Sunday Spotlight: Tyler Zawatski's Meteoric Rise In Javelin

Tyler Zawatski

Freehold Township HS

NJM: After such a huge and unexpected rookie season last year, how excited are you to open your season this Tuesday, and what are your biggest goals in the javelin this season?

I'm so excited for Tuesday. I'm looking at that meet as a chance to fine tune all the work I've been doing during my off-season training and get used to competition again after not competing since last June. I have some pretty big goals for myself. Breaking 200 early in the season is my first goal - 209-11 is top 10 in state history, so I definitely have that number in my head too. Ultimately though, I want to stay healthy, keep learning and improving, and enjoy every moment of my senior season.

Looking back on last year, you threw over 180 in every major meet in the state, and then exploded for a big PR of 191-1 to win the Meet of Champions. Did you ever throw the javelin before last year, and how surprised were you at all the success you had last year, or did you feel that was something you were capable of?

Last year was my first season ever throwing javelin. I was planning to throw my sophomore year, but Covid cancelled the season so that didn't happen. I trained through that missed Covid season right up until the spring season started last year, so I had a pretty good idea what I was capable of. I just hadn't been able to show anyone else without any meets happening. It was such a unique experience and pretty cool to keep getting better and better completely under the radar with so few people even knowing I threw. Since I had no previous experience, no one was expecting me to throw, much less be any good at it. Then in my first meet, I popped the NJ#1 throw and broke my school record. It felt amazing to be able to do that and really validated all the work I did in the year leading up to that moment.

Every track and field athlete in New Jersey dreams of winning a Meet of Champions title, so how much did it mean to you to win one last year, and how huge of a goal was that for you?

There's honestly nothing like it. I don't think I stopped smiling for a full week after MOC. Once I had a couple meets and realized where I stacked up against the other throwers in the state, winning MOC became my main goal for the season. There was great competition from other throwers all season, so it was a surreal moment in my life to win it.

Since the javelin is one of the very few events that isn't contested indoors for obvious reasons, what do you do during the fall and winter seasons as far as training? Take me through your off season, Tyler. What type of things do you work on as far as drills, do you work out with a personal javelin coach, do a lot of lifting etc.?

In my off season I would say I do the heaviest bulk of my training. In the winter season I swim (500 and 100 freestyle) for my high school team, which is great cross training. During this off season I started a lifting routine for the first time. I do different types of workouts on the track, I train my steps, and I do a lot of visualization. The biggest thing this off season that I worked on was my speed coming down the runway and doing it in a controlled manner. There are lots of drills for this like high knees and sprints. Another important javelin technique I focused on during the off season was perfecting my block. Working with my private javelin coach, Mark Mirabelli, has been a game-changer for me. My high school coach, Jesse Heubel, has been instrumental in teaching me proper throws-specific lifting techniques and he is also very good with the mental aspect of throwing.

After going over 190 feet last year, I imagine hitting the 200 mark and beyond is a huge goal for you. Tell me what specifically you feel you need to do to get over 200. What is the key to getting that additional 10 feet? Something with the technique? Strength etc.?

I definitely want to be well over 200 this season, but I'm not setting any limits. To get to that point I need to continue to stay focused on my training, but also trust the training I did in my off season. I have become much stronger and more explosive, so I know my body is ready to throw in the 200s.'' (Note: Zawatski has grown from 6-0, 150 a year ago to 6-2, 170 now)  

You obviously come from a distance running family, so how did this whole javelin thing start. How and when did you become a javelin thrower?

I would call it a classic case of middle child syndrome. My brother (Zach) and sister (Emma) are both very good distance runners, but I just didn't get the running gene. While they played soccer before running, I was a baseball player from the time I was young. My dad (Geoff) was a pitcher at the University of Virginia and then was drafted by the Phillies where he pitched professionally for a few years, so from an early age I really developed good throwing mechanics with my whole body from his instruction. I was a catcher, and baseball was my love for many years, but my playing days came to an end when I got cut from my middle school team in 8th grade. After that, I decided it was time for a change, and going into high school I would join my siblings and give track a try. This led me to pole vault my freshman year where I cleared a "mighty" 7 feet. After that I realized pole vault wasn't for me. In the meantime, my grandpa got me a girls javelin by accident for Christmas, and I missed throwing things, so I started practicing in my front yard with it during my sophomore year in the spring since we were home due to the pandemic. I think I watched every YouTube video ever made on javelin technique and must have put ten thousand holes in our front yard, but I really started loving it. We realized that I needed instruction and formal javelin training and that's where we were really lucky to connect with my private coach Mark Mirabelli.

