Publications & Sites 
Hinsdale South’s Guritz preparing to walk on at Northwestern
Hinsdale South's Manny Dunleavy in the 55 meter hurdles at the Morton West HS's WSC Gold boys track Friday, March. 15, 2013, in Berwyn, Ill. | James C. Svehla~for Sun-Times Media
Don’t Miss
Friday Boys gymnastics: at Lake Park Invite, 6 p.m.
Friday Girls soccer: vs. Stagg, 6:30 p.m.
Related Stories
Updated: April 22, 2013 10:45AM
BERWYN — Hinsdale South senior Zach Guritz believes there is no better offseason workout for football than throwing the shot put.
Guritz, who will be a preferred walk-on for the Northwestern football team, has been tossing the shot put around since fifth grade.
“Shot put and football go together so well in terms of emphasizing lower body strength and being explosive,” Guritz said. “It’s a great time to compete for me.”
Guritz demonstrated his strength and explosiveness Friday at the West Suburban Gold indoor meet at Morton.
He shattered his previous best throw en route to placing first with a heave of 51-feet-11.
“I’m just so excited because not only is it a (personal best), but I’ve just been improving so much,” said Guritz, whose previous career long was 49-7. “The fact that it was all able to come together on this day for conference is really exciting. I don’t know the exact science behind (the improvement), but the form was right and I was explosive. I’m looking forward to outdoors.”
Guritz was dealing with back spasms in the days leading up to the conference meet, but you couldn’t tell it by his performance.
“It was a big, big meet for this man,” Hinsdale South coach Dean Norman said. “The whole indoor season he keeps throwing a foot more every time. It seems like the angrier he gets at meets the better he throws. When there is a challenge in front of him, he just seems to go further than the other guys.
“He’s knocking on the door for state qualifying (52-11) outside already. We’re very encouraged.”
The 6-3, 285-pound Guritz was an academic all-state selection in football and named the co-offensive lineman of the year in the WSC Gold.
Guritz, who was a starting guard as a senior, will head to Northwestern June 23 for summer school and offseason conditioning.
“As I continue to do their workouts and prepare for Northwestern, that has definitely helped me out with track because their workouts are really well organized,” Guritz said. “It’s been really nice.”
While football may be Guritz’s future, he’s looking forward to finishing his high school track career.
“I just hope I can continue to improve,” said Guritz, who also figures to be in the hunt for a state berth in the discus. “I know that in order to get to state (in shot put) you have to throw (around) 53 feet, so obviously that’s a goal I will continue to strive for.”
Hinsdale South (105 points) placed third out of seven teams Friday, finishing behind Downers Grove South (148.5) and Morton (113).
Tavaris Binion contributed to three victories to lead the Hornets. He won the 55-meter dash in 6.59 seconds and teamed with Jake Czjakowski, Greg Danielson and Jawahnn Downing to take the 4x160 relay (1:15.47) and 4x400 relay (3:36.40).
Junior Bryce Sesemann placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 40-3 3/4.
“I did what I wanted to, but it was barely not good enough to make all-conference,” said Sesemann, who started his track career as primarily a long jumper. “I had a (personal best jump), so I was happy.
“I was always interested in long jump, but I didn’t even know there was a triple jump when I started. Coach wants every long jumper to try triple. I tried it and liked it and have stuck with it ever since.”
