Koch, Maag throw 1-2 punch for Bulldogs in discus

COLUMBUS – For Columbus Grove discus throwers Tadd Koch and Lawson Maag, the goal wasn't so much to win a state title.The goal was to make sure the top two spots on the podium belonged to them.The two senior Bulldogs did just that Friday in the Division III OHSAA Track and Field Championships at Jesse Owens Stadium.The top spot went to Koch, who threw a 175-2. Maag was runner up, throwing 173-1."Only one person can win it, (but) it's definitely not an individual championship," Koch said, "because neither of us would be here without the other.""We've been pushing each other our entire lives," Maag said, "and from the very first practice of this year, we knew that we wanted to go 1-2, we knew that we were gonna do it, and it all worked out."Things also worked out for their teammate, senior A.J. Schafer. He set a school record in the shot put, registering a 59-8 and finishing third.Schafer missed a championship by a little more than three feet. Valley's Justin Moore won the event with a throw of 62-10 ½."I think I did all I could today," Schafer said. "It was a great field out there, tough competition, and I gave it everything I had. I'm proud of that."Koch also threw in the shot, and finished 17th.A school having three top-three finishers in throwing events may seem like a special feat.But then again, it's Columbus Grove.And the Bulldogs are known for their throwers.But Maag said that tradition didn't happen by accident."I think we just work so hard and we're so dedicated, people don't actually see we actually work," he said. "We're not just breeding athletes. People aren't coming to our school and transferring. We just work super hard and we earn our spots."Another area thrower who earned his spot is Leipsic senior Seth Apple, who threw the discus 171 feet and finished third, right behind Koch and Lawson.The three are familiar with each other. After all, the two towns are less than 15 miles apart."Seth is at half of our track meets, and every time we're together, it's a state track meet," Lawson said. "We're all throwing 170s, we're going back and forth, getting mad at each other. It's just like this meet right here, and I think that's why we did so well."Someone who also did well in the discus was Fostoria junior Karma Williams. By throwing 128-8 in Division II and finishing fourth, Williams became the first Lady Red to place at the state meet since 1998."It's very exciting," Williams said. "Just a lot of hard work. A lot of motivation from my coaches and fellow athletes. It makes me want to work harder, and get better."Williams had hoped to set a personal record Friday. She didn't do it, and was already looking ahead."I can't be too hard on myself, because I did finish fourth at state," she said. "I didn't get my (personal record), but there's always room for improvement."In the Division II boys shot put, Elmwood's Jackson Childress threw a 52-6 to take ninth. He will return today to throw the discus.