Grover goes silver mining at OFSAA
An up and down day didn’t prevent Port Colborne’s Caleb Grover from winning a pair of silver medals at the recent Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations track and field championships in Ottawa.
The 18-year-old Port Colborne resident mined silvers with a throw of 15.2 metres in the senior boys shot put and a toss of 47.68 metres in senior boys discus.
“Shot put was great. I started off with a PB (personal best) and I was feeling really good,” the Thorold Elite Track Club member said. “Discus was a bit of a scary moment. I started off with probably the three worst throws I have ever had in this school season.”
He blamed the poor showing on being too fired up.
“In discus, I tend throw better when I am more relaxed and I think I was amping up too much and I was trying too hard to fight the pressure of the moment. That was psyching me out in a way.”
It was a good lesson to learn for future competitions.
Grover ended up in seventh place in the first round of throws and then ramped it up with the second-best throw among the eight finalists.
“I was just glad that I got to get a good one in.”
Overall, Grover, who placed fourth in the discus and seventh in shot put at OFSAA last year, was pleased with his performance.
“I was very happy. I lost (in both events) to a guy who was a year older than me so I still got to be No. 1 in my age group in Ontario. It feels good.”
He credited the lessons he learned at OFSAA last year for helping to reach the podium.
“It was the experience because OFSAA is the greatest and biggest meet that I have ever been to. I thought it was better than Canadian nationals and it is feeling the pressure. I remember last year in shot put I did really horrible because I was really nervous. I was in Grade 11 and I was younger and you don’t really get to experience meets like that.”
The fourth-place finisher in the discus and bronze medalist in the shot put at the national under-18 championships last year is looking forward to a strong summer of competition before returning for his 12B year at Port Colborne.
He would love to defend his provincial titles in the shot put and discus but knows it won’t be easy.
“I want to keep the streak going but I know it will be hard because I am in the under-20 division now. But I am always up for a challenge.”
He is continuing to work hard to make the next step as a thrower.
“Weightlifting is huge as is taking good care of my body. It is also lots of drills, lots of practice and getting more reps in is very important.”
Thorold Elite coach Johnny Ahlstedt is a big fan of Grover’s.
“Caleb is one in a million both as a person and an athlete. He helped change Owen’s (Robins’) life and that can’t be overlooked. He works harder than anyone I know and I know great things are coming his way.”
Grover is like an older brother to Robins, who won OFSAA gold in the junior boys shot put.
“They lift together and they workout together,” Ahlstedt said. “Caleb is an extraordinary person and he changed Owen’s life. He is dedicated, hard working and a great influence for younger athletes.”
Robins had also influenced Grover.
“It is nice to see when someone has the same fire and spirit that you saw in yourself when you are that age,” Grover said. “I thought it was really great to help him out and take him under my wing a little bit. He’s incredible. He won the OFSAA gold and I was super proud of him for that. I was coaching him and cheering him on on the sidelines. It is just as rewarding to see a guy you coached and help mentor get a medal as winning a medal.”
Next year, the two will be competing against each other at the high school level.
“It will be fun,” Grover said.
