RamWire: Tossing in all of their support for each other

Sunday is the escape.

There has to be one, because every other day of the week is hard. The throwing, the lifting, the instruction and repetition is demanding and takes a toll. They need an escape, and it comes in the form of brunch and an unwritten rule.

No shop talk.

"Honestly, it's just being able to hang out with our group and not talk about track," Tarynn Sieg said. "By the time all of us get to Sunday, it's like, nobody speak about it, because we have to start all over tomorrow. We get to meet the other side of everyone and what else are they interested in."

It's Kelcey Bedard whipping up batch after batch of pancakes and Sieg making sure the coffee is ready. The throwers of Colorado State's track & field team bring a little something and aid in the kitchen, except Adam Dawson. He's not allowed to cook anymore, so his job is to eat.

Fine by him.

The functions help lead to a tighter bond with people who are close to you and gain a deeper understanding. When it comes time for an encouraging word or a pick-me up, the delivery is backed by a true connection of who the person really is, not just the competitor.

For Bedard, the bond is irreplaceable. It is what the senior will miss most as she departs the program her father, Brian Bedard, has led for so long. She was nervous coming in -- the coach's kid and all -- but those emotions exited in a hurry.

When she needed her team most at the NCAA West Preliminaries, they knew just how to lift her spirits. A second-team All-American in the hammer throw in 2018, she missed the mark this year. Just thinking about how her teammates came to her aid makes her fight back tears more than a week later.

"It was rough. I was pretty disappointed and upset," she said. "I just remember seeing my teammates over there, and they gave me a big hug and said it's going to be OK, you still have discus tomorrow. That was really cool just to have them be there for that support. No matter how I did, you're still an amazing athlete, a good thrower and we love you."

When Colorado State heads to the NCAA Championships this week in Austin, Texas, the majority of the group will be throwers. There is Bedard and Sieg, Dawson and the newcomer, Shadae Lawrence. Bedard, Lawrence and Dawson will tackle the discus, Sieg the shot put.

Practice or meets, it's all pretty much the same. Not just the support, but the built-in competition. Not just those who are headed to nationals, but the extended group who pushed the workouts and made a big impact in the Rams sweeping the Mountain West team titles, indoor and out.

"It helps a lot, knowing I have my teammates there to support me," Dawson said. "Even if they're not there, I know they're supporting me. Normal track meets, everybody is there, cheering for each other.

"It's nice to have everybody at practice. It's more fun than being by yourself and practicing. It's pretty beneficial both at meets and at practices, having people there and supporting you."

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Success is a common bond from one end of the calendar to the other. Bedard has two All-America honors, Linnea Jonsson has one and so does Sieg. Lawrence brought three to the program from Kansas State, including a national championship in the discus. Sieg and Lawrence took down outdoor school records this year, as did Jackson Morris in the javelin.

They are vocal. Voices can become raspy by the end of the day, but it's all worth it for them. For newcomers, Sieg feels it could be a bit overwhelming. Especially athletes considering calling the CSU program home after high school.

In fact, it made her wonder how Lawrence would initially react.

"It took her a little bit, but probably because of the way we are," Sieg said. "Whenever we're on recruiting trips, I always look at everyone and say we need to pull back a little bit, because we're a lot to take in at the same time. We all enjoy being around each other, and we have the type of camaraderie."

Lawrence not only didn't mind, she embraced the group. The compassion they showed her, the encouragement they provided was nothing she had experienced before. She gave it back, too. When Sieg won the shot put at the NCAA West Preliminaries with a school- and conference-record throw of 57-2.75, she said Lawrence went nuts for her.

The result is Lawrence has thrived in the environment, throwing a national-best 213-5 in the discus this year, the sixth-best NCAA mark of all time. Only two women have ever thrown farther in collegiate competition.

"It's been more than I expected, I guess. I didn't expect to throw this far," Lawrence said. "I knew (Bedard) was as good coach, and I knew he had good athletes, some who had competed in the Olympics. I knew I worked hard and learned what he was teaching, I knew I would be good, but I've exceeded my expectations.

"I know how hard they train, and I know how frustrating it can be for all of us, so I know that we need to support each other the entire journey. We're all competitors, we all want to throw far. We push each other and encourage each other."

For some, this is the end of the road, and Lawrence is out for a title to say goodbye to her college career and new teammates. For others, it's just a start, and they expect the traditions to continue in the coming seasons.

"I know we had a lot of people who qualified, and that's cool to see," Dawson said. "I know in years to come, we'll still be able to have more than we had this year."

The points will be difficult to replace, but the hard reality is this: Somebody is going to have to learn to make the pancakes.

"They're amazing," Sieg said. "I wouldn't turn them down, ever. I'm a fan."

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