National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Photos of Coach Gorski (above, loading javs into his Dodge Caravan) and Elaine Gorski (below right, on another road trip), courtesy of Coach Gorski. Head shots of Project athletes from NSAF interviews.

The nation- and globe-trotting members of the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation’s Project Javelin are supported by a cadre of outstanding coaches – from 1991 World Champion Kimmo Kinnunen of Finland and 3-time U.S. Olympian Tom Pukstys to Pennsylvania’s Barry Krammes – still an active competitor in his 30s shooting for the 2016 Olympic team.

Then there’s another coach, actually the one whom the NSAF’s Jim Spier and Joy Kamani turned to in starting the Project more than three years ago.  He’s in touch with the kids year-round – via extensive emails, Facebook posts, texts and phone calls – but his face-time with them is structured by some special circumstances.  Jetting between Albuquerque, Chula Vista, Chicago, Eugene and Kuortane (Project meet and training venues) hasn’t been in the plan for him.  Making a 1,000-mile Dodge Caravan road trip (both ways) this weekend from his “Field of Dreams” in Chapel Hill to the newest NSAF Project Jav venue at the base of the Poconos in Pennsylvania … that, however, is on the docket. 

So, welcome back to the gang, Coach Jeff Gorski – live and in person once again.  “I look forward to these gatherings like an 8-year-old waiting for Christmas morning!” he cracks.

This particular gathering is special – well, all of the clinics are special, but for the first time, the jav clinic is moving from its home base in North Carolina to a new spot.  Given Pennsylvania’s rep as a javelin hotbed, and the fact that Coach Krammes coaches high school and trains in East Stroudsburg, PA, the NSAF decided to bring the clinic there – where it will take place at East Stroudsburg State U. this Thursday through Saturday (registration is still open). 

Five of the Project Javelin athletes return for 2014-15: Tairyn Montgomery, Katelyn Gochenour, Emma Fitzgerald, Sophia Rivera and Grayson Hill.  The Project is expecting numerous other throwers (perhaps 40 or more) to participate this weekend from around Pennsylvania and other states – some first-timers and others who have perhaps trained in Chapel Hill before – and it’s possible up to three more athletes could be invited this weekend to become year-round Project athletes.

But more on the kids below:  So, you may wonder, what’s the deal with Coach Gorski and traveling?

Well, Coach is as passionate about the javelin as they come.  But that passion is perhaps surpassed by his devotion as a husband.  He and his wife, Elaine, met at Chapel Hill while Jeff was still competing and they’ve been married more than 35 years.  He started coaching after those competitive days.  But in 2003, a car accident – caused by a defect in their vehicle – left Elaine a quadriplegic (she’s since regained some upper limb use).  Jeff, as it has been well-noted in this story, was ready to “chuck it” as a coach (at least in terms of traveling), wanting to make sure he could care for his wife.  But Elaine would have nothing to do with any “chucking” … unless it was chucking javelins by the throwers her husband would continue to coach.  What followed was the “Field of Dreams” at the Gorski home … and the decision and ability to make some select road trips.

“Travel with her is tough at times,” Coach says, “She can only handle limited time in her wheelchair and bumping around on these horrid roads is quite painful for her.  But she's an amazing woman who lives up to an expression my oldest brother said: ‘Tough as a railroad spike, soft as a flower.’”

Elaine wouldn’t have it any other way (than continuing on their chosen path), Jeff adds.  “She knows how much this means to me, as well as to all the others involved in this program.  She's made great friends in the throwing world: the names of some of the folks who have visited or stayed with us over the years would fill out a pretty great list of history's top throwers and she just loves seeing our throwing friends … We've been dealing with this situation for over 11 years now, so we have a pretty good routine and have dealt with most of the hiccups that might crop up- we're pretty damn lucky to have found each other.”

