personal record he set in California was two feet better than his previous record.

Despite his prowess in both those events, Long feels Schultz’s future may lie in an implement he has hardly touched to date—the hammer. Long would know; he introduced Flores to the hammer throw when he was in high school, and Flores recently won the NCAAâ��Division IIIâ��national championship in the event, and finished ninth in the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field championships this year.

Former athletes such as Flores keep Schultz motivated. In fact, breaking the all-time state record Flores set in the shot put (67-4) is one of Schultz’s goals before he graduates from Custer High School.

“Eric was a really good thrower,”â��he said. “I’ll work hard, and hopefully I can get it.”

If Schultz were to reach that mark, it wouldn’t surprise Long. Of all the Custer greats he has coached, he said Schultz is on track to be the best to ever throw for the Wildcats—lofty praise from a man who has coached many great throwers.

“He’s ahead of all of them in both events at this age level. He’s right on track, but you never know,”â��Long said. “There’s a long way to go, but if I were a betting man, I’d bet he continues the progress he is making.”