22-05-2025
University's Brock Kehler aims to cap prep career with one last title at state track and field meet
MORGANTOWN – When you hear the name Brock Kehler, you immediately think of what he accomplished during his high school career as an athlete at University High School on the football field and wrestling mat.
Kehler is a multi-time first-team all-state selection in football and has been a crucial leader on the gridiron for the Hawks.
On the wrestling mat, Kehler dominated from when he wrestled his first match for the Hawks as a freshman until his last match at the state tournament, which resulted in his fourth state championship in as many years.
But Kehler was eager to continue competing once football season ended and wrestling was over this year, his senior year. At the suggestion of some UHS track and field team members and with some openings in his schedule after winter concluded, he decided to try his hand at another sport: throwing.
Brock picked up the discus and shot put for the first time this spring and joined the Hawks track and field team, quickly becoming one of the best throwers in the state and a vital part of the UHS team.
'A couple of the guys on the team told me they thought I'd be a good thrower, and I had some downtime,' Kehler said. 'It took some time to get used to and adapt, but I feel like I've gotten the technique down. I'd say I started getting used to it about three weeks into the season.'
Brock won the OVAC 5A championship in Shot Put with a personal and OVAC-record throw of 54-7. He also captured the Class AAA Region I title in the event with a throw of 49-03.25. Kehler placed second in the Discus at the regional meet with a throw of 150-00.
Kehler's performance at the regional meet earned 18 points towards the UHS boys' overall team title, which could go far for the Hawks in Charleston this weekend at the state meet.
'I'd say I started out liking shot more because it's less form-based,' he said. 'But now that I'm starting to really get the disc technique down, it's growing on me.'
Brock said the biggest surprise about throwing was how much focus is needed to maintain proper form and technique.
'It surprised me how much those things go behind everything you do as a thrower,' he laughed. 'I remember the first time I threw the disc, it went about 64 feet, and now I'm throwing it up to 150 feet. That alone shows me how important working on form and technique is for improving your distance.'
The Class AAA boys' Shot Put and Discus competitions will be held Saturday morning at Laidley Field in Charleston. Shot Put will begin at 9:00 a.m., with the Discus beginning at 11:00 a.m.
