Bob Wilskie brings versatility to Blackhawks
Most athletes discover finding the one sport they love can take years and a lot of experimentation.
For Cheney’s Bob Wilskie, the choice to do track and field came early and easily.
“I was about 8 years old when I started,” said Wilskie. “My sister ran track here at the high school and did Cheney summer track.
“She kind of dragged me to practice one day, and then I was just hooked on it ever since.”
That’s a good thing for Cheney High School, as the 6-foot-4 senior is once again throwing the shot put, discus and javelin for the Blackhawks this year, as well as doing the high jump. His versatility and athleticism have been present from day one at Cheney.
“He was a man among boys as a freshman,” said Cheney boys track head coach Todd Hering. “He towered over everyone.
“He wasn’t as strong as he is now obviously but definitely stood out. You could tell that he was going to be someone special.”
While being good was never a question for Wilskie, keeping his emotions in check was a challenge early in his career.
“His freshman and sophomore years, he was a little more reserved, but he was probably the youngest athlete in the GSL,” Hering said of Wilskie, who recently turned 17. “He had a little immaturity.
“He wanted to win every time, and when he didn’t, sometimes his emotions got the best of him. Over the years, like all good athletes do, he learned to use that emotion for better, and we’ve really seen that transformation this year.
“If something goes bad, he doesn’t fall apart. He regroups, and the next throw is better.”
“I used to get really angry when I was a freshman if I didn’t (get better),” Wilskie said. “Now I can see the good in the things I’ve done.
“If I threw poorly in a meet, but I did the technique correctly, then I’m satisfied.”
His sophomore season, Wilskie jumped 6 feet 8 inches and placed fourth in the state.
“It was just one of the events I did when I was really young and I was pretty good at it,” said Wilskie. “It’s not really too technical. It’s just fun.”
“His strength really helps him,” Hering said of the 240-pound Wilskie. “That he can get that large body up over 6 feet is amazing. He has so much strength, he can get that body up, and then his will to win is so strong – that is important.”
With that kind of athletic ability, the natural inclination for a track and field athlete is to try the decathlon. Wilskie found some success, with the exception of one event.
“I don’t think they make poles big enough for me because I’m 240 pounds,” he said. “I’ve tried the decathlon, and everything but the pole vault I could do.
“In 2003, I actually high-jumped the same height I did in the pole vault in the decathlon, so it wasn’t very good,” he said with a laugh.
Wilskie’s strength is his throwing. Last year, he took fifth place at state in the shot put and hopes to build on that success this season.
“I’d just like to go back to state and be a top-three placer in all three throws,” said Wilskie. “I’d say 55-56 foot range in the shot, maybe 180 feet in the javelin, and 155-160 feet in the discus.”
Cheney track fans will continue to see Wilskie throw next season, as he will stay close to home.
“I signed with Eastern (Washington University) in October,” Wilskie said. “It will be nice.
“I won’t have to pay rent. That will be nice to live at home. It may be a little boring because I’ve lived here for 17 years, but it will be a lot easier if I’m close to home.”
With all his success on the track, though, his coach is most proud of his nontrack accomplishment.
“Everyone loves having the great athlete, which Bob obviously is, and that aspect has been fun,” Hering said. “Seeing him mature and seeing him become a better person, not just in the track realm, but in everyday life.
“When you see an athlete get better and know he’s ready to face the world, that is very rewarding.”