Cayle Hovland - Willmar High School Class of 2018
Personal Bests:
Discus: 139'9"
Shot Put: 40'1"
How do you pronounce your names?
"Cayle" is pronounced as in "Kale" like the vegetable. My last name "Hovland" is pronounced with a hard o sound, as in Santas "Ho Ho Ho"
What sports did you play when you were young?
I played basketball and tennis when I was very young. Once I attended the middle school I started track & field. I mainly chose those sports because of my sister; she was a great role model for me.
How many times have you been to the state tournament and how did you do each year?
This past fall was the first time I made it to state in tennis because I had mostly played doubles before, and St. Cloud Tech is in our section and are really tough. I played singles this year and got fifth place in the State Tourney. I have been a six-year starter in tennis for the Cardinals.
For basketball, I was moved up to the varsity for the first time as an eighth grader and went on to be a five-year starter after that year. We made it to State last year and played three games but lost all of them. However one of the teams we played, Orono, went on to win the State Championship. This year, as of this writing, we are 25-2 and ranked #1 in state.
I have been on varsity for track since my seventh grade year, and made it to State as a freshman and finished in 14th place in the discus throw. Last year I was 6th place in the discus.
How do you deal with adversity?
I think it is always important to try your best, and work your butt off. No matter the outcome you can always look back and know you gave it your all.
Do you talk to your opponents much?
I don't really know who my most common opponent would be. I talk to a lot of the girls in line when we warm up, but otherwise we don't talk much.
Who inspired you as an athlete?
My sister would probably be the teammate who inspired me the most. I threw with her for two years and she always gave it her all, and left it on the field. Giving up was never an option for her.
How does the Willmar Cardinals Track & Field team bond?
Our throwers will play a lot of pranks and jokes on each other. That's probably why we are so close, we try to make it as fun as possible for everyone on the team.
Why did you choose to be a thrower?
I chose to be a thrower because my mom was a beast at throwing. She held both records for Willmar and I finally got the shot put record from her last year.
Do you follow any professional or college throwers?
I don't really follow a lot of throwers; I just watch my sister's meets. She throws for Concordia and they will throw against NDSU, so it's fun to watch those girls.
Are you a good dancer? Why are you so good in the throwing events?
I work really hard on getting the technique down and make the throw as powerful as possible with the hips and holding my arms back for as long as possible. That is how I get good torque.
There are many high school girl throwers, but not many continue on in college. Why do you think that is the case?
I think that many throwers are intimidated by how good some college girls are. They may not think they are good enough to compete on that level.
How do you set your goals and get yourself mentally prepared?
I usually set a high goal because I expect that I will reach it with determination. I mentally focus by going on a run and clearing my head before my throws.
What do you do outside of Willmar High School athletics?
I volunteer with little kids basketball and tennis. I also babysit, sing in a band at church, and volunteer with the special education AIM dance. My GPA is 3.894. I am also in National Honor Society.
Do you have any plans for after high school?
I plan to attend Concordia College in Moorhead and throw there.
Technical tips about the throwing events from Cayle Hovland:
Over the years I have learned that it is very important to focus on the technical side of shot and discus. I have been privileged to go to camps with the Concordia throws coach and get helpful tips.
Some of the main things he gave me were to not move your head in front of your arm for disc. You may not think that is a big deal, but that forces your body to open earlier than it should, causing the throw to be off. If you keep your head and eyes with your arm, your throw will be smoother and also further.
For shot put, I have been working on staying low. The more leg powerhouse you have the further your throw will go. If you stand straight up all your momentum is lost. Simple things can change your throw immensely.
