Northwestern Junior Crew Estep Claims Shot Put Title at State Championships

COLUMBUS — At the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) state track and field championships, champions have a unique tradition of celebrating with a photograph featuring a bottle of Nesquik chocolate milk in front of the medal stand banner. Chocolate milk is designated as the official drink of the OHSAA. However, for Crew Estep, a junior from Northwestern High School, the highlight of the day on Saturday, June 6, at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium was the first-place medal he proudly wore around his neck, all while holding the Nesquik bottle.

Estep triumphed in the shot put event for Division III, achieving a remarkable distance of 59 feet, 0½ inches. “Since eighth grade, I've been saying how bad I wanted it,” Estep remarked, reflecting on his long-standing goal. “So seeing it actually pay off this year was kind of surreal.”

This victory continues Northwestern’s proud legacy in throwing events. In 2019, Adam Riedinger secured the Division II state title in shot put as a junior with a throw of 59-7½. Coach Brian Badenhop expressed pride in the program: “We've built this tradition. That's what Northwestern is known for — throwing in our field events — and Crew gets to be another piece of that history now, which is fantastic.”

Last year, Estep finished fourth at the state championships with a throw of 58-11, trailing three seniors. Entering this year’s meet, he was the second seed after winning the Piqua Regional with a throw of 57-2¾. The top seed, Ison Emnett from Wheelersburg, secured second place with a throw of 58-9¼.

Estep's winning throw came on his third attempt, and he noted, “I just got everything in rhythm. What I've been working on in practice, I was able to get into the ring in the competition.” His coach, Badenhop, highlighted the shift in expectations this year, stating that they had prepared rigorously for success. “You hope for this. You work for it. You train for it,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of things to put ourselves in positions to be successful, and to see it pay off is huge.”

In addition to Estep's success, other notable performances at the state championships included Yellow Springs senior Llnyah Grant, who won the Division V 100-meter dash in 12.35 seconds and the 200-meter in 25.25 seconds. Cedarville's relay team of Gabriel Duncan, Archer Holston, Derek Orr, and Bradyn Long also excelled, clinching the 4×400 relay title in 3:18.68.

Other area athletes who medaled during the event include Braylon Parker from Northwestern, who finished second in high jump (6-7), and Bradyn Long from Cedarville, who placed fifth in the boys 110 hurdles (15.07) and second in the boys 300 hurdles (37.85).