John Glenn’s Mikel Udengwu wins CIF Championship in Discus
John Glenn’s Mikel Udengwu is a CIF champion in discus, placed second in Masters and competed in CIF State competition. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
NORWALK – Mikel Udengwu, a senior at John Glenn High School, completed a successful season for the Eagles and won a CIF-Southern Section Track and Field season with an individual title in the Discus in May.
A year that began on the football field back in August for the 6-4 defensive lineman, ended up at the 102nd CIF-State Track and Field Championships in Clovis at Buchanan High School at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“To make it to that level in this sport is difficult,” said John Glenn Track and Field coach Andy De La Torre……… “It’s long and can feel lonely, but Mikel kept himself motivated by having a goal each and every week and did everything he possibly could achieve those goals. He’s the type of athlete you want on your team.”
But the highlight of the year for Udengwu was the throw he pulled off at the CIF-SS Division 3 Finals on May 13 at Moorpark High School in May.
On his first throw he sent the discus flying 193-0 feet that would eventually give him the title. The throw was 13 feet longer than the second-place throw of 180-08.
“I thought it was a mishap,” said Udengwu, of the throw. “My PR (Personal record) was 171’ at the 605 League finals.
“It was insane, it was crazy. In my third warmup I threw it past 190 feet. I’ve never thrown that far before.”
Just after Udengwu threw that warmup toss, an athlete from Pacifica High School said, ‘Well, you did it now.’”
The final advice before the finals came from coach De La Torre: “’Whatever you felt, do it again.’”
Udengwu finished second in the prelims with a toss of 171’-9”. The first nine athletes qualified for the finals.
“We trained so hard that week and we got a new disc,” he said. “It was supposed to keep in the air longer.”
Udengwu learned of the new disc from fellow athlete and friend Jason Nwaka from Covina High. “He told me about getting that disc and they (coaches) went and got it and had it for the finals.”
Glenn Athletic Director Linda Parra talked about how Udengwu has grown in his four years at the school.
“I cannot say enough good things about Mikel,” Parra said. “He has grown up the past four years at John Glenn, proving that he can be successful within the classroom as well as on the teams he participates with.
“Mikel works hard during practices, encourages his teammates, and is always willing to lend a hand to others.”
Udengwu was named the MVP for both football and Track and Field this past season.
“What I admire the most about Mikel is that he has remained very humble throughout the success he has had at John Glenn,” continued Parra. “He is quick to give recognition to his coaching staff and teammates to let them know that he would not be where he is today without all the support he has received.
“I am confident Mikel will go on to be a two-sport athlete at the collegiate level and continue to make us all proud. I, along with the JGHS staff will definitely miss him next year.”
Udengwu remembers his first year competing on the track team.
“When I first came in, I would make it difficult for my coaches,” he said. “Coming back from COVID made me grow a lot. What would make me better was that I figured I would grow as an athlete.
“I trusted (Andy). I was new to the sport. I just had to put my faith in my coach. My numbers will still be the same.”
Udengwu will attend Division II Fort Lewis College in Colorado and will get the opportunity to play football and keep his dream alive in track and field.
Track and Field throws coach Ray Nieman, who was also his offensive and defensive line coach in football, said of Udengwu’s work ethic and why he was a success.
“One of the reasons for his success in these sports is his work ethic,” Nieman said. “He never was late or never was absent to practices or meets and games. At practice he always worked harder than any athlete at Glenn, whether we were in the weight room, practice field or working on his spins for throwing the discus. He did it with intensity and purpose.”
Nieman also reflected on Udengwu’s first year in track and field and his senior year, “When Mikel first stepped into the throw ring, he threw a 70 feet discus,” he said. “But because of his work ethic, attention to detail and his ability to understand the fundamentals, he started his senior year throwing 128 feet, 11 inches.
“Every week he would throw five or more feet further with new PR’s. By the time we got to the Mt. SAC Relays, he threw a 170 which placed him fourth.”
He was first in the prelims and beat the state’s number-one ranked Brandon See. He would beat See again for the CIF title and Udengwu was the No. 2-ranked discus thrower in the state.
“That was like my right of passage,” said Udengwu, of competing at the Relays. “It’s the best of the best. Coach Andy was telling me it’s ‘Where the World’s best athletes compete.’ It got to me in the warmups and I then calmed down.”
De La Torre made a decision to keep in down at the frosh/soph level at one point, which proved to be a big turning point for Udengwu.
He won the discus with a throw of 94-02 and finished second in the shot put with a toss of 32-11.
“I looked to boost his confidence in the sport so that he would return in the following years and build upon himself,” said De La Torre of the decision. “He did just that and in his junior year he returned and made amazing leaps.”
The team started entering invitational meets in his junior year where the athletes could compete on a larger stage.
Udengwu ended up hitting new PR’s in the discus (129-11) and shot put (40-11.5). That same year he took first at league finals again in the discus (116-07) and shot put (39-3.5) and was voted field event MVP by the league and qualified to move on to CIF Preliminaries.
Unfortunately, he didn’t qualify for the finals, but De La Torre said that drove him to have a monster year as a senior.
“Mikel knew he could perform better than he did at CIF, and after the football season he came back out locked in and ready to train this past season,” De La Torre added.
After his win in CIF, Udengwu was under the weather, but finished second at the Masters with a toss of 181-10 on his fifth attempt and qualified for state.
With weather still a factor in his state competition, Udengwu advanced to the state finals with a toss of 179-9 and finished 11th (159-7). But he was proud of his attempt and appearance in state.
“It was a blessing,” said Udengwu of his state participation. “I never saw myself going that far.
“I felt a lot of pride for making it that far. I felt proud to represent John Glenn at state.”
Mikel’s older brother, Edwin, was a star running back and had a record-setting year with 2,000 all-purpose yards. Mikel said of his brother, “I definitely looked up to him,” he said. “He did everything right and the foundation that he built, gave me a big jump going into high school.”
Edwin Udengwu was a sprinter on the track team and played football at Fullerton College.
“Mikel is a great athlete,” Nieman concluded. “He’s a hard worker and a great person. He will do great things. It was an honor coaching him in Football and Track and Field.”
What they said:
Andy De La Torre, Glenn coach: “Mikel's senior year was one that I didn't see coming. Throughout the season, he had been dominating in the discus. He shined in the big meets as well. At the Covina Invitational, he took first in the discus (163-00). Two weeks later he would compete at the Mt. SAC Relays against the very same athletes he saw at the state meet. Mikel would take 4th (170-00). Once Mikel hit 170-00 you could just see the confidence boost and it seemed like that was his realization that he belonged in the sport.”
Ray Nieman, Glenn throws coach: “Mikel was a leader on the football team. He led by example and was a student of the game and understood the concepts. He understood why we were teaching and worked on his techniques to perfect the fundamentals of the game or how to throw. He would spend time perfecting his techniques with or without our help. He wanted to be the best at what he did. He ended up being a great defensive end and offensive tackle.”