2014 Journal Tribune Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year: Kennebunk’s Austin Weigle

No one jumped higher in York County, the Western Maine Conference or in Class A as a high school boys track competitor this year than Kennebunk’s Austin Weigle. The 6-foot-4 senior won the Class A state championship in the high jump ”“ leaping over his own height ”“ than went an inch better to finish fourth at the New England Championships, all while dazzling spectators at every meet in which he competed.

Weigle made the Fosbury Flop look easy and awe-inspiring at the same time, and for that, he has earned the title of 2014 Journal Tribune Boys Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

“He’s so committed to it. He wants to be great at it,” Kennebunk head coach Josh Viola said of Weigle and the high jump. “Natural talent ”“ of course, he has that as well. It’s just his desire; it’s so incredible. He works hard every day; the first kid out at practice and the last kid to leave.”

Weigle has been on the high jump scene since his sophomore year, when he finished second to teammate Trevor Luck at the Class A state championships at Windham High School. Weigle’s best jump was 5 feet, 10 inches that year, which he bested a year ago, but settled for a third-place tie at states with a jump of 6 feet.

Weigle jumped as high as 6-4 in 2013, but not when it counted most.

He equaled that mark during the indoor season this year, and captured his first state title with a leap of 6-2 at the Class A indoor state championships.

Weigle didn’t lose in the high jump in any meet this outdoor season, but the results didn’t make him happy, he said.

“I was in a really good groove in indoor, but this season was so slow to start, so I was unsure of it at the beginning,” Weigle said. “There were points where I was starting to not believe in myself.”

Weigle’s coach, however, never wavered.

“I had confidence in Austin. He wanted it really badly,” said Viola.

Weigle buried a lot of demons when he out-jumped some of the state’s best at the Class A state championships, again held at Windham High School.

“He was motivated. He was ready to step up and get that win,” said Viola.

None of what Weigle accomplished during his high school career came as a surprise to Viola, he said.

“He’s a pleasure to coach. The hardest worker in the program. The most motivated kid in the program ”“ someone all the younger guys look up to. He’s great,” said Viola.

The coach said that the team rallied around the accomplishments of Weigle and fellow senior and high jumper Shelby Strickland, who were the stars of the team. The group that qualified for states even set up its tent near the high jump area, so teammates could get a front-row seat.

“It was something that the whole team, in every meet, you’d go watch him just because you wanted to see what he was going to do,” said Viola.

Weigle’s commitment to his craft continued past the state championships, as Viola said Weigle appeared in his classroom every day during the week between states and New Englands, as he scouted his competition in the event.

But as dedicated as Weigle was to his main event, Viola said he was even more dedicated to his team.

“For a kid that was a star ”¦ in an event, I don’t think I ever had a discussion with him where he wouldn’t do something that I asked,” said Viola. “Austin was so focused on winning for the team.”

Viola said that Weigle even came up to him before the season and told him that he would do the racewalk ”“ an event he participated in earlier in his career ”“ if the meet was close.

“He was the heart and soul of our program,” Viola said of Weigle.

Weigle may be done competing for Kennebunk, but his career will continue in college, as he will try to walk onto the track team at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.

— Staff Writer Wil Kramlich can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.

Honorable Mention

Ӣ Stephen Duffy, Massabesic

Ӣ Justin Gagnon, Biddeford

Ӣ Nick Love, Sanford

Ӣ Jake Moody, Wells

Ӣ Ryan Cadorette, Thornton Academy

Ӣ Ian Marshall, Thornton Academy

Ӣ Erik Hogan, Old Orchard Beach