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THE WINNER: Mike Budick
THE BASICS
School: Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Grade: Senior
Event: Throws
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 235 pounds
Athletic achievement: He won a pair of individual state championships this spring and led the Hawks to a second-place finish as a team at the Class AAAAA state meet. Budick captured gold by launching the discus 168 feet, three inches, and completed the double by hurling the shot 60-0.5, the latter of which ranked as the nation’s No. 62 performance among prep competitors in 2014 at the time of his selection. The 2013-14 Albuquerque Journal Male Prep Metro Athlete of the Year, he was undefeated in both the discus and the shot put in-state this season and also earned silver in the javelin at the state meet with a throw of 183-8.
Academic excellence: Budick has maintained a 3.45 GPA.
Exemplary character: He has volunteered locally as a peer tutor and as a youth track and field and wrestling coach.
THE PRAISE
“Mike Budick was always favored to win any event in which he competed but he was always a good sport, often encouraging those competing against him,” said Alex Mikaelian, head coach at Eldorado. “He could have easily acted with conceit but he always displayed good sportsmanship by not bragging or gloating. He has been a positive focal point for our sport here in New Mexico.”
THE FUTURE: Budick has signed with New Mexico.