After hours of a driving downpour, the rain finally stops, and just in time for a Talawanda High School Track and Field preseason practice. Despite the dreary, soggy conditions, the assembled Brave throwers remain full of smiles and jokes as they begin their warm-up.

“Just a little over,” volunteer coach Blake Presley jokingly offered as Talawanda junior Clayton Bennett lobbed his shot out of bounds. The other shot-put athletes threw light-hearted jabs at Bennett as Presley quietly shifted his focus to the discus side of the team.

Presley was supposed to be practicing for his spring season on the Miami University Track and Field team this gloomy March afternoon. Instead, he trudges through the muddy pits of Talawanda’s shot put and discus areas, while recovering from labrum surgery. 

Presley enjoyed plenty of success prior to becoming a RedHawk. He joined the Miami team in 2022 as a three-time South Carolina High School Track Champion in shot put, one-time champion in discus, and two-time All-American thrower.

Former Miami track and field assistant coach Steve Manz recruited Presley before leaving the RedHawks prior to his first season. Despite the departure, Presley credits Manz with helping model the leadership qualities he now uses with Talawanda athletes. 

“Manz was a leader. He was always a positive guy and was more than just a coach…the little coaching tips that I received from him over the phone [were] great and very applicable,” Presley said.

Presley enjoyed a strong first season as a RedHawk thrower. He placed ninth in shot put (15.40m) and seventh in hammer throw (47.54m) at the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) outdoor championships. 

In December 2023, surgery to repair a torn labrum took Presley away from competition and into a six month medical redshirt. No stranger to injuries, Presley endured three ACL surgeries in high school due to injuries he sustained playing football. 

After hearing he would need a second preventive surgery on his other labrum, Presley connected with Brad Hoblitzell, Talawanda High School’s head track and field coach. He offered his services as a throwers coach to help fill his time and give back to the community.

“I’m competitive in nature; that’s why I keep coming back,” Presley said. “My prior surgeries have prepared me for other obstacles that I have faced in my life. I have learned to adapt, work hard, and think critically.”

With his hoodie pulled up and hands in his pocket, Presley observes his athletes, allowing them to take their time to understand each throw before providing feedback. His quiet, laid-back demeanor fosters an inclusive learning environment for the team’s new and returning throwers. 

Camaraderie is high among his throwers, who appreciate the guidance and insight a new, younger coach brings to the team. 

“I feel like he’s really relatable to us, but still someone we can look up to,” Bennett said. “He’s really awesome.”

As Presley looks ahead to his next surgery and recovery, he finds fulfillment in coaching. He gets to recruit high school athletes to join the sport he loves, while encouraging their growth and development. All within the gloom and muck of an otherwise dreary spring day.

Talawanda begins its 2024 track and field season March 23 at Harrison High School.