Two of America's Best to Join Us on Today's NHSCA Sports Hour

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

In our four months as the hosts of the NHSCA Sports Hour, Trish and I have had the pleasure to interview some outstanding young men and women, who have shown on-the-air that they are very wise beyond their years.

The examples (click on names to listen to interviews): Holland Reynolds (University HS, CA); Chance Anthony (Breckenridge County HS, KY); Hope Steffensen (Kenai HS, AK); and Destin McCauley of Apple Valley High School last week.

Today, we'll talk with two more top-notch student-athletes...swimmer Missy Franklin of Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado and shot putter Ryan Crouser of Barlow High School in Gresham, Oregon.  Both athletes are nominees for this month's GTM Sportswear/NHSCA Athlete of the Month Award.

Franklin, who is only a sophomore and is already on the U.S. National Swim Team, is considered a future Olympian...maybe as soon as the 2012 Games in London.  Last month at the Colorado 5A state championships, Franklin broke the all-time U.S. high school record in the 100-yard backstroke.

Franklin's time of 52.30 seconds topped the old record set by Natalie Coughlin (52.86) in 1988.  Coughlin has won three Olympic gold medals.  She also broke her own state record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.41 seconds.  In all, she mined four gold medals after being a part of Regis' 200 medley and 400 free relay teams.  Regis Jesuit also won the 5A team title.




Speaking of record-setters, we'll then be joined by Crouser, who is a University of Texas recruit, who broke a national record twice in the same meet!

At the prestigious Simplot Games in Pocatello, Idaho, the 6-7, 235 pound Crouser broke the 21-year old record with a toss of 75 feet, 3 1/2 inches.  He then topped that mark by nearly two-feet with a toss of 77 feet, 2 3/4 inches.  The old mark was held by Brent Noon of Fallbrook High School in California in 1990.

Below is video of his record-setting day...


Watch more video of 2011 adidas Simplot Games on flotrack.org

Also on today's show with be Mike Oakland, head baseball coach at St. Francis High School in California.  His Lancers are ranked #1 by Baseball America.

To listen to the show, click here.