Jeff recalls the days when he was still competing and he and Elaine would “load up our 1977 Honda Civic (try fitting javelins into that!) and bump around the eastern U.S. going to meets and making mini-vacations out of those trips.”  She made great sacrifices for him to grow into a decent coach, he says, “keeping a ‘real’ job while I was a part time college coach; keeping up the home and kids while I traveled with my athletes or ran clinics.  She is the reason I’m anything in the coaching world – and she still works with me to allow me to do things like this camp. She’s been the co-pilot for all these drives … and helped me with running any of the clinics or camps I've done in Chapel Hill … There is really no option for me to leave her in Chapel Hill, and if she was unable to travel with me, I’d not be here now.”

The above-mentioned Dodge Caravan is a special one: It has been modified to allow wheelchair access: Lower floor to allow head clearance for the person sitting in chair, a folding ramp to get chair in and out of van. plus anchoring straps to hold wheelchair in place during driving.  Stops, starts and turns can tip the chair over, Jeff says, if it’s not secured to the van floor.

The Gorskis arrived in PA earlier this week and Jeff can’t wait to work with the kids in person again.  “Nothing beats seeing the light go off in their eyes when things click, or the joy of ‘fixing’ a technical problem and seeing the javelin fly far and pretty.  Plus, we javelin throwers are a nice, weird, oddball lot and I get huge satisfaction and enjoyment in ‘corrupting’ another generation of young men and women by addicting them to throwing javelins!!  I’m kinda like that strange uncle at the family reunion that the adults look at un-approvingly but the kids flock to because he’s fun to be around and treats them as equals.”

Here’s guessing Elaine – and all of the other throwers and coaches in PA this weekend – would agree!

Five juniors begin a new campaign

And yes, back to those throwers.  Three have moved on to the collegiate ranks from the pretty darn successful 2013-14 group and five return – all of whom happen to be juniors as the 2015 season looms.  The past 12 months were pretty amazing for the Project athletes.  As a soph, Tairyn Montgomery won NBNO, Chicagoland and defended her USATF JO(15-16 title) with the nation’s #1 throw.  Katelyn Gochenour, also a soph, placed 2nd or 3rd in most of those meets, was US#2 at 167-0, and won the Vaasa meet during the Finland trip.  Sophia Rivera, who joined the program mid-year, improved 40 feet to 157-0 (5th at USA Juniors) and is on her way to becoming one of the best all-around multi-implement throwers in prep history.  And all that’s just part of the story, as the group trained in Chapel Hill, Chula Vista and Finland, and competed in Florida, Albuquerque, Chicago, Greensboro, Eugene and more.

A breakdown of the returnees:

Tairyn Montgomery, Redondo Union, CA

Starting 2nd year in Project … didn’t get to throw the jav during the state season in Cali, but a hugely successful soph campaign caught fire when she won New Balance Nationals Outdoor (NBNO) meet in June with a PR 157-9 … then in early July, she went over 160 for the first time in winning the Chicagoland Throws at 163-0, which at the time was US#3 … exploded again to a 168-1 in late July, taking the national lead and defending her USATF JO age 15-16 title, making her the #7 thrower in prep history … finished with a runner-up 147-0 in the Vaasa, Finland meet … back in April, she placed 6th in Youth Olympic Trials … as a frosh in 2013, she threw a US#8 155-9, with her first USATF JO title being the highlight.

Kaitlyn Gochenour, Marian Catholic, NE

Starting 3rd year in the Project … finished her 2014 campaign on a high note, winning the Vaasa, Finland meet with a 156-7 … started the year with a 167-0 at the Emporia State Open in March to take the early national lead, which she held until late July (ended US#2) … in June had runner-up finishes at Great Southwest with 142-4 in poor wind conditions, then at NBNO with 154-11 behind Tairyn … struggled somewhat at USATF Youth and Junior meets after that, but then got back in track somewhat with 156-0 at Chicagoland for 3rd and 155-1 at USATF JOs for 2nd … wound up with five meets at 154 or better … as a frosh in 2013, she hit US#7 156-8, #2 among non-seniors and #1 for all 9th-graders … won two different divisions at the Pihtipudas Javelin Carnival in Finland that summer to earn MVP honors.

