Boys Track: Grant Fosberg leads Lyons throwers

Updated: April 11, 2012 5:54PM

Lyons Township has won the last three titles at the Hornet Relays at Hinsdale South, but picking up a fourth title Saturday was impractical.

LT entered the meet without two of its top athletes in hurdlers and sprinters Matt Harris and Lino Mogorovic. Coach Michael Danner did not comment on the reason for their absence, but said the two will return in the next week. LT (89 points) finished second to West Suburban Conference Silver Division indoor meet champion Oak Park-River Forest (130) and will compete in the West Aurora Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday.

LT became the runner-up at the Hornet Relays for the fourth time in the last seven years.

Without at least two standouts, LT won 4-of-19 events, but three titles came on the frosh-soph level in the 400-meter, 3200 and 1600 relays. LT’s biggest win came in the Class 1600 relay with Sam Conde, Frank Kocimski, Antwan Swan and Will Crawshaw.

LT placed second in the triple jump, but the shot put and discus relays each placed sixth in the nine-team meet.

The only senior among the team’s throwers is Grant Fosberg of La Grange Park, who was the starting right tackle for the football team in the fall.

Fosberg leads a group that is heavy on members of the junior class, but is rebuilding. Fosberg became the group’s only senior as a result of an injury. Anthony Simonelli was another projected senior on the team, but his career ended early as a result of surgery to his shoulder after the football season.

“It’s a change, but I’m getting used to it. I don’t have other seniors to talk to and communicate with,” Fosberg said.

Fosberg’s role has shifted to become a mentor to the team’s freshmen and sophomores. It’s a role that has reminded him of what his experience was four years ago as a freshman.

“I help out the new freshmen with the shot and discus,” Fosberg said. “I could remember when the older guys helped me (years ago). It has gone by so fast. It seems like yesterday I was doing the shot put for the first time.”

Fosberg did not compete in field events until his freshman year. His school, Park Junior High, did not have a track-and-field program.

LT’s top two shot putters at the West Suburban Silver indoor meet March 16 were a pair of juniors: John Phillipp and Bill Cramsie.

The Hornet Relay was LT’s first outdoor meet of the season. After West Aurora, LT hosts its own invitational April 20 at south campus.

© 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.