Crescent-News.com - Track Spotlight: Defiance's Demecs thriving on the pressure

By JASON STEIN

cnsports@crescent-news.com

Pressure.

Some cave under it, others thrive on it.

For Defiance's Aaron Demecs the latter can be said, as he has taken on added responsibilities during his last season as a member of the Defiance track and field team.

Demecs is one of two seniors on the team but is the only one that brings varsity track and field experience and as his head coach points out, he was made aware of his new responsibilities ahead of time and has had little trouble accepting them.

"We had a talk over spring break about how different it is to make the transition from a junior to a senior," recalled DHS mentor Steve Rittenour. "As a junior you just go out and do your job, as a senior you have to understand that other guys are looking up to you now. Even though you don't feel like practicing hard, you have to because if you don't, the younger guys won't. Aaron does a great job of that. He has a lot of God-given talent and when it comes to practice he gets after it and the guys follow suit. He's the unspoken leader of this team and he knows it and handles that role very well He works hard in the classroom and on the track. He speaks volumes with what he does on the track and the kids respond to that."

As a senior, Demecs knows the importance of helping the younger members of his team learn and develop, not only for the sake of helping the team pick up its third straight WBL title, but also just to help them grow as athletes.

"Being the only senior (with experience), you have more experience and you try to guide the other kids and show them what it's like to run varsity track, how competitive it is and how to push yourself," noted Demecs. "The (younger guys) have many questions and it's always great to help them out. I'm willing to teach them anything to help them get better."

In his final year, Demecs has regularly and successfully run as the anchor in the 1600 relay, the 400 meters, the 200 meters and the long jump, two events he didn't do all that often in year's past, and with his responsibility to help lead the team, he is enjoying every minute of it and feels that his game has been elevated by the pressure.

"I love it, I love the pressure," remarked Demecs, who leads the team in points earned with 238 points through nine races. "That's why track, being my favorite sport, is so much pressure. It's up to you, either you win it all or you fail.

"Pressure helps your ability, it enhances it, makes you stronger, smarter and more aware of what you need to do."

Even Rittenour has seen the positive effects that the 'pressure' has had on his senior runner and jumper.

"Aaron knows he's a track guy and I think with anyone, when you're doing something that you really enjoy, you look forward to that," remarked Rittenour. "He works at being good, and whether he wants it or not, the pressure is on him and he has come through for us all year. You have to like the pressure and be in that role in order to be good ... and Aaron does thrive on that pressure."

Of course Rittenour is grateful to have an athlete of Demecs' caliber as it gives him another coach on the team in many aspects and has helped himself transition from an assistant coach in years' past to the head of the program this season.

"When I was an assistant coach I just worried about the shot put and the discus and I worried I didn't have enough time to help out in those," recalled Rittenour. "Now there's even more to do and sometimes I have to leave certain events in order to be in different places, so there are times when I give Aaron the stopwatch and tell him what I want and it doesn't even come across my mind that he won't get it done. He wants to win and he wants to be the best, it helps a lot having him."

While Demecs does feel like a go-to guy on the team and at times a coach, a role that he says he loves, he was quick to point out that there are numerous talented juniors on the team that also act as leaders and are certainly just as vital to the team.

"Our juniors are a huge help and are probably one of the biggest assets on this team," said Demecs. "They've all stepped up and bring their experience to the track. They're a big part of this team and get us a lot of points too."

With one month to go in the 2008 track and field campaign, Demecs is focused on his goals and for what he wants to help the team accomplish, a league title.

"Our goals are always to get the WBL title and we'll work as a team to get that," said Demecs, who plans on going to college to compete in track. "After the WBL's we go from there to see what's going on, but keeping the tradition going is our main goal.

"I know we're ready for the WBL's and are looking forward to the competition that comes our way," continued Demecs, who also pointed out that making it to state is an individual goal of his. "It was questionable in the beginning of the year because we knew (what kind of people other teams had) but we've pulled together as a team and I think we can pull this off in the WBL."

"Aaron got to where he's at because he works his tail off," concluded Rittenour. "He's lucky enough to understand that he has a gift and he runs hard. It's not rocket science as a coach. When you have kids, like Aaron, who you only have to tell to 'run faster' or 'jump farther' and you don't have to get on them when they have an off race because they already know it, you're fortunate as a coach ... I'm really lucky, I'm really fortunate."