Twice as nice: Colonel Crawford's twin throwers Corin and Julia Feik return to regionals
NORTH ROBINSON – Colonel Crawford's Corin Feik vividly remembers discus at the district meet last year.
And younger sister Julia is the main culprit behind that memory.
"Ever since middle school, my dad has had heat sheets throughout the track season and he'll write down the results from everyone and keep his own scores," Feik said. "Right after I threw my last one and Julia was up next, he told me if she passes me, I'm not going [to the regional].
"After he told me she beat me out by an inch, I cried for like a half hour … and didn't talk to anybody, I just stayed in my own little zone. Then, after I got over it, I congratulated her and she was like, 'I don't even want to throw next week.' It was heartbreaking for the first half hour, but I knew she needed me now and I still came to every single practice with her.
"We just bonded after that, we've always been close because we're twins, but it was a realization that she's going to get better at some things than I am, that's just what happens in sports."
Qualifiers: One step away! Crawford County with 13 district champions, 47 advancing to regional
Even coming to the realization her younger sister – by 15 minutes – would outshine her in some things, Corin used that feeling from the district as fuel to continue improving her craft and make sure district heartbreak didn't happen again.
"It was a huge motivator," she said. "It was like a dagger that wasn't coming out of me until I beat her out."
But there was only one problem – Julia was going to drop discus to focus solely on shot put.
"When she told me she didn't want to throw disc this year I needed another motivator to get me going. I looked over at the wall and saw (Megan Lyons') 126-3, that's my goal. I've gotten close, at the N10 meet I went 123-6 and I was so excited. I'm three feet off, I had to keep pushing myself to keep going."
And the same thing that became Corin's newfound motivation was the driving force for Julia's decision to specialize in shot put.
"Shelby Gledhill's record (38-2) was on our board and I said my eighth-grade year after getting the middle school record, I can get this one, too," Julia said. "Since then, that was my No. 1 goal and this year I decided to focus on (shot put) my final year of high school. I'll graduate and get two degrees at the same time, so I had to really make my mark now.
"I always wanted my name on that board, now I'll try to keep it for a while."
At the Crawford County Meet, Julia stepped up and hurled the shot 39-6½, which bested Gledhill's record by more than a foot and meant she had accomplished her main goal for the season.
But she isn't content with settling for 39-6½. If she wants to make it to state, a throw of that far – or more – is probably what it'll take.
"I still feel like I can do more, but it feels good having (the record)," Julia said. "I'm really proud of myself and I feel happy for everyone that has helped me. I'm grateful to have everyone by my side and pushing my limits because they knew I could do it, and more."
Trail to throwing
It all started in fifth grade for Julia.
"Field day in elementary school," she said. "I did the softball throw and discus throw – I did foul in my fifth-grade discus. My older sister (Lydia) threw first, so we went to all of her track meets and, man, it was really fun. Watching her was an adrenaline rush every day. We went to a couple practices, then our seventh-grade year we had a coach but he didn't come a lot, so (Brad) Ruffener took us under his wing. Then (Adam) Stuckert became our coach in eighth grade and he has been amazing."
Stuckert is just one of several specialized coaches the Colonel Crawford track and field program is blessed to have. And having resources like this is why the Eagles have one of the most dominant programs in the area.
And it certainly didn't hurt that the Feiks also live, and work, on a farm.
"The natural strength from the farm ... it's different seeing these – I don't want to say city girls – but more urban girls throwing, they're bigger, and I'll ask them how much they work out. They say they lift with the team and follow their programs.
"But some of the bigger competition, they also live on farms so it makes more sense. Bailing season, working with cattle and different animals is a lot of core strength and mental stability."
One of Julia's thoughts getting into the sport initially was how she would stack up against the competition.
"When I first signed up for it I was like, whoa, this is a big girl sport and I'm this skinny kid," she said. "I didn't think I could do it, but working on a farm gives you natural muscle at that point. It's fine and dandy working out here (at school) but then you still work out at home and it helped me level up above them.
"I won my fifth-grade year and instantly fell in love with it. In sixth grade, when my sister was in eighth, she would bring shot puts home and I'd throw it out in our yard. My dad didn't like it for mowing, when he'd be walking he'd hit a divot and get his heel stuck."
Thankfully dad never ran over any shots, or discuses.
Return trip to the regional
It will be the second trip to the Division III regional meet for both twins.
Corin was part of the 4x100 relay that made it to Friday's finals as a freshman before ultimately finishing seventh. Julia, of course, made it last year in shot put and discus, finishing ninth and 11th respectively.
"I haven't been to regionals since my freshman year," Corin said. "I wasn't running sophomore year, then COVID happened. And junior year, Julia beat me out. Now this year, it's just so surreal ... I'm still speechless about it."
Corin decided to stop running after her freshman year because it was impacting major progress being made in her throws.
"One affected the other," she said. "I was spending too much time with one and it was affecting the other. I decided to stick to throwing and I just have so much fun back in the pits, it's a big family over there.
"We're all wanting each other to just get better."
That was never more apparent than at the district meet last weekend when teammate Caleb Christman had a personal best throw of 135-3.
"He threw 135 last week and I was so ecstatic because that was a nine-foot PR for him, which is insane," Corin said.
Coming off a district title with a throw of 118-5, Corin is going to try for that school record Friday evening in Port Clinton which, if she gets it, should be enough to put her in contention for a coveted spot at state.
"I know it's achievable," she said. "Seeing (Christman's PR), I know I'm ready for this. I'm just chasing big goals with big dreams."
And regardless of what happens in shot put Wednesday for Julia, her big goal is one she can achieve.
"My dad and I agreed no matter what happens, we're getting fish," she said. "We're going to be up by the lake, we're going to get good fish."
What's next for the twins?
Julia's throwing career will continue at Ashland University. It is one of several schools to approach her – most offering some sort of financial incentives – but she decided on Ashland because of the rich tradition the track and field program has, especially when it comes to the throwing events.
"I never knew Ashland was even an option," Julia said. "I was really grateful to even be asked to participate in college sports ... and it was beyond a crazy experience to figure out colleges, financial plans, everything. I was really excited to hear from them, especially because Ashland and Jud's (Logan) history in throwing is amazing.
"Even as a walk-on, it's surreal I can go."
Since making her decision, Julia admits sometimes she feels additional pressure to constantly succeed as her high school career winds down.
"I kinda get nervous when I think about it sometimes," she said. "On my bad days, I think about going to Ashland and I threw like crap today. But then I think about the fact they still want me – good days and bad days – they still want me."
Although slightly older sister Corin won't be throwing discus in college, she already has her future plans set in stone.
"I'm staying over at Marion Technical College to continue my nursing career," she said. "I already have my STNA and I'm going to be working at the hospital this summer. I'm not continuing my throwing career, which is kinda sad knowing this is the end.
"But I will be cheering on Julia over at Ashland, so go Eagles!"
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This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Colonel Crawford's Feik twins throw their way back to regionals
