From Chief to Wildcat

Matthews keeps focus on track

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake High School senior Billy Matthews recently gave a verbal commitment to throw for the Central Washington University track and field team.

Matthews, a returning district champion and one of the top discus throwers in the state, will enroll at CWU this fall and compete for coach TJ Crater.

Since the end of the 2006 season, Matthews has attended camps and competed in several events throughout the region.

His hard work has resulted in an improvement of 30 feet in his discus mark and 10 feet in his shot put mark.

With the help of coach Davie Alporque, Matthews placed in the top 20 nationally in USA Track and Field competitions.

Matthews' goals for 2007 include breaking the school records in the discus and shot put and to earn a state championship.

The Moses Lake senior plans to study either aeronautical engineering or sports broadcasting and journalism in college, and after that complete a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before making a run at the 2012 or 2016 Olympics.

— Staff report