What were your thoughts when you first picked up a javelin and threw it? Did it come naturally to you? Did you love it right away?

When I first threw the javelin just practicing in my front yard, my first hard throw went 105 feet, which I thought was really good until I realized I was throwing with a 600 gram girls javelin, instead of an 800 gram boys one. I would say certain aspects about javelin came naturally, like throwing it through the point and consistency because I already had really good throwing mechanics from my experience as a baseball catcher which has a lot of the same explosive moves. I loved javelin from the start. I have never had a sport or hobby in my life that I have been more excited to practice for and get better at every single day. Some could say it's an obsession, but I do love everything about throwing.

What do you love the most about throwing the javelin?

My favorite thing about throwing javelin is probably the sense of community among throwers. Before I got into track & field, my brother and sister would always talk about the community that loves track so much, and I didn't get it, but now I see it firsthand. I have met so many coaches, athletes, officials, parents, and spectators, and you can tell they all have the same genuine passion for the sport that I do, and it's a great feeling. Everyone is so supportive and helpful and always willing to give advice.

The javelin is much harder to throw than people think, so tell me what was the most difficult thing for you to learn in order to be such a great thrower?

Javelin is one of the most technical sports you can do. It looks way easier than it is. There is so much that goes into the steps and the throw that it really uses every muscle from head to toe. The most difficult thing for me was learning to hit my block. There is so much force running through your body at that point that it takes some people years of training just to do that one step the right way.

Most throwers watch videos of the great throwers to study their technique and learn from them. How about you, Tyler?

What thrower or throwers do you watch, and what have you learned from them? When I first started, I spent countless hours watching hundreds of videos of top collegiate and professional throwers. Some of my favorite throwers to watch on YouTube are Thomas Rohler and Jan Zelezny because they are two of the best technical throwers to ever throw javelin. I love to play their videos in slow motion and break down their throws. I watch them over and over and still learn something new every time. Other videos I like watching are reruns of the Olympics and Diamond League meets.

When was your big breakthrough, when you realized that you could really be a great thrower and do big things in this sport?

My biggest breakthrough was last season at my first meet ever throwing javelin. I threw 183-10 and that was my first time throwing in a competition. In that one meet, I beat all the goals I had set for my entire season and realized I was going to need to adjust and set some higher goals. I shocked a lot of people (including myself) that day because I didn't know until then exactly what I was capable of throwing. It was a huge confidence booster and really motivated me to want to work even harder.

What do you consider your greatest strength as a thrower? What makes you as great as you are?

I honestly think my mind is my greatest strength as an athlete. I work a lot on visualization of my technique and what I want to do with every detail of my practices and competition days. The physical stuff is really important obviously, but I think the mental game is what can really separate great performances from good ones.

I know that you're committed to UVA. What was about Virginia and the track and field program there that made you feel that was the best fit for you?

I was born a Cavalier. My parents both went to UVA and so did my Aunt and Uncle who now live in Charlottesville, as do my grandparents. The family connection was one of the factors in deciding where to go, but my parents truly wanted it to be my decision so they really didn't pressure me at all. All the schools I talked to and visited were great academically with top track & field programs, so they all would have been great choices. In the end, it was really hard for any other school to top UVA for me because of the mix of how elite their track program is, having legendary Coaches Martin Maric and Vin Lananna, who I know will be able to develop me to my potential, and the immediate bond I felt with my future teammates.

What are your biggest long-term goals in track and field beyond high school, what are you planning to study at UVA, and what type of career are you planning to pursue?

I plan on taking my throwing as far as I can. My collegiate goals are to score at the ACC Championship my first year and to make NCAA's during my collegiate career. At Virginia, I'm planning to major in Finance or Marketing in the School of Commerce. I'm a pretty extroverted guy and thrive on interacting with people, so I think I'd like to become a Financial Advisor after college.