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So, what better way to celebrate the occasion than coming home with her second state medal in as many years, and a berth on the All-State team for the second straight season?

Despite several weather delays as a series of thunder storms buffeted the Grand Rapids area, dragging the meet into the early hours of the evening, Poel kept her poise and composure.

Her goal of winning a state medal was always foremost in her mind, and she never wavered, through all of the lightning and torrential rain that caused multiple stoppages of the events.

When it was finally over, and she'd lasted through the preliminaries - and the weather - Poel earned a fourth place medal in the shot put, and the All-State recognition that went along with it, by uncorking her season's best throw of 35 feet, 7 1/4 inches.

Poel's excellence isn't just on the athletic field, either. Her coach, Deb Larson, reported that her star shot putter also received Academic All- State honors for maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.5, and placing at the state meet.

"Molly's distances continued to improve as the season progressed," Larson said, "and it was great to have her best performance of the season at the state meet. "She was very focused, and determined to deliver an All-State finish for her new nephew."

Prior to the season, Larson and Poel had agreed on setting a goal of 36 feet. She came with 4 3/4 inches of making it, too. Only two weeks before, Poel had thrown the shot 33 feet, 8 inches and improved on that by almost two feet.

"That's what makes Molly a great studentathlete ... her drive to succeed, not only on the field of competition, but in the classroom as well," said Larson. Poel was the regional and Ski Valley Conference champion in the shot put this season.

Graham Burry finished sixth in the 110- meter high hurdles with a time of 16.27 seconds. He slipped and stumbled in the 300- meter intermediate hurdles. Sean McDaniel did not place.