Prepping for college

Scott City track standout Loren Groves is ready to put her storied high school career behind her and start a new chapter in her track and field career.

Groves, a 15-time all-state performer with two state discus titles and a state record, will soon be in Manhattan, Kan., preparing for her first classes at Kansas State and adapting to life as a collegiate athlete.

"I'm very excited," Groves said of heading off to college. "As soon as I get there I'll get on a very tough weight-training program."

A hurdler and thrower at Scott City, Groves will abandon the hurdles to concentrate on the weight events at KSU. Groves was already adding muscle to her frame as her senior year wound down, and she'll likely be expected to add more strength as she goes on a regular weight-training program for the first time.

"That's going to be an adjustment, but it's going to help me," she said.

The adjustment process will go beyond the weight room, as Groves shares practice time with a group of throwers after years of solitude as the only thrower at a small high school. Groves will be one of 12 women's throwers at KSU. The Wildcats sport a young group, with one junior-college transfer the elder statesmen in a group consisting of all sophomores and freshmen.

"I have someone to throw with finally. I'm excited about that," Groves said.

Groves also will have a coach for her specialty. While Groves did extremely well with her father as her only coach, KSU throwing coach Steve Fritz's track and field background includes a fourth-place finish at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

"Coach Fritz really believes in me, which I really like," Groves said.

While Groves' technique often was better than her high school opponents, Groves' only teaching tools up to this point have been videos.

Fritz said Groves has the speed, athletic ability and body type to be a very successful collegiate thrower.

"There's just so much potential there. Those are the things you look for," he said.

Groves was busy this summer getting ready for the upcoming year with various competitions and training. Groves' summer was highlighted by a recent trip to San Diego for the elite junior throwers development camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Groves was one of a select few invited.

"I met six Olympians while I was there. It was awesome," Groves said. "Everyone was really nice. It was incredible how focused they were."

While at the Olympic Training Center, Groves received instruction from several world-class throwers. Also, Groves got to watch tape of herself throwing, a first for her.

Groves said seeing herself on film helped her see aspects of her technique she can improve.

"It really helped me see what I was doing," she said.

Groves' trip came on the heels of several strong performances at summer competitions. Groves won the discus and hammer throw at the USATF regional. Her throw of 142-6 in her first hammer throw competition ranked her 19th nationally in the event. Groves won the discus and hammer throw by wide margins at the Show-Me State Games, putting up a hammer throw of 147-9 1/2 (11th nationally) in only her second competition in that event.

Fritz said he expects Groves to excel right away with the hammer.

KSU will kick off its indoor season Dec. 10 with the Carol Robinson Winter Pentathlon and Dec. 11 with the KSU All-Comers meet. How fast Groves can acclimate herself to indoor track -- her only experience was in running events for a club team prior to entering high school -- will determine whether she competes or is redshirted for the indoor season.

"If she's not ready to go indoors, we'll have her sit," Fritz said.

Whether she competes indoors or not, Groves will likely be a big part of KSU's outdoor team.

KSU will host the Big 12 outdoor championship, and within her conference Groves has the defending outdoor national discus champion in Becky Breisch of Nebraska.

"She'll handle the leve@Contact note:l of competition real well, I think," Fritz said.