Brumbaugh answers the call

MT. PLEASANT — The Mt. Pleasant throwers put on a clinic at the 2021 state track and field meet. On Friday, Jadan Brumbaugh put the biggest notch on the Panthers’ belt, a Class 3A girls shot put title.

“It's really amazing,” Brumbaugh said. “Very fulfilling to end the year as a state champion.”

Brumbaugh’s winning throw was 44 feet, 9 inches, which she hit on her last attempt. She had clinched the title right before her final throw, when the rest of the field couldn’t match her second toss of 43-6¾.

It's an honor,“ Brumbaugh said. ”It shows that whoever puts the work in can do whatever they put their mind to.“

Brumbaugh improved on her winning Drake Relays throw of 43-03. She had to beat a stacked field, that included the second and third place finishers at the Drake Relays.

“It’s a big honor to come out here with all these girls that have worked as hard as I have,” Brumbaugh said.

Brumbaugh’s win makes it two-in-a-row at state for Mt. Pleasant in the girls shot put. Lexie Magnani won the competition in 2019.

Brumbaugh said she was able to relax for her final throws after flirting with 44 feet on her second toss. From that point on, she says, it was all about enjoying the moment.

“I had a lot of fun, honestly,” Brumbaugh said. “I was just trying to have fun and enjoy the day.”

Later on, Brumbaugh was able to watch Cooper Pullis compete in the Class 3A boys shot put competition. Pullis gave the Panther throwers their third medal of the state meet, finishing fifth place.

“I’m very excited about it,” Pullis said. “It was awesome to be out here.”

Pullis said he didn’t have a good warmup, but maybe he was just saving it for the real thing, because he came out and launched his first attempt 52-9¾.

“As soon as it came off, I knew it was going to be a good throw,” Pullis said. “I saw it land and walked out the back, and I was happy with it.”

Pullis says he feels accomplished at giving more glory to a Mt. Pleasant throwing group that has turned into a dynasty. Along with him and Brumbaugh, girls discus thrower Grace Kelley notched a seventh-place finish on Thursday.

“Every day at practice, we build off one another,” Pullis said. “We work with each other, not against each other. I think that really helped us the whole season.”

The Panther throwers could be seen watching their teammates throughout the two-day stretch. While one threw, the others watched and cheered from the sideline.

“Honestly, I’m a bigger fan of Jadan Brumbaugh than I am of myself,” Pullis said.

The boys shot put competition concluded the Class 3A throwing competitions for the 2021 state meet.