CCD junior bulking up for better 'shot' at state

INDIAN HILL – Not much natural exists in the throwing world of track and field.

Not often in real life, for example, does somebody pick up a 12-pound ball of metal and try to fling it out from under his or her chin. Nor do people frequently spin around in a circle and try to toss what amounts to a four-pound dinner plate across the back yard.

Yet Cincinnati Country Day junior Mantero Moreno-Cheek is one of those people. And to get better at his craft, he said he has to "just be more natural" in the 7-foot circle from which his throws emanate.

"I like that it's easy, but it's hard," Moreno-Cheek said. "You just have to find the right routine. After that, it's just repeating it over and over and refining it a little bit every time."

He's gotten good in the last few seasons, too, with room to grow.

"He's becoming better and better," veteran head coach Howard Brownstein said. "He scores in every meet and we can use those points. He's come a long way."

According to the Miami Valley Conference website, Moreno-Cheek and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy sophomore Prince Sammons throw their respective objects a long way. Moreno-Cheek is best in the league at the shot, with a toss of 46-foot-5 to Sammons' best effort of 44-foot-5. Sammons has a 119 throw in the discus with Moreno-Cheek 6 feet back at 113.

Moreno-Cheek, an Indian Hill resident, also plays tackle on the offensive and defensive lines for the Indians football team. He likes both sports, but for different reasons. And said they have some crossover skills.

"I like football because it's aggressive," he said. "That is exciting. I like track because it's a lot more laid back. You just go out and throw. You have more time to get to know the guys you're throwing against.

"Then in the weight room, when you're training, doing the clean and the snatch, it's kind of the same motion, exploding up. Just like you do blocking somebody or like when you throw the shot. It's about explosion upward."

Brownstein said he's gotten a lot stronger since last year.

"He gained a lot of size and strength for football but he dropped a lot of that. I never thought I'd have to say this to Mantero, but I want him to eat more. He has to keep his strength up," Brownstein said.

Moreno-Cheek said he went from 260 pounds in football season down to 225 to show off his physique during a spring break beach trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. He's back up to 235 now and said his distances should increase as he continues bulking up.

Brownstein said he'd need to reach 48 feet if he wants to reach his season goal of qualifying for the state meet in hte shot put next month in Columbus.

"My coach said I'm moving too slow across the ring (prior to throws)," Moreno-Cheek said. "I need to think before I throw and be quicker. But I feel like I can go easily over 50 in the shot and 125 in the discus (before the end of the season.)"