Tyler Rocco tossed aside plenty of would-be blockers as a top defensive lineman for the Downers Grove South football team last fall. He is showing the same powerful throwing style as a member of the Mustangs’ track and field team.

Rocco advanced to this weekend’s state meet in both the discus (second place 162 feet) and the shot put (third, 55-6) to highlight Downers South’s tie for sixth at last Friday’s Class 3A Lake Park sectional.

“With Tyler it’s been steady week-to-week performances all season,” Downers South coach Mark Wiggins said of Rocco, who just missed his school-record shot put distance of 55-7.

Having state title favorite Dan Block of Lake Park (208-11 in the discus and 65-7 in shot put) in both events provided added motivation.

“Seeing that kind of competition Tyler took it to another level,” Wiggins said, “and with his work ethic he has definitely put himself in position to be one of the elite athletes in the state.”

Based on sectional results, Rocco is seeded seventh in the state in the discus and eighth in the shot put.

The Mustangs (26) finished in a three-way tie with Glenbard East and Proviso East in the 15-team field, but another number — five — held greater importance.

That represented the total of state qualifiers for Downers South, as besides Rocco’s dual success in throwing events, the Mustangs will also send pole vaulter Andy Rosete and two relays to Charleston.

Rosete placed fifth in a strong pole vault field with a height of 13-9, setting a new school record.

“Andy has peaked at the right time,” Wiggins said. “He had been flirting back and forth with 12-6 and 13 feet all season, but we knew he has the potential to go 14-plus. He just hadn’t put it together yet, but what a great way to go out there, have his best meet of the year and hit the state qualifying mark.

“Just like Tyler, it’s the result of hard work. Andy’s gone to pole vault camps and put in a lot of time and effort.”

Also surviving the deep and tough sectional were two relays.

The 4 x 100-meter relay of Scottie Williams, Tasean Jackson, Marcus McNeal and Jeremy McNeal qualified for state with a fifth-place time of 43.14, and the 4 x 800 relay of Kyle Enke, Steve Zahrobsky, Chris Madison and Steve Husby were also fifth (8:02.94) to advance.

“That was one of the premier sectionals in the state,” Wiggins said, “and we told kids that if you can get out of this sectional you have a great chance of placing downstate. I feel really good about all of their chances of making it to Day Two, and our kids aren’t even satisfied anymore with just making it to state. They really want to make it to Day Two, and they know what it takes.”

Sectional standouts who missed state included Jason Jozaites (fifth in 110 high hurdles), Zack Weber (seventh in high jump) and Anthony Richardson (seventh in triple jump).

Downers North
Following a great cross country season, Downers North’s distance runners rose to the occasion again in track.

The Trojans’ 4 x 800-meter relay of Dan Smith, Dan Phistry, Brian Llamas and Andrew Montague qualified for state from Friday’s Lake Park sectional with a fourth-place time of 8:02.19.

Phistry, Llamas and Smith were the Nos. 2 to 4 runners in Downers North’s lineup at cross country sectionals in the fall when they qualified for state as a team.

Back on track, Mitch Witek missed the state cut but finished a strong third in the 300 hurdles (39.96, just .59 of a second out of first).

In the 1,600, Phistry was fourth (4:29.75) and Llamas placed sixth (4:31.46). Rob Olcese placed fifth in the long jump (20-9), Ben Silver was sixth in the 3,200 (9:34.49) and Rob Lott was seventh in the 100 dash.

The Trojans were 11th in the 15-team field with 17 points.