When David Spates was a freshman at Monte Vista High, he went out for baseball.
Didn't make it. Not the varsity, not even the JV team.
Instead of pouting, Spates decided to go out for a sport in which there are no limits on the number of competitors or the expectations – track and field.
“At first I was kind of 'iffy' about track. I wasn't sure if I liked it or not,” Spates said, “but once I started being successful I never looked back.”
While Monte Vista baseball players are making plans for the summer, their season behind them, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Spates will be heading to Cerritos College today for the state track and field championships. He'll be among the favorites in the shot put and discus throw.
Spates, 17, has proven his resiliency far beyond athletics.
When Spates was in middle school, his father, Arturo, died.
“That was occupying my mind all the time, so I turned to sports,” Spates said. “I needed to do something.”
Realizing the benefits of sports in overcoming personal hardship, he would be challenged again and again.
Spates' sophomore year, he finished in the dreaded fourth spot in the shot put at the San Diego Section finals, just 4½ inches out of the third and final qualifying spot for the state meet.
Properly motivated, he won the section title as a junior.
Moving on to his first state meet, Spates placed in another unwelcome position – 11th. Good, because there are at least 27 competitors, but two spots out of moving into the championship final.
Again spurred on by the near miss, Spates finds himself third on the state list in the shot put and discus heading into this year's state meet.
“Those finishes have motivated me a lot,” Spates said, whose best this season is 61 feet, 2¼ inches in the shot and 183-4 in the discus. “I want to win.
“Although the finals are the big day, you have to get there first.”
Spates, who carries a 3.20 GPA and has accepted a track scholarship to Cal State Fullerton, studies the Web sites and was pleasantly surprised to find that his 182-10 section-winning discus mark was the No. 2 qualifier behind the 199-2 of heavily favored Dayshan Ragans of Bakersfield Foothill.
In the shot, Spates' 59-2 section-winning mark was sixth overall, but the senior's season best is No. 3.
“Now I'm excited about the discus, too,” Spates said. “I throw consistently. I'm always between 175 and 185, which should get me into the finals.
“I really believe 62 (in the shot) should win state, and I know I'm capable.”
Spates is a throwback in the shot, using what is called the glide technique instead of the spin, which is more popular, especially for those who also do the discus.
“I just feel more explosive,” Spates said. “I've tried the spin, but I feel more under control with the glide. It fits my style.”
His personality is low key, preferring not to draw attention to himself. At practice, he focuses on the task at hand.
Those who question his competitiveness make a large mistake.
“I think I'm best in big meets,” said Spates, noting that his top discus effort came against the best in the nation at the Arcadia Invitational and his No. 2 mark was at the section finals. His best toss in the shot came at the section prelims.
“Now that I'm there (at the state meet), I try not to think in terms of an off or an on day. I get in the ring and I don't think of anything in particular. I just quickly put the shot or throw the discus.
“If I need a big throw, I focus on getting it quickly. The better the competition, the better I perform.”
Steve Brand: (619) 293-1854; steve.brand@uniontrib.com
