{"id":3077,"date":"2023-06-01T09:05:47","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T13:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=3077"},"modified":"2023-06-01T09:05:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-01T13:05:51","slug":"hoffman-thrives-with-science-of-throwing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/01\/hoffman-thrives-with-science-of-throwing\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoffman thrives with science of throwing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>RANDY HISNER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s not that big.\u201d That was my first thought when I interviewed Adams Central senior discus thrower Trenton Hoffman after he had won his event at the New Haven Sectional with a personal best throw of 158-6. He could pass for a 400-meter runner, I thought, or maybe a long jumper.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But he\u2019s neither of those things; he\u2019s a discus thrower, and an excellent one. He\u2019s not only the sectional champ, but also the ACAC champ and the Carroll Regional runner up, a placing that qualified him for the state meet this Friday at I.U.-Bloomington.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Trenton-Hoffman.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>WZBD&#8217;s Randy Hisner spoke with Hoffman before one of his final practices before the IHSAA State Meet this weekend. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At 6-2 and 170 pounds, he\u2019s not small, but in the world of high school throwers, he\u2019s definitely on the slender side, most of his competitors outweighing him by at least 30 pounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"968\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A9072-677x1024.jpeg?resize=640%2C968\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A9072-scaled.jpeg?resize=677%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 677w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A9072-scaled.jpeg?resize=198%2C300&amp;ssl=1 198w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A9072-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C1162&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A9072-scaled.jpeg?resize=1015%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1015w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A9072-scaled.jpeg?resize=1354%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1354w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A9072-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1549&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A9072-scaled.jpeg?w=1692&amp;ssl=1 1692w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A9072-scaled.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Hoffman is not only an elite thrower in the state of Indiana, but he is also a top student in his senior class. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m definitely not the big guy,\u201d Hoffman said. \u201cI\u2019m always the smallest guy at the competition, so I\u2019ve really had to work on form, the footwork, and the drive to throw farther.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Form and footwork\u2014the biomechanics of throwing. To be an elite discus thrower is, almost by definition, to be obsessed with biomechanics. The angle of release. The lengths of limbs as levers. The maximization of rotational forces. And always, the footwork, the footwork.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The heart of the discus thrower\u2019s spin is the elegant dance step that propels him across the circle like a dervish and produces the prodigious forces that enable him to launch the discus high and far.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hoffman knows the ways the footwork can go wrong. \u201cThere\u2019s always the constant thing of coming out of the back of the circle and getting the right foot in the middle. Sometimes it lands too far to the left or right, and that will throw your whole body off,\u201d he said. \u201cAnother part is where your left foot lands at the front of the ring. Again, if it lands too far left or right, it will influence how strong you can throw.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hoffman excels at the spin and the other technical aspects of his event. He has to. \u201cYes, 100%,\u201d he said. \u201cAll the way back to when I was at middle school state, people commented on what my form was compared to the other guys\u2019. It just kind of stuck out to everyone, and it\u2019s been a driving force. I\u2019ve continued to work on it in high school.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_4033-1-683x1024.jpg?resize=640%2C960\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3081\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_4033-1-scaled.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_4033-1-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_4033-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_4033-1-scaled.jpg?w=1707&amp;ssl=1 1707w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_4033-1-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Trenton Hoffman qualified for the State Finals with this throw at the Carroll Regional last week. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Elite throwers have perfected the timing of the successive body parts that must rotate in the right sequence and at the right moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First the feet turn forward, next the lower legs and knees, then thighs and hips, followed by the torso, the shoulders, and finally the arm\u2014each part rotating forward while the next lags behind, accumulating tension as the muscles and connective tissue stretch like rubber bands before releasing that tension in a rapid forward rotation. This is called the stretch reflex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s all a kind of chain reaction,\u201d Hoffman said. \u201cIt\u2019s an athletic sequence. That\u2019s how to get the most power in any sport.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hoffman counters his overall size handicap with his own advantages. One is his wingspan. His long arms help generate speed in the discus as it travels a big arc. His lineage helps too: His dad once held the Adams Central shot put record. \u201cHe definitely was a help, especially early on,\u201d Hoffman says. \u201cSince he was a shot put guy more than a discus guy, he was able to help me with the basic fundamentals, but I quickly kind of surpassed his knowledge, and it was at that point that I looked to YouTube videos. I watch a lot of videos of elite discus throwers. I can just drill it over and over in my head and imagine how it feels. I think that helps a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And then there\u2019s the Adams Central throws coach, Neil Henning, a former standout thrower at Cedarville University in Ohio. Henning grew to love the sport in college (2004-2008) and stayed on at Cedarville to coach there from 2008 to 2014. Since 2016, he has coached clients privately, and then this year he moved to Indiana and started coaching the Jets\u2019 throwers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hoffman appreciates Henning\u2019s competitive background. \u201cHe has thrown against Olympians,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s got some really cool stories.\u201d But more important than his stories is his technical expertise. His extensive knowledge and coaching experience enable him to identify the tiniest flaws in Hoffman\u2019s mechanics. \u201cHe\u2019ll watch me throw and give me one or two things to focus on,\u201d Hoffman said. The constant feedback helps Hoffman refine his technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Henning loves Hoffman\u2019s drive. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the hardest workers on the team,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s out there whenever he can be.\u201d About Hoffman\u2019s chances at state, he says, \u201cAnything can happen.\u201d Hoffman is seeded 24<sup>th<\/sup>, but if he puts everything together, if he performs everything flawlessly\u2014the footwork is right, his hips drive optimally, the angle of release is perfect\u2014he could add 5-10 feet to his PR, and that would put him in the mid-160s, good enough to compete for a top-eight medal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A5938-1024x614.jpeg?resize=640%2C384\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3082\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A5938-scaled.jpeg?resize=1024%2C614&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A5938-scaled.jpeg?resize=300%2C180&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A5938-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C460&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A5938-scaled.jpeg?resize=1536%2C921&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A5938-scaled.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1228&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A5938-scaled.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A5938-scaled.jpeg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Hoffman stood at the top of the podium at the New Haven Track &amp; Field Sectional. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter how the state meet goes for Hoffman, it won\u2019t be the end of his throwing career. The 2023 Adams Central salutatorian has earned a combination academic\/athletic scholarship to NAIA national track and field power Indiana Tech, where he will study business and sports management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The discus will be the first event Friday, starting at 3:00 P.M.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RANDY HISNER WZBD.com \u201cHe\u2019s not that big.\u201d That was my first thought when I interviewed Adams Central senior<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3079,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[29,15,26,39],"class_list":["post-3077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-adamscentral","tag-featured","tag-sports","tag-track"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DN2A8872-scaled.jpeg?fit=1765%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3077"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3077\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3077"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}