National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

What do Madison Wiltrout and Bill Schmidt have in common?  They may be, oh, a few decades apart in age and have made their marks during different stages of their career, but they share two very important qualities: An affection and aptitude at throwing javelins very long distances and what Schmidt likes to call that “Western Pennsylvania toughness.”

And Wiltrout is now a part of the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation’s Project Javelin Gold, a program that identifies and helps develop outstanding young talent in track and field’s javelin event, thanks to Schmidt’s initiative.  This past spring, as a Connellsville Area High School freshman, she captured the PIAA Class AAA crown in the jav with a throw of 151-1.  That ranked her #15 in the U.S. and #1 among 9th-graders.

So Wiltrout already has something, then, that Schmidt does not.  For the 1965 Canon-McMillan HS (Canonsburg, PA) grad never won a state title or was highly nationally ranked as a prep.  Schmidt did set a still-standing school record of 204 feet, two inches.  Of course his success came several years later, as he won an Olympic bronze medal in 1972, the last American male to medal at the Games.  The fact that this feat has not been accomplished since (or on the women’s side since Kate Schmidt, no relation, in 1976) is a big part of the reason the NSAF started Project Javelin Gold three years ago.

So what Wiltrout would truly aspire to is what Schmidt does have – that Olympic medal.

“Madison is exactly the type of individual that the NSAF targets to provide additional coaching, funding and competition,” said Schmidt.  “She has exceptional talent and ability, as well as the dedication, discipline and drive to become the greatest female high school javelin thrower in US history.  She’s only a freshman in high school and will have three years of competition to further gain knowledge of the event, get stronger and improve.”

Schmidt was “back home” last month to serve as a Grand Marshall for the 4th of July Parade in Canonsburg – with “The American Dream” as a theme – along with three other grads from his school.  He contacted Connellsville HS athletic director Jim Lembo and then connected with the Wiltrout family -- Madison is the daughter of Tom and Amy Wiltrout -- to discuss the opportunity.  A little later in the month, an official invitation to participate in the program was extended to Madison.

“I am overwhelmed and honored to be part of Project Javelin Gold program,” she said.  “This is a huge opportunity for me to improve and achieve my goals.”

Wiltrout’s beginning in the sport?  “I got started throwing javelin because my pap thought I would be good at it, because I was a baseball pitcher and had a strong arm,” she added.  “I like javelin the most because I like to be challenged and the javelin technique is harder than what it looks.  I've always liked to see how far I can throw things.”

Schmidt noted that “Madison has great athletic talent, ran the 100 meters, 4x100 relay and the hurdles, as well as participating in basketball and as an outfielder on a girls’ softball team.”  Schmidt was like that, too, starring at football and several levels of youth baseball.  He was part of a Pennsylvania All-Star team at the American Legion level and was eventually invited to a Major League Baseball combine with 22 teams represented.

Wiltrout has been under the guidance of a private coach named Mike Coleman.  “He has done an exceptional job in teaching the real basics of throwing the javelin,” said Schmidt.  “He’s been spot-on with the preparation and training of Madison.  He’s extremely knowledgeable and I can see that in Madison’s performances on video.”

Having accepted the offer to participate in Project Javelin Gold, Wiltrout will enjoy the following:

* Three multi-day camps or clinics, which in 2014-15 scheduled for East Stroudsburg, Pa. in mid-October, Baton Rouge, La. in late January-early February, and Chula Vista, Calif. in July (tenative);
* Year-round long-distance instruction and video review;
* The possibility of travel grants for New Balance Nationals Outdoor and other top meets, for those who are ranked highest;
* The annual trip to Finland to train at the IAAF Olympic Training Center in Kourtane, for at least a week and typically with a competition involved.

This Project, initiated by NSAF Executive Director Jim Spier and COO Joy Kamani in 2011, has been developed and led by the great North Carolina-based Coach Jeff Gorski, who has hosted several of the domestic clinics.  Schmidt and Tom Pukstys, the former American record-setter and Olympic finalist, have also coached the athletes, along with Barry Krammes – an East Stroudsburg, PA coach who is an active competitor shooting for the 2016 Olympic team.

Wiltrout will join a group of Project returnees (all rising juniors) that includes four of the top girls in the country: Tairyn Montgomery, Katelyn Gochenour, Sophia Rivera and Emma Fitzgerald have thrown between 151 and 168 feet (and Fitzgerald 168 with the Youth jav).  US#3 Gabby Kearney (166-0) has also trained with the group, which just returned from training in Finland (see below).  With two boys having graduated the program, another Pennsylvanian (Cathedral Prep HS in Erie), Grayson Hill, returns as a rising junior. There are currently two additional openings for the program in 2014-15.

“My goals in javelin this coming year is to win my high school WPIAL championship and state championship again,” said Wiltrout.  “I also want to break the PA state record and improve my distance by 20 feet.”

Schmidt encouraged her to set her sights even higher, for the future: “Her goals should be to set the girls’ national high school javelin record and long term, make the USA Olympic Team.”

It’s understandable that Schmidt’s optimism for Wiltrout is high; not only does she have great talent and potential, but as he says, “Western PA kids are known for their work ethic, discipline and drive.  They get that from their parents and the ‘toughness’ associated with being from western PA.”  He also notes that Coleman is a coal miner, like Schmidt’s father.

Wiltrout is very grateful for the opportunities she’s had and will have in the near future.  “I would like to thank the NSAF for this opportunity,” she said.  “I would also like to thank my high school track and field coaches for their encouragement and support, my family for always being there for me, and especially my brother Matt for retrieving my javs in practice! 

“There’s also my friends, who always cheer me on.  And I also want to thank my personal javelin coach, Mike Coleman, for teaching me the importance of the basics and for pushing me to be better.  But most importantly, I would like to thank God for all he does for me.”