David Simmons had planned to go to Fort Hays State University all along.
His plan was to go to FHSU in the fall and try to walk on to the track and field team as a shot put athlete. He had the credentials as a two-time state finalist in the event for Great Bend High School.
However, that plan changed drastically the night Simmons returned home from the Class 5A state track and field meet at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium on May 27-28.
Simmons received a phone call. On the other end of the line was Fort Hays State University track and field assistant coach Jason McCullough with an offer.
Simmons, who mailed his letter of intent this week, said that the phone call surprised him.
“I was a little worried after I had such a bad finish at the state meet,” Simmons said. “I had been talking about a couple of scholarship options. I actually got the call the night I got home from the state meet. It was one of the assistant coaches and they told me they were interested in me playing for them.”
As a results, Simmons received a $2,000 scholarship and a spot on the Tigers track and field team. He no longer has to worry about walking on to the team.
“I am really excited,” Simmons said. “This is exactly what I was looking for. This is exactly what I have been working for.”
Simmons said that he will be competing in the shot put and the discus, but he would also like to take a turn competing in the javelin and hammer throw events as well.
In the shot put, Simmons personal best in high school is 53 feet, 5 1/2 inches. His best distance in the discus is the 130-0.
At the state meet, Simmons took fourth place in the shot put with a throw of 51-0. He qualified for the state meet with a throw of 53-3 1/2 to take second place at the regional meet in Wichita.
It is a step up from the high school shot put, which weighs 12 pounds. In college, athletes throw a 16-pound shot.
Not a problem, Simmons said.
“I’ve already been working with my high school coach (Cliff Burg) this summer,” Simmons said. “I was working with the 16-pounder throughout last year at high school, too. I feel pretty good about the weight. We never really measured my distance in practice, but I have always thrown past where he wanted me to throw it.”
So now that Simmons has reached one of his goals in earning a scholarship for college, what is his next step?
“I’m not sure what is expected of a college freshman,” Simmons said. “I don’t know what is normal for a freshman, but I want to do one or two places better than that. I always want to push myself past what is expected.”