Sophia Rivera, Brentwood, MO

Starting first full year in the Project after being invited to join after attending the two fall/winter 2013 clinics, showing potential to improve from 117 ft. to the 140s … after a season of ups and downs, had her best performance of the year at USATF Juniors, throwing US#7 157-0 for 4th … that beat her 147-0 PR from Kansas Relays in April, where she was 2nd … won USATF Youth Nationals age 15-16 title in June with a 148-0 … other major meet places include 1st at AAU Club Nationals, 7th at GSW, 8th at YOT, 9th at NBNO, 3rd at Vaasa … also an all-around thrower who had some monster performances in taking the Great Southwest discus at 142-8 and finishing 3rd in the NBNO shot at 46-6.25 … improved shot PR to 47-2.5 at Juniors, taking 5th.

Emma Fitzgerald, Thayer Academy, MA

Starting 2nd year in the Project … started 2014 season strong at the Youth Olympic Trials as she won with a 168-2 with the lighter Youth javelin, eventually earning a spot on the Americas Area Team for the 2nd Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China … at the Trials, however, she was injured and subsequently missed the rest of April and May, including her state season in Massachusetts … came back for NBNO to take 4th with 149-1 … followed up with HS jav PR 151-2 at Chicagoland Throws … took 4th in Vaasa, then in China she threw 153-0 in the prelims to make the ‘B’ final, then 142-6 for 5th a few days later … in 2013 as a frosh, she threw 149-5 for US#3 among freshmen and won the World Youth Trials, throwing 167-10 with the youth jav (was not named to team, however) … a great all-around athlete, she won the USATF Junior Olympic heptathlon(15-16) with 4,698 points.

Grayson Hill, North East, PA

Like Rivera, starting first full year in the Project after being invited to join after attending  the winter 2013 clinic … improved his PR 17 feet in 2014, hitting a school record 178-7 at his District 10 meet, then was 11th at AA state … placed 7th at Great Southwest at 170-7 … after a sub-par NBNO Emerging Elite performance, he had one of the best camps of anyone at Chula Vista, throwing over 180 feet … finished with 168-10 for 11th at Vaasa.

Along with Coach Gorski, the staff at East Stroudsburg this weekend will include the aforementioned Coach Putskys, Coach Kinnunen (from Finland!) and Coach Krammes, as well as a few noted guest coaches: Scott Krall and David Sanfilippo. 

Finally, we say goodbye and good luck to our graduating seniors:

Kristen Clark, Ruston, LA (now at Texas A&M)

Completed two years in the Project … had a monster start to 2014 with a breakthrough 148-2 throw at the Neville (La.) Van Leigh Relays in mid-March, right at the top of the national list at that point … scored major invitational victories at the Sugar Bowl (146-1) and Mobile Challenge of Champions (141-4) meets … was runner-up in her 5A state meet, 6th at Great Southwest, 7th at NBNO, 6th at Vaasa … had PR of 139-5 in 2013 (5th at NBNO).

Todd Ogden, Glacier MT (now at Montana State)

Completed two years in the Project … had a nice finish to his prep career at Vaasa when he hit 206-1 for 7th in a mixed senior/junior competition … cracked his 2013 PR when he hit a big 215-5 best at his 2A Western Divisional meet in Montana, which still held up as US#6 … went on to take his 2A state title with 210-10 … was 6th at NBNO and 5th at Chicagoland before his strong finish in Finland … had a 2013 best of US#4 211-11 at the Pihtipudas Javelin Carnival.

Trevor Danielson, Newberg, OR (now at Stanford)

Completed two years in the Project … back injuries and other issues plagued much of his spring season, but set a seasonal best 198-6 for 3rd at Chicagoland … finished with 190-9 at Vaasa for 9th (mixed senior/junior meet) … had three other meets over 190, including 196-0 at Willamette Falls Invite … took 9th at NBNO ... had US#8 PR of 206-0 in 2013.