Disc thrower tops competition

TOP THROWER:
Derek Nichols, a senior at Anderson Union High School, throws the discus during the NSCIF Championships last week. Nichols placed first and will compete at the state level on Friday, June 5.

COLLEGE BOUND:
Anderson Union High School Principal Scott booth and athletic director Lance Gosh stand with senior Derek Nichols as he signs his letter of intent to attend Chico State University on a full scholarship.

Derek Nichols is modest about his accomplishments as a discus thrower.

When asked what the trick was to being a successful at discus, Nichols said it takes good technique.

"I don't have the best technique," he said.

Cubs assistant principal Brian Parker pointed out that it also takes strength to be a good discus thrower.

"I'm not the strongest guy though," Nichols said.

But Nichols must be doing something right.

The senior at Anderson Union High School has been ranked first in the Northern Section in discus. He just placed first at the track and field championships, qualifying for the state competition in Fresno this week.

Nichols has been a three-sport athlete. He has a 3.7 GPA and has been enrolled in advanced placement and honors classes. He also received a full scholarship offer to attend Chico State and throw discus on the university's track and field team.

Teachers, coaches and others at Anderson Union High School are proud of Nichols and his accomplishments.

"The school is very proud of him, and we are all behind him," Assistant principal Parker said.

"He's been a nice kid to have on campus."

The future is looking bright for the young athlete, who wasn't even sure he wanted to throw discus a few years ago.

Nichols joined the track team as a sophomore.

"My friends forced me too. I didn't even want to," he said.

But toward the end of last year, Nichols started realizing he had some real talent with discus.

"When I got fourth in section last year, and all the guys that beat me were going to graduate, I figured I was going to do pretty good."

Nichols has performed extremely well this year.

He threw the discus 170 feet during last weeks NSCIF championships, more than thirty feet further than his closest competitor.

And now, the athlete cares so much about track and field that he is sacrificing participation in his graduation ceremony to compete with the best athletes in California in Fresno on June 5.

He will also be throwing discus in college next year.

The senior in high school impressed the track and field coach, and others at Chico State University so much that they offered him a full scholarship after he applied earlier this year.

"It was close, and they have a good engineering program," Nichols said about applying to Chico State.

Nichols wants to become a civil engineer.