Gateway’s Dino Nadarevic, Kenny Lewis closing in on school records

By: Michael Love
Sunday, May 5, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Dino Nadarevic didn’t know what the South Fayette Invitational boys meet record was for the shot put before he competed in the event April 27.

He does now.

The Gateway junior took down the previous record with a top successful attempt of 57 feet, 6 inches.

“I was super excited to win it and hear that I now have that record,” Nadarevic said. “I was second throughout the competition, and in the end, I was able to put it all together and pop a good throw.”

It wasn’t just the shot put that was working for Nadarevic that day as he achieved a personal record in the discus by more than a foot, winning with a distance of 165-8.

“I was also second throughout in the discus. In the finals, I had three really good throws over 160,” he said.

“In practice, I had popped a couple good 170s, so I felt pretty good about what I could do.”

That double gold performance at South Fayette continued what has been a standout second varsity season for Nadarevic, who hoped to continue his run to challenge the school records in both the discus and shot put — 63-1½ for the shot put set by Bob Buczkowski in 1982 and a 172-3 by Wayne Marinclin in 1973.

He was slated to join his Gateway teammates Friday at the prestigious Baldwin Invitational at Baldwin High School.

Nadarevic said that going after school records has been one of a number of great motivators to continue working hard in the throwing circle.

“Getting your name in the record books is one of the greatest feelings you can have,” Nadarevic said.

“The discus school record is right there for me. I don’t know if I will get to the shot put record this year, but next year, for sure.”

Nadarevic said his javelin is coming along, but this season, he’s thrown in mostly to garner team points in dual meets. Discus and shot have been his main focuses.

He said he is pleased with being able to take big jumps in both the discus and shot from his first season last year.

“Our season ended in early June, I think June 1, and on June 2, I was working on my technique hoping to improve myself,” Nadarevic said.

Nadarevic said one of his friends persuaded him to try out for track before his junior season.

“I just fell in love with the sport and in love with throwing,” he said. “The first time I stepped into the circle, I knew this is what I want to do.”

Now, Nadarevic wants to make his mark at WPIALs on May 15 at Slippery Rock University.

Gateway coach Tom LaBuff also can see just how Nadarevic has risen through the ranks to where he’s a top contender in both the shot and discus.

“The key for him is that he is all in all year round,” LaBuff said.

“He lifts to get stronger and he studies the events. And he’s grown up in so many other ways. He’s become a leader.”

Lewis collects gold, two silvers at South Fayette

Junior Kenny Lewis almost matched Naderevic at South Fayette as he won the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.70 seconds and was second in the 100 at 11.24.

Mt. Lebanon senior Matt Nguyen topped the 100 field with a 11.17.

Lewis also is gearing up for a strong effort at WPIALs as he expects to be in the mix near the top of the seeding lists. He owns season bests of 22.52 in the 200 and 10.94 in the 100 dash.

His 100 time is close to the school record 10.87 run by Gateway graduate Julius Rivera at the PIAA meet a decade ago.

“I ran well at South Fayette,” Lewis said. “My 100 could’ve been a little faster, but it’s just a few things that I have to work on. With my 200 time, my coach kept telling me to stay calm, and that is what I did.”

Lewis said he’s taken positive steps this season with the help of sprint coach Jose Rivera. He said his father, Kenny Lewis Sr., a football and track standout at Penn Hills before a successful collegiate football career at Bowling Green, has served as a special mentor to his athletic pursuits.

“Following a lot of really fast sprinters from Gateway motivates me a lot,” said Lewis, whose success on the football field has earned him offers from Marshall, UNLV, Temple, Bryant and Robert Morris.

“It keeps me working and wanting to do better for myself and for my team at every practice and every meet. No matter where I finish, I want to be proud of what I accomplished during my years at Gateway.”

Lewis also was a part of the 400 relay with Jonathan Nelson, Sid Bryant and Caleb Bell which finished second overall at South Fayette (43.78).

“That wasn’t even our main team,” Lewis said. “We had a couple guys out, and we still ran pretty fast. I was happy with that. Everybody will be back, and we should be good for WPIALs. It should be special. Every week, we just keep getting better and better.”

LaBuff said Lewis’ performances at South Fayette were examples of how strong he is running as WPIALs approaches.

“Kenny looks great,” LaBuff said. “He is a legit contender against some really fast kids in the WPIAL and a legit contender for some state-level recognition.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Gateway