JEFFERSON TWP — Adam Tuzikow has been throwing the shot put since the eighth grade, but last season he finally gave it a spin.

The Knoch senior, with help from Knights throwing coaches Judy Geist and Scott Taylor, adjusted his technique and the results have been tremendous.

Entering Tuesday's meet against Kiski Area, Tuzikow leads the area in shot put (52 feet, 8Z\x inches) and the discus (151-4), achieved at the Butler Invitational April 15 and a dual meet against Valley last Thursday, respectively.

“The goal at the beginning of the year was to break the school record (54-9½ set in 1983 by Mike Crouch),” Tuzikow said. “If I had it, that would push me to the state meet, then push me to do well at states.

“I want to make it in the disk, then I hit my best against Valley. I'm just two feet off the state qualifying time,” Tuzikow added.

Tuzikow placed third at the WPIAL Class AAA Championships in the shot put last year (52-6½), then set a personal best 54-0 in placing third at the state championships the following week.

Tuzikow is just 7 feet, 1 inch from breaking the school record held by Stan Crouch (158-5 in 1978).

It was the switch last year that has allowed Tuzikow to play up his strengths in the field.

With Tuzikow's size and strength, the spin is more advantageous to him as compared to the glide, which is the choice of taller throwers.

“We switched over to a spin last year,” said Knoch throwing coach Judy Geist. “He's the best spinner I've coached. He has good presence of the circle and he never fouls.

“He has so much control. He's not real tall (5-10), but he's well-built. He can control every move,” Geist added.

Tuzikow's brother, Andy, a junior, is third in the area in the discus with a toss of 143-10½ and the competition has fueled more of a friendlier rivalry these days.

“When we were younger it was more of a fight,” Adam said. “Now, if he beats me, so be it. I'm proud of him. We work together. It's good competition.”

During the season, Geist has a weightlifting plan for Tuzikow, where they decrease repetitions but increase weight during the season and work at lifting two to three times a week, depending on meets.

“He's already ahead of his (throwing) pace from last year,” Geist noted.

‘He's just the kind of kid that will have success,” Knoch boys coach Wess Brahler said. “He comes from a family that has high expectations and work hard at everything they do.

“His work ethic, no one can match it. He's the first one here and the last to leave. He does all the little things right,” Brahler added.

As of now, Tuzikow appears to be headed for Frostburg (Md.) State, a Division III school where he was recruited to play football and will mostly likely try his hand at track and field as well.

All in good time.

For now, Tuzikow has his sights set on going out his senior year on top — with the team's third consecutive section crown, of the school record books as well as the WPIAL and PIAA platform.

Tuzikow practices what he preaches. It apparently has left a mark on the program.

“Our seniors give speeches to the team and his was working hard and the benefits that come with it,” Brahler said.

“Academically, he's sound. He's a great leader for the team to be around. He's a good example for our underclassmen.”