Senior Heroes Willie Hedrick, Pearl High

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


Personal RecordsHigh School
Outdoor
Discus163-4
Discus (1kg)149-7
Long Jump0-4.48
Shot Put44-4
7:20.00
400 Meter Dash58.32
Indoor
Shot Put48-