Dana Baltazar gets ready to unleash a throw at the Observerland Relays. (photo courtesy of PlymouthPictures.com)

Specializing in
Heavy Metal
Salem's trio of top throwers enjoying
robust success with first-year coach

BY ED WRIGHT
May 11, 2010, 11:15 p.m.

  At first glance, Anna Britnell's Tuesday afternoons entourage appears somewhat intimidating.

  Weighing in at a combined 805 pounds, the muscular threesome could easily double as bodyguards for the Salem boys track-and-field team's first-year throwing coach.

  But once you get to know Ed Merhi, Dana Baltazar and Ethan Walsh, you'll find out what Britnell has discovered the past few months: They're gentle giants.

  That is, until they step onto the track-and-field stage with a piece of heavy metal in their palms.

  It's at that point that Salem's history-making trio of throwers shed the Mr. Nice Guy labels and let it rip.

  Mentored by Britnell -- a former standout throwing star at Salem and the University of Michigan -- Merhi, Baltazar and Walsh have transformed themselves into a triumphant triumvirate, placing first in every competition they've entered this spring.

  The throwers' most impressive accomplishment -- so far, at least -- came May 1 when they won the shot put competition at the Observerland Relays.

  They became the first team in eight years to unseat Novi Detroit Catholic Central in the event.

  "When Dana and I were freshmen, we made it a goal to beat Catholic Central in the Observerland Relays by the time we graduated," said Merhi, who like Baltazar is a senior. "When track season started this spring, we said, 'We're going after CC this year,' and we finally got them."

  All three throwers are among the Kensington Lakes Activities Association's Kensington Conference's top shot-putters. Merhi and Baltazar have season-best heaves of 50-plus feet while Walsh has a season-best effort of 144 feet, 7 inches in the discus, a distance few area throwers have exceeded.

  "I had only coached girls prior to this season, so I was a little nervous at first about coaching the boys," said Britnell, who is married to Salem head football coach Kurt Britnell. "But 12 of the 14 throwers we have are football players, so they've been very respectful. It's a very coachable group, too, which has made it easy for me."

  Merhi, Baltazar and Walsh had never been coached by a woman before this spring, but the unique situation hasn't been an issue, they agreed.

  "We look at her as our coach, and a very good coach who knows what she's talking about," said Merhi. "It hasn't been a challenge at all."

  "The biggest thing she's taught us is technique," said Baltazar. "We've all either beat our old PR's or we're close, so she's doing a great job."

  "We'll go to meets and some of the other teams' coaches don't believe I'm their coach," said Britnell, smiling.

  And then the metal starts flying, the coach and her throwers exchange fist bumps and high fives, and everyone becomes a believer.

  While the Salem throwers' big bodies help to some extent, Britnell emphasized that there's a lot more to being successful in the shot put and discus than bulk.

  "I'd say it's 70 percent technique and 30 percent strength," she said. "I'll use myself as an example. I was the smallest thrower in the Big 10 when I was at Michigan. I was competing against some girls that were humongous, but size can only take you so far.

  "When I recruit throwers, I recruit athletes. I don't look at just size and weight because there's a lot more to it than that."

  Britnell also revealed another misconception about the sport of track-and-field throwing.

  "A lot of people think it's all upper-body strength because you're using your arms to throw something," she said. "Actually, it's all about lower-body strength. You have to have strong legs and hips to be successful."

  Although Merhi was the only one of the three who owned Division 1 state meet credentials -- he finished 11th in the shot put at last year's state meet -- heading into this season, Britnell is confident all three can advance to the ultimate competition next month.

  "Eddie and Dana are both very capable of throwing mid-50s in the shot put, which would put them in the top 10 in the state," said Britnell. "And Ethan had a big break-out meet last week, throwing the discus 144 feet, 7 inches. He's actually the strongest of the three and he's only a junior, so he has a bright future."

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.