The best throws coach in the state

Dean Blahnik is the best throws coach in the state.

I once wrote that Blahnik was one of the best throws coaches in the state in order to cover all of my bases since there are obviously a lot of great coaches out there.

Blahnik’s wife, Terri, promptly corrected me the next time she saw me at a meet, stating Dean was in fact the best.

You know what? She’s right.

This season marks Blahnik’s 31st year of coaching the throws.

Algoma qualified multiple throwers for the WIAA Division 3 state track and field meet for an 11th straight year. In nine of those 11 years, the Wolves sent at least one boy and one girl thrower.

The Algoma throwers have captured 29 state medals the previous 10 years.

One of Blahnik’s pupils this year is his youngest daughter, Bobbi, a sophomore, who qualified for state in the shot put for a second time and is making her first appearance in the discus.

Unofficially, I believe the Blahnik family’s throwing circle leads the state for combined distance when you add up all their personal-bests marks.

Keep in mind, this is a family that used to plan their summer vacations around national throwing tournaments.

Dean’s three oldest children were all multiple-time state medalists.

His son, Zach, won three state championships, two in the shot put and one the discus. He holds both school records with marks of 58 feet, 7½ inches in the shot put and 176-5 in the discus.

His second-oldest daughter, Kennedy, won four state titles in each throw and holds some of the best marks for girls in all-time state history with personal-best marks of 49-1½ in the shot put and 169-2 in the discus.

Alex, the oldest child in the family, had the girls school records before Kennedy came along. She was a two-time state medalist in the discus.

Alex will make Dean a grandpa this summer, as she is expecting her first child.

While Dean may be an elder statesman in the grizzled world of throwing coaches, his softer side comes out when you put a microphone in his hand.

A true ambassador of his little community on the lakeshore, Blahnik doesn’t hesitate to help out when needed, gladly taking on a singing role for a local theatre performance.

Although many of his throwers have reached the WIAA state podium, the excitement level in his voice doesn’t change when he discusses any of his student-athletes, no matter the level they’re throwing at.

He’s equally as proud of someone who might not ever place at the Packerland Conference meet, but achieves a personal-best throw on the day.

Blahnik will get the most out of anyone that is willing to step into the throwing circle and put in the time and effort to get better.

Evidence of this is how he coached Jesse Kroll to a 51-foot throw and a state medal in the shot put during his only season in track and field in 2011.

Blahnik enjoys the throws because you’ve always got somebody to compete against – yourself and the tape measure.

By any measure, Blahnik is a true role model for all the student-athletes he’s coached over the years.

All of the above are the things I think about when Dean Blahnik comes to mind.

Cancer doesn’t know who it’s messing with by challenging him again.

In journalism circles, some would call not mentioning sooner the disease Blahnik is fighting as burying the lede.

However, cancer doesn’t define the man I call the best throws coach in the state. More importantly, someone I call a friend.

We’ve got your back, Dean.

Unite. Support. Fight.

#AlgomaStrong