Cardinal’s Max Soltis’ senior year of high school athletics was in danger of being over before it even started after having surgery over the summer to repair his right ACL and meniscus. But the Huskies’ senior made it his mission to not miss out on his final track season and ultimately took seventh place in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III discus throw by hurling a distance of 157 feet, 10 inches last Friday at The Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
“It is really cool coming from a small school,” Soltis said. “We don’t really get a lot of recognition for stuff like this. It is cool to represent your town and be able to be up on the podium.”
Soltis’ path to becoming an All-Ohioan started in the first flight of competitors when he was seeded just outside of the top nine distances required to make it to the final round. On his second throw, Soltis seized first place in the first flight by hitting a mark of 153 feet, 8 inches.
“It was definitely a dogfight,” Soltis noted. “Those guys in the front, they set the tone for the entire meet for sure, but you just have to put your head down and work through those three throws and hope you will have a chance to throw in the finals and I did.”
Soltis stayed at the top of the first flight after the first round of throws and qualified for the final after the second flight when, his best throw landed him in eighth place.
The Cardinal senior did not exceed the distance of his second throw on his first two throws of the final round but saved his best for last, hurling a distance of 157 feet, 10 inches, rising to seventh place to overtake Patrick Henry junior Grant Smith.
“My coaches were definitely a big help there,” he said. “They were telling me ‘How do you want to end your season? You want to make it on the podium?’ I said ‘Yeah, for sure,’ and I stepped up, took their advice and really got after it.”
Soltis concluded his Cardinal athletic career by earning his first state placing in the discus throw. When it was all said and done, Soltis could only look back on how his journey started, where his senior season almost ended before the first day of school.
According to Soltis, he injured his right knee during a football training camp last year after the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division meet. He still competed in the OHSAA Division III postseason but fell short of netting a state berth in the discus or shot put.
After his junior year of track ended, Soltis said he visited a doctor, and it was revealed he had torn his ACL and meniscus. He underwent surgery to repair the damage but was ruled out for his senior year of football.
Soltis said that although his football season had ended, he would not end his high school career by also missing his final year of track.
“I think my doctors actually hated me because of how hard I pushed myself,” he added. “Two weeks out I was probably doing some stuff that I probably should not have been doing but I was just so determined to be back. I worked really hard at it and I am happy with the outcome.”
Coach Dakota Ward praised Soltis for his commitment to rehabbing and returning in time for one last chance at earning a state bid.
“Obviously he is a great football player and is great at all sports, but his number one thing is track and field,” the three-year coach said. “He loves that, so he was really determined to get back in there.”
Throwing coach Sharon Stotts said that Soltis’ final discus throw competition represented the journey he took to recover from a serious injury.
“It was really gratifying,” she said. “With the surgery and injury, he sacrificed a lot to get back here. It was good to see all of that hard work pay off and for him to achieve some of his goals and to just really be successful, so we are very proud of him.”
Soltis may have ended his Cardinal career but his throwing career is far from over, as he will be throwing at Ashland University for the track and field program.
“When I took over his sophomore year it was his time to shine,” Ward said. “He took the reigns by being a team captain and leading the throwers. He really helps out with the middle school kids on the side, showing them some tips and tricks. It’s been great having him on the team and we are really going to miss him next year.”
