Photo provided by Samuel Moore
Personal Records:
Discus - 188-4
Shot Put - 59-11.75
Class A State 2017 - Shot Put Champion, Discus Champion
Class A State 2016 - Discus (7th)
Class A State 2015 - Discus (4th)
Class A State 2014 -Discus (8th)
Where were you born and what sports did you play growing up?
I was born just miles from Verndale, MN, in Wadena, MN. I played baseball, football, and basketball, but at 4th grade I switched from baseball to track and field. I believe my selection of my sports have a good balance for training in strength and speed, which has helped me become as athletic as I am now.
When did you get involved in Track & Field?
I became involved in track when I was born. My dad has been the head track coach for twenty years. I have been around track my entire life, but I started participating in practices in fourth grade.
What sports do you play now on the varsity level?
I have only played football and track in high school. I am going to play basketball my senior year. I have lettered in track for 5 years, and in football I have lettered 3 years. This last year our track team got second place in our sub section and tied for third in the section. My freshman and junior years our football team got second place in the section. This past year I played tight end and defensive line and caught 5 passes for nearly 40 yards despite having a broken hand the last games. I am number 55.
Which sport has helped you the most for throwing?
I would say that football and track have a lot of weightlifting in common; I believe that is why I have done so well in both of these sports. I believe my confidence comes from how comfortable I am in the track community. I have made friends all over the state, and some from even other states. I know almost any thrower in my conference, and many friends that are graduating and leaving the track community. During the last winter, I spent recuperating from breaking my hand in football. I lifted nearly every day because I had lost a lot of weight and muscle mass during the last month of football.
Who coaches you? How have they influenced you?
My track coach is my dad, Jeff Moore. After my seventh grade year in track I started going to a track clinic held by Gustavus Adolphus throws coach, Tom Thorkelson, and since then I have gone every year to his clinic. These camps have helped me incredibly. I have also attended multiple throwing camps at NDSU with throws coach Justin St. Clair. Both of these camps have been very helpful in my throwing career. I will also continue my throwing career at NDSU next year. My dad has been with me at all these camps and through every season, which has helped me to no end through my high school career.
What techniques do you use in the shot put?
I use the glide technique. I used to use the rotation in shot put, but I couldn't get it down this year so I resorted to the glide technique.
What about the discus? How did you start out throwing it?
My length and lanky arms helped me when I was younger. Since then I have much stronger and therefore my shot put numbers have increased dramatically. In 4th grade I started throwing, and I started with the half spin throw in discus. I picked up on throwing very well and was able to proceed to full throwing in 5th grade.
Photo provided by Samuel Moore
At this point in your career which weightlifting exercises have helped you the most as a thrower?
Lifting is not part of our sports programs. There are only independent lifting goals, and I lifted whenever I could. It wasn't until freshman year that I started a regular lifting schedule. The best lifts for throwing that I do are bench press for shot put, and inclined barbell flys for discus.
Are there any special drills that you use?
I don't do too many drills in practice. My dad, who is also my track coach, insists on lots and lots of throws, which leaves little room for drills. I really focus on the power position in the discus because perfecting that is 90 percent of the throw.
Could you give us a sequence of your height and weight through the years?
Now these are as close as I remember, not too much of a difference. I had my growth spurt way back in 5th grade or so.
- 7th grade - 6'0" 200 lbs
- 8th grade - 6'1" 210 lbs
- 9th grade - 6'3" 215 lbs
- 10th grade - 6'4" 220 lbs
- 11th grade - 6'5" 225 lbs
How has your family helped you?
I have been very blessed by my family and how they have brought out the best in my both in sports and in life. I have not had too many huge obstacles in my way through my career. My family has helped me in many different ways, and it helps that my dad is both my football and track coach so I've been able to excel through him.
Who has been your toughest competitor in track & field?
I would say my top competitor freshman, sophomore, junior, and upcoming senior year is and was Mitch Weber of St. Clair. (Weber was the state champion in the shot put and discus throw in 2016. Weber also has marks of 23.4 in the 200 and 19-8 in the long jump. The best throwers, like Moore and Weber are often the best athletes at a track & field meet. They are not just big!)
Who else has influenced you among your competitors?
I feel I have made friends on almost every team I have ever competed against. I have friends from all over the state, and even some from other states. A longer list of competitors would include every thrower in my conference. The lists of people who have helped me include all of my competitors. They have helped me in so many different ways, including helping me realize my potential and how I can get better. I am so grateful for these great guys and girls; I consider them all teammates of a sort. Throwing with them for so many years has been an honor and a blessing.
What about teammates? How have they helped you?
I believe my friend and teammate Brett Jansen has helped me in my track career most. He has accompanied me to three of my four state appearances, and he participated this last year as well. He has been a great personal coach, trainer, and friend. When I first joined track two varsity throwers helped me out with my throwing technique. I really appreciated their time and effort to help an annoying little kid, who had no reason to ask for varsity throwers help.
Photo provided by Samuel Moore
Who else would you like to thank?
I would like to shout out to my parents, who have never stopped pushing me to be the best I can be. My faith as a Christian has helped me through my athletic career.
What advice would you give to a younger you?
My advice would be that nothing about throwing is easy. It takes hours, days, and years of hard work and dedication. My motivation as a young thrower was seeing the older throwers who were setting records, going to state, going to college, and getting all the glory and wanting to beat them and be the absolute undisputed best. Throwing in a sense takes heart and perseverance.
Do you follow any college or professional throwers?
I follow Stefan Stroh, who I once took second place to in our conference meet. And who is now throwing at NDSU and doing very well. I follow Stroh because he was the best thrower in our section two years in a row and state champion in discus once. I always wanted to beat him, but unfortunately I was only able to defeat his conference shot put record.
Are there any videos you would recommend to other throwers?
I watch tons of videos about throwing. I recommend watching any Olympic champion. I try to watch all the Olympic throwing I can find. I would also recommend Wolfgang Schmidt throws clinic videos on YouTube; they helped me overcome some difficulties in the middle of sophomore season.
Where do you think you will be after college?
I am looking at NDSU for college, and I have verbally committed to playing both football and throwing in track and field. What I found that I liked in NDSU was the proximity to home, nice campus, one of the best football programs in the nation, the best throwing program in the nation, and a great engineering school (which I plan to major in mechanical engineering).
Do you have any unusual interests or hobbies?
I like blacksmithing and making knives with my home forge. I also work drywall with a local company to help out my parents with my car insurance and gas money.
Photo provided by Samuel Moore
