Johnsburg's Angel Martin competes, sets records as wheelchair athlete

Angel Martin received a fist bump from one of the Class 2A shot put finalists as he was about to enter the ring Saturday outside Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium.

The Johnsburg freshman then threw in front of the 3A finalists, who waited before they warmed up. Shortly after that, Martin had his name announced in front of thousands of fans at the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Meet as the winner in his division.

In Martin’s young life, it was one of the best days he had ever experienced. Skyhawks coach Chris Setzler says Martin is a young man of few words, but his smile said all that was necessary.

“It was fun,” Martin said.

That word, “fun,” was in most of his responses to questions about the state meet. Martin became the first local wheelchair athlete to compete at state since the IHSA added those events five years ago. Martin and Seneca’s Isaiah Swom competed in shot put, while just Martin threw the discus. Several other boys competed in races from 100 through 800 meters.

Martin won the shot at 9 feet, 11 inches, and won the discus at 25-0. His performances will be state records since he and Swom were the first throwers to ever compete.

“He’s pretty stoked to throw here,” Johnsburg thrower Tyler Prouty said. “I’ve talked to him all day, he’s pretty excited. Not many people get a chance to do this.”

Prouty, thrower Fred Fuchs and throws coach Wayne Bennett comprise Martin’s Pit Crew, helping him weigh his implements and get in and out of his wheelchair to his throwing chair.

Setzler says the whole process with Martin, who was born with spina bifida, has been a wonderful collaborative effort from numerous people this year. It started with Tom Weaver, Johnsburg’s transition coordinator and the Skyhawks girls track coach, and Amanda Smirz, Martin’s special education teacher.

Weaver works to transition special needs students from the high school environment to helping them get jobs after high school. He had a meeting with Martin and asked him if he would like to do track and field. Smirz also urged him to take up the sport.

“We’re very blessed that we had a lot of people around encouraging him,” Setzler said. “It was really a great team effort with everybody to get this done.”

When Martin showed interest, the next step was contacting Great Lakes Adaptive Sports, which helps special needs athletes with racing chairs and equipment. Great Lakes Adaptive’s Cindy Housner and Tom Daily came to the school with some of their equipment, including a chair built for wheelchair throwers.

Great Lakes Adaptive could not lend the chair for the season, but Johnsburg’s maintenance crew studied it closely and built Martin a chair for a fraction of the $1,200 cost to get a similar new one.

“The throwing chair is wonderful,” Setzler said. “Our guys in maintenance did a fantastic job.”

As Martin’s teammates, Prouty, a sophomore, and Fuchs, a junior, became his pit crew. Fuchs came up with the name and they put it on the back of T-shirts for when they are helping Martin prepare to throw.

Prouty, Fuchs and Bennett get the chair positioned in the ring, then lift Martin onto the seat. He holds a bar with his left hand, then tucks the shot under his neck with his right hand, just like regular throwers.

At first, Martin was hesitant about throwing.

“I was nervous a little bit, and then I knew it was fun,” he said.

The only regret over the weekend for Setzler was a miscommunication from the Class 2A Vernon Hills Sectional. Martin’s mother, Maria, came to give him some nursing care after he threw and, not understanding there still was a race, wound up taking him home. Setzler had planned on having Martin race so he could qualify in the 100 meters.

“I felt a little embarrassed that I hadn’t communicated that better,” Setzler said. “It’s something I’m working to improve. I just feel like we missed an opportunity for him to be in front of this crowd on the straightaway.”

Had Martin qualified, there would have been nine athletes in the wheelchair 100 finals, a full field for the first time.

Next year, Setzler plans on having Martin race at sectional and state, as well as throw.

Setzler and Weaver also hope to get more wheelchair athletes competing locally. Martin competed at Badger, Wisconsin, and at Richmond-Burton’s Rocket Relays this year. Weaver is reaching out to other transition coordinators to get more athletes involved and Setzler hopes to have wheelchair events at the McHenry County Meet next year.

“Tom has told them, ‘Here’s the success we’ve had with this young man this year. If you have any kids like this, this is a great option,’ ” Setzler said. “We’re trying to build that momentum. How can we get more of these kids out here to enjoy the sport of track and field?”

Because, as Martin will tell you, “It’s fun.”