Even after second state gold, work is not finished for BC’s Brady Mider

By Julie Pelchar Cohen Last updated Jun 25, 2024

PIAA Class 3A shot put champ Brady Mider, left, with runner-up Logan Wegman. (Photo courtesy of Mike Mider)

By Julie Pelchar Cohen — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

SHIPPENSBURG — Brady Mider never assumes a gold medal is his for the taking.

That’s why the Berks Catholic senior is constantly refining his craft with a work ethic that has made Mider Pennsylvania’s unbeatable shot putter the past two years.

Less than an hour after he had won his second straight Class 3A shot put title during Friday’s opening day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships, Mider was already discussing training that begins on Sunday for a national meet in June.

“He’s incredible,” said Saints coach Tiger Lea. “I’m really happy for him. All the hard work Brady puts into it to win states a second time. That’s just really special. That shows how special he is as far as how much work he puts into it.”

Mider is just one of two Pennsylvania boys to have reached the 60-foot barrier this spring. The perfectionist spent most of Friday afternoon shaking his head in displeasure, unable to pop the big one. Still, he found his second-farthest throw of the outdoor season, a golden 61-10¾.

“I’m a state champion,” Mider said. “Obviously, it’s nice to be a state champion. But I’m a little disappointed. I wish I would’ve hit a farther mark. The last one felt good, but it got away.”

Just as exciting for Berks County was who stood beside Mider on the medal stand. Exeter’s Logan Wegman erupted with a monster heave of 58-9 ¾ on his final throw to surge from fifth to second. He’ll finish the spring as one of the state’s best junior shot putters.

“I knew I had to throw better than I’ve ever thrown before to get top three,” Wegman said. “My whole goal was to get top three. I was thinking just go all out and put everything into that last throw.”

Sam Weeks, far left, and Trevor Stutzman, far right, coaches at Garage Strength, celebrate 1-2 finish in the PIAA shot put with Brady Mider, second from left, and Logan Wegman. (Photo courtesy of Mike Mider)

Mider and Wegman will compete in Saturday’s discus with Mider as the third seed and Wegman 11th.

Three other Berks athletes earned medals Friday. Kutztown senior Lauren Akers took fourth in the 2A javelin. Wyomissing senior Drew Forrey was fifth in the 2A javelin. Oley Valley senior Josh Wegman ran to sixth in the 2A 1600.

Mider finished his high school shot put career with an impeccable record. He was unbeaten against Pennsylvania throwers as a junior and senior.

Only two boys beat him his sophomore year. Both Wyomissing’s J’ven Williams, the Berks record holder, and Cumberland Valley’s Wade Shomper were state champions.

While Mider chased the 60-foot barrier last spring, he finally broke it at a national meet a month after that junior season.

This year was about adding more. The 2022 mark set by Williams, a Penn State lineman, is monstrous. Mider finished second to Williams the day he launched a 66-7 3⁄4 that won 2A gold and threatened to sail clear across the Seth Grove Stadium stands.

“I have one more shot at it,” Mider said.

He’ll look to add several feet to the personal best of 62-4 ¾ he threw at the county-championship Firing Meet when he competes at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet next month in Philadelphia.

Wegman spent most of Friday stuck at fifth place in a field that was considerably stronger than last year, when he finished fifth with a 53-7. That mark finished outside the medals this year.

“Getting second was awesome,” Wegman said. “That competition was insane.”

Wegman wasted little time padding his personal best this spring. By mid-April, he had already thrown 3 feet farther than last spring’s PR. His 58-3 during an April 30 dual meet busted a 59-year-old school record and stood as his best until Friday.

After the crowd started its rhythmic clap when Wegman entered the circle, the world fell silent for the 6-4, 275-pound giant.

“I started the clap,” he said. “I heard the clap start, but I didn’t hear anything after that. I was just focused all on that throw. When I was ready, I just saw it fly.”

The silver toss kick starts an exciting summer for Wegman. The two-way all-league lineman recently visited Penn State. He’ll spend the next few months visiting Division I football programs.

But next up is Saturday’s discus.

Mider won last weekend’s district title on his final throw, a hefty 176-5 and a PR by 6 feet.

“I’m moving into tomorrow as a state champ,” Mider said. “So I’m going to go into the discus trying to do the same thing. It will be good competition. I’ll try to do something big.”