Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Lake’s junior duo of Matt Nietz and Isaac Romero have formed a bond over the past several years, and that healthy competition and friendship between the two has led each of them to become among the best in the state in discus and shot put.
“I’ve been joking with them for two full years now,” Lake head coach Jason Schober said. “You guys come in first and second, I don't care what order you’re in. And I mean it. I love them both like sons. But I keep telling Isaac, you're right there, especially in shot. You're right there. You can break the school record, and you guys each have one and one. He did it today, and it was like, ‘I told you.’ And then Matt went back (and re-broke it).”
Schober was referring to the Division III shot put competition at the Jesse Owens OHSAA State Track & Field Championships on June 6. Romero entered the event ranked seventh in the state following regionals, while Nietz was 10th.
Both of them then made the finals at state. On his second-to-last throw, Romero broke Nietz’s school record — just to have Nietz come back and re-break the record on his final throw.
Ultimately, Nietz threw 57-02.50 to finish fifth, while Romero came in right behind him in sixth at 55-02.75.
“They’re both very competitive, but they're both very close, too,” Schober said. “It’s ‘here's what I can do, show me.’ They both want it, but they're both so happy for each other.”
Nietz said the relationship is helped by the fact that they both have laid-back personalities.
“It just kind of fits,” he said. “Isaac didn’t get overwhelmed, which I think is the biggest part of your first year here.”
With Romero in his state-debut, he said the biggest thing he’ll remember from the experience is the atmosphere from the crowd.
“There are an insane amount of people here,” he said. “I was not expecting this many people.”
Romero said he was focused on just chasing the next number and the next person ahead of him.
“I think I did great,” he said. “I hit a two-foot PR, so I’m always going to be happy about that, and I feel like I did it in a pretty good pressure situation.”
Nietz said seeing Romero succeed pushes him to be better.
“Personally, I think Isaac’s 55 motivated me more to throw farther,” he said. “Overall, it was a good year. I'm happy with my throws, and I'm excited that we were both able to place. The weather was maybe not the best as some seasons (this year), but we still got it done. I made improvements as the season went along, so I was happy.”
Nietz also earned a spot in the state discus competition for the second-consecutive season, where he finished fourth with a school-record throw of 164-02.
Ultimately, Schober said they are both great kids.
“We had high expectations coming in, but to actually get down here and for Matt to break his own record (in discus) and get fourth, and for both of them to make finals (in shot put) is great,” he said. “They worked their butt off in the offseason in indoor the last couple years. Last year, it was their show, and Matt broke both school records. They both went for shot in indoor the last two years. It's amazing what they've achieved in three years.”
