Heading into the 2022 track and field season, Brownstown Central’s Dustyn Kocsis felt he had a decent chance of getting to state.
At regional, Kocsis was able to accomplish his goal, throwing 153 feet, 10 inches in the discus to place third overall and qualify for state.
Kocsis was the only male athlete in Jackson County to advance to the state meet. Due to his successful season, Kocsis has been named The Tribune’s Boys Track Athlete of the Year.
“It was really exciting being able to go to state,” he said. “That’s probably the most exciting thing that happened.”
Midway through the season, Kocsis admitted he started to fall off a bit, but toward the end, he was able to snap back into his groove.
“I think I just realized how close the end of high school was coming. Then once I had one good day, it all started following,” he said.
He was a double sectional champion in both the discus and shot put. He knew he was seeded high in both events at sectional and was supposed to win discus, but once Kocsis won shot put, he said it gave him an energy boost.
That propelled him to regional, which turned into a trip to the state finals for the first time in his career. Kocsis didn’t do his best at state, throwing 129-8 to place 23rd overall, but it was the experience he took away from it.
“It was an awesome experience,” he said. “It was really fun. I didn’t do my best at state, but I went. It was awesome.”
Kocsis also played football at Brownstown, and he felt doing both sports was beneficial.
“Football definitely helped with throwing,” he said. “With all the weightlifting we did, it made me stronger and more explosive. There were things in both sports that made me better in the other.”
This spring was Kocsis’ senior year, but he isn’t done competing athletically. On Jan. 25, he committed to continue his throwing career at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
Kocsis decided around his sophomore year that he could throw in college, and once he talked to his good friend, Jake Pauley, who committed to College of DuPage for baseball, Kocsis took a visit.
“Their track team is phenomenal,” Kocsis said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ About a week after I visited, I committed.”
Kocsis and Pauley are rooming together for their freshman year this fall.
“Makes it a lot easier,” Kocsis said. “It’s not as scary.”
When asked how he feels to head off to college for a new chapter of his life, Kocsis admitted he was a tad nervous because “It’s not going to be like Jackson County. Ain’t nothing like this place.”
Remaining members of the boys track and field all-county team:
Caleb Cummings, Brownstown Central, Jr.: regional qualifier in 4×100
Brayden Millick, Brownstown Central, Sr.: regional qualifier in discus
Chance Ratliff, Brownstown Central, Fr.: regional qualifier in 3200
Gregory Hutcheson, Brownstown Central, Fr.: regional qualifier in 4×400
Garrett Driver Brownstown Central, So.: regional qualifier in 400 and 4×400
Isiaah Engle, Brownstown Central, So.: regional qualifier in 300 hurdles
Jude Bane, Seymour, Jr.: regional qualifier in 1600 and 3200, sectional champ in two mile
Bryson Darlage, Seymour, Jr.: regional qualifier in long jump and high jump
Jaylan Johnson, Seymour, Fr.: regional qualifier in 400, 4×400 and long jump, sectional champ
Michael Proffer, Seymour, Sr.: regional qualifier in 4×400, sectional champ
Donovyn Thomas, Seymour, Sr.: regional qualifier in high jump
Jadrix Zumhingst, Seymour, So.: regional qualifier in pole vault
Nikki Wheeler, Seymour, Fr.: regional qualifier in 300 hurdles
Jake Holland, Trinity Lutheran, Fr.: regional qualifier in 300 hurdles
Dirk Crater, Crothersville, Fr.: top point scorer for Tigers, ran 1600, 800 and 3200