Willie Hedrick had a great start to the season with a throw of 163'4". If he had a chance to finish the season he might have challenged the State Best and the State Meet Overall record. I hope a college coach is looking at this you need to recruit this young man.
Name: Willie Hedrick
School: Pearl High School
Q: What does your training look like right now given the current situation?
A: Right now I'm doing some at-home calisthenics and refining my form in my front yard. Getting ready for the 2k in college.
Q: What are you doing to stay busy other than throwing right now?
A: I'm studying for my AP exams, playing video games, learning a little about programming, and looking at old Olympic throwing videos.
Q: What was your most memorable race/moment?
A: My freshman year throwing 149ft with the 1kg. That was the first time I had proved to myself that I could actually throw kinda far.
Q: What was the funniest thing that happened during your throwing career?
A: During practice, I was explaining how I had better grip for throwing in a wet ring in normal shoes. After my big brain explanation I went to throw and went sliding across the circle and landed on my butt.
Q: Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
A: Honestly it changed throughout the years but for the majority it was my fellow pirate Connor White. He's the main reason I started throwing in the first place. I wanted to hang out with my friend, and he ended up being my rival for most of my high school throwing journey.
Q: What was your greatest accomplishment?
A: I think my greatest accomplishment was showing myself that I have what it takes to be competitive as a thrower.
Q: If you could do it all over again what would you change about your throwing career in high school?
A: I would make sure I did both discus and shot freshman year.
Q: What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
A: Understanding what truly makes a good thrower and how it's a mixture of strength, technique, and determination.
Q: What will you miss the most?
A: I'm gonna miss my coaches; those guys are some of the most supportive people in my life.
Q: What advice would you give to younger athletes?
A: Try out for as many sports as you can. Just because you're pretty bad now doesn't mean you can't improve.
Q: What kind of an impact has your coach had on you and your team?
A: My coaches helped me understand how to work hard and use my failures as fuel to try even harder.
Q: What are your college plans?
A: I plan to Major in Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State and continue throwing.
Q: Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
A: Thank you mom, Coach Trig, Coach Barnett, and Coach Kersh.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
A: Really had some massive throws planned this year, but now I have some bigger ones planned for college.
Q: Favorite Meal?
A: A large bowl of Orange Chicken from Wok To Go.
Q: If you could be any animal what would you choose? and why?
A: I don't know. I like being a human; that technically counts as an animal.
Q: Your favorite superhero?
A: Goku from Dragon Ball Z
High School
| Outdoor | |
| Discus | 163-4 |
| Discus (1kg) | 149-7 |
| Long Jump | 0-4.48 |
| Shot Put | 44-4 |
| 7:20.00 | |
| 400 Meter Dash | 58.32 |
| Indoor | |
| Shot Put | 48- |