Ian Waltz Post Falls Year: Senior Sport: Track And Field Event: Weight Events

Ian Waltz has set some high goals in track this spring. That explains why he’s worked religiously since the football season ended.

The dedication already is paying off.

For the second time in an indoor meet this winter, Waltz eclipsed last year’s best in the shot put. And this time - Saturday at the Simplot Games in Pocatello - he broke the 60-foot barrier.

Waltz put the shot 61 feet, 6 inches to win at Simplot against a field of 104. His best throw last year (58-6 1/2) came at the state finals, when he came within a half-inch of the school record. Former Trojans weight specialist and Seattle Seahawks player Joe Tofflemire owns the school record. That mark will surely fall this spring. Waltz’s indoor marks don’t count toward the record.

Last month, at an indoor meet at Eastern Washington University, Waltz threw 59-9.

Waltz has his sights on the State A-1 meet mark of 62-6, one foot shy of his throw at Pocatello.

“The thing that most pleases me about Ian is his dedication,” said Post Falls assistant coach Dan Nipp, who served as head coach at the school for 15 years and also coached Tofflemire. “I’ve never had a kid this dedicated.”

Nipp recalled talking to Waltz at McDonald’s in Moscow following Post Falls’ 28-25 loss to Burley in the State A-1 Division II football playoffs in mid-November. “I asked him what he planned to do next, and he said `Coach, I’m ready for the shot put.’ I told him to take a week off and then we’d begin working out,” Nipp said.

Waltz has hardly rested since. His workout includes 3 hours of weightlifting, plyometrics and throwing four school days a week. He takes Wednesdays off.

Waltz throws in the small auxiliary gym at Post Falls. Many of his throws hit the low ceiling, and he recently launched a 64-footer in practice.

“It shows I’ve got some big throws in me,” Waltz said. “I’m about where I wanted to be (going into spring).”