Casey Helm is an elite highschool observe and box performer
Madison Top College (KS) observe and box athlete Casey Helm has crafted an outstanding checklist of accomplishments all the way through his tenure with the Bulldogs, with the achievements together with a 4.0 grade level reasonable; back-to-back Kansas Top College Actions Affiliation Boys Elegance 1A shot put and discus championships; and organising a brand new boys highschool state file within the discus tournament.
However that’s not how the Princeton College-bound senior, who will likely be known all the way through the United States TODAY Top College Sports activities Awards nationwide display broadcast premiering on July 31, 2022, needs to be remembered.
“I would love my legacy to be no longer essentially the accomplishments of sports activities, however the teammate, pal and individual I used to be at the box and within the faculty,” he mentioned. “You by no means know what somebody goes via, so I consider it is extra essential to turn them that you’re there for them.”
Madison Top College Observe and Box Head Trainer Alex McMillian mentioned the mindset serves as a first-rate instance of what makes Helm the individual he’s.
“He is simply a type of youngsters that is going to be great to every other child, it doesn’t matter what the location is,” McMillian, who additionally serves as the college’s head soccer trainer, mentioned. “He simply needs to make pals with as many of us as he can and determine a favorable courting with the ones folks. That transform contagious. If in case you have an entire faculty of folks with that manner, it makes my activity as a trainer so much more straightforward.”
Helm’s grandfather, Fred McClain, a member of the Madison Top College observe and box crew training group of workers, presented the 2021-2022 Gatorade Kansas Boys Observe and Box Athlete of the 12 months Award recipient to the game when Helm used to be in fundamental faculty.
“My grandpa used to be a observe and box trainer for a few years and at some point when I used to be within the fourth or 5th grade, he introduced house a ladies disc from observe apply, and he instructed me to peer if I may just throw it over our fence in our backyard,” Helm recalled. “I practiced for a few weeks, simply figuring it out on my own, and after I in spite of everything were given it over the fence, I noticed it used to be lovely amusing throwing the discus.”
Helm mentioned because of McClain, as soon as he reached junior highschool, he used to be extra skilled than many of the different student-athletes after an additional 12 months and a part to 2 years.
“And I simply fell in love with the game,” Helm mentioned. “He is the person who were given me began in observe and box. I owe my luck to him for purchasing me began at a tender age. He used to be my trainer during the best way.”
The Bulldogs have claimed consecutive Boys Elegance 1A state runners-up finishes and McMillian recommended the crew for purchasing into the device.
“Our youngsters have purchased into the weights program, particularly youngsters like Casey that walked into my weight room as a 6th or 7th grader as just a bit man and by the point he used to be a junior and senior, used to be one of the crucial most powerful guys within the state of Kansas,” McMillian mentioned. “Having a a hit program makes my activity more straightforward, as a result of I have were given one of the vital perfect assistant coaches within the state of Kansas. The youngsters are fascinated with observe and box season and it unquestionably presentations once we’re profitable league championships and competing for state championships.”
All over his senior 12 months Helm eclipsed the 200-feet plateau within the discus for the primary time all the way through the Eureka Invitational, however there used to be extra to come back because the Bulldogs hosted the Madison Invitational a few weeks later.
“I threw an out of doors PR (private file) within the shot put, breaking 60 ft for the primary time open air,” Helm mentioned. “I transferred over to the discus and threw a brand new PR of 214 ft, 1-inch, which set the all time state file within the discus. It used to be in reality an on cloud 9 form of second that day, as a result of I PR’d in either one of my occasions.”
Helm shattered the former all-time state file discus throw of 213-6 established by means of Shawnee Challenge South’s Clint Johnson in 1980.
“Breaking that all-time state file within the discus held by means of Clint Johnson used to be one thing I may just best dream of when I used to be a bit child,” Helm mentioned. “Clint Johnson is a legend in Kansas and breaking that file used to be so particular.”
As a stellar performer at the gridiron in addition to the throwing circle, Helm stated you decide relating to whether or not to pursue soccer or observe and box on the subsequent degree could be tricky.
“Just about rising up during my adolescence, I assumed that I sought after to play faculty soccer,” he mentioned. “That used to be what I sought after to do till as regards to most certainly a 12 months and a part in the past. It used to be no longer a very easy determination. I felt like I could not pursue either one of them on the similar time in faculty, as a result of I am an individual who likes to provide 100{22377624ce51d186a25e6affb44d268990bf1c3186702884c333505e71f176b1} effort on the whole lot. In the long run, what it got here all the way down to used to be the educational alternative, in addition to the athletic alternative.”
Helm, who indicated he gained collegiate gives to proceed his soccer profession in addition to his observe and box profession, mentioned as soon as Princeton College entered the image, he may just no longer move at the alternative.
“I am extraordinarily excited,” he mentioned. “For some time, no longer realizing the place I used to be going to head used to be starting to take a toll on me, as it used to be all that used to be on my thoughts within the unfastened time. I roughly knew after taking my professional talk over with that there used to be the place I sought after to be. It felt in reality like house. Princeton’s were given a perfect observe and box crew. They usually compete on the nationwide degree as a crew and people.”
McMillian mentioned Helm’s alternative is easily deserved.
“He is an excessively aggressive child,” McMillian mentioned. “The period of time he places into the game out of doors of apply is what may be very particular about him. He is one of the constant throwers I have ever noticed. Most often, if you find yourself throwing issues that some distance, you are no longer very constant. However the consistency degree with Casey is lovely improbable.”
Helm encourages Bulldog underclassmen to totally decide to any enterprise they need to pursue.
“Should you best give part effort, you are by no means going to peer the effects you need to peer,” Helm, who additionally volunteers with Foods on Wheels, Particular Olympics and blood drives, mentioned. “Are not making the whole lot about you, make it in regards to the crew and the neighborhood. The Madison neighborhood, school, group of workers and lecturers are the individuals who have got me to the place I’m these days. I am grateful for them and not take the rest like that without any consideration.”
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