BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Natalie Alaniz travels to Austin this week with math and momentum on her side. The Edinburg North senior will compete in the Class 6A girls discus throw at the UIL state track meet this week at Mike A. Meyers Stadium. Alaniz won a silver medal in the event at the regional meet earlier this month in San Antonio.
Helping prepare for her first-ever trek to state is coach Briana Chapa, a physics teacher who is in her first year as a throwing coach. Chapa, who also coaches powerlifting, has immersed and instructed herself in throwing through YouTube videos and academic papers which breakdown the mechanics of proper technique.
“It’s pretty easy to find stuff like that online,” Chapa said. “Just Google, ‘throwing studies’ and put a .pdf at the end, and all kinds of stuff comes up.”
Chapa’s scientific acumen has transitioned to Alaniz’s approach. The magic number for Alaniz is 45, as in 45 degrees — the ideal angle the discus should be with the ground when it leaves the athlete’s hand. But Chapa tries to limit the math jargon and use easy to understand coaching terms.
“When I try to correct Natalie, I don’t say, ‘Hey, increase your angle by such and such percentage,’” Chapa said. “I say, “Raise your arm higher or lower, watch your hand.’”
Alaniz entered regionals with the hope of setting a new personal best, which she did on her very first throw of 122 feet. Alaniz remained in front for much of the afternoon until Brianna Jordan of Northside Brennan threw a 123-07 on her final attempt. Alaniz had just one try to reclaim gold.
“I knew I had to stay calm if I wanted to beat her,” she said. “I just threw it and the judges were like, ‘123 point…’ and that’s when everyone got really nervous.”
Alaniz fell three inches short of first, throwing a 123-04. Though she settled for second, she still broke her personal best twice during the course of one event. Alaniz has hopes of breaking her personal record once more in Austin and is aiming for 130 feet.
“I didn’t picture myself going to state,” Alaniz said. “I just did everything that I can do, and I guess everybody there choked. I saw a lot of girls that throw far, and I was like, ‘Why aren’t they throwing good? Why are they scared?’”
Alaniz enters state with the lowest seed mark, but is optimistic about her chances nonetheless.
“I know that I’m not the favorite,” she said. “But throwing is weird. You have good days and bad days. Anything can happen. I’m just hoping I can hit a personal best and let everything take care of itself from there.”