Combined Shots ThrowDown
John Surdej - Lancaster
The Combined Shots ThrowDown had a clear favorite since John Surdej was the state champion indoors and outdoors. His 57-7 throw indoors for 976 points gave him a 29 point advantage over Anthony Ray and 39 points over Mark Przybocki. But would that be enough for Surdej to hold off the challengers knowing that none of the three had their best throw outdoors at States?
Anthony Ray - Batavia
Surdej was up to the challenge even in the face of stiffer competition during the spring. He was the only guy to go past the 60 mark with a toss of 61-0.5 at the ECIC championship for 1013 points and an CSTD total of 1989. Anthony Ray threw more than 2 feet further outdoors for at 59-9.5 for 989 points and a silver ring total of 1936. Mark Przybocki had the NY #5 best shot put outdoors at 57-3, but that still gave him 941 points and the bronze ring comfortably at 1878.
Mark Przybocki - Burke Catholic
Michael Gabriel had already won the ITD contest, and he was also high up in the CSTD with an NY #7 best shot put outdoors for a total of 1794 for 4th place. Sidney's Edward Rajner had the NY #6 best throw outdoors to close the gap a bit on Gabriel for for 5th place at 1785. Two guys tied for the 6th spot at 1755, and there is a great story there. Andy Pietrantoni was at NY #6 and NY #10 outdoors with almost identical tosses of 53-10.5 and 53-10.75. St. Joseph Collegiate' junior Tyler Doty took a far different route to 6th place with only an NY #24 throw of 48-9 indoors, but he went more than 10 feet further to an NY #3 mark of 59-0 outdoors to climb back up to the tie for 6th.
Edward Rajner - Sidney
Fourteen of the CSTD contestants had their best throws outdoors, but in two cases the difference was only 1 point. The competition was missing the NY #4 best outdoor guy Jake McPherson of Rush-Henrietta who did not have an indoor season.
Tyler Doty - St. Joseph Collegiate