Kai Deines, a Penn-bound senior at Redondo Union High in California who placed in the top five in both the discus throw and shot put at last year's state championship meet, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal to discuss competing April 8 at the 55th Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High in California. Deines boasts personal-best efforts of 63-5.25 (19.34m) in the shot put and 198-11 (60.63m) in the discus. He also became one of four prep athletes in the country this season to produce a 60-foot shot put and 180-foot discus with victories at the West Coast Relays at Buchanan High's Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. Deines achieved performances of 60-3 (18.36m) in the shot put and 180-9 (55.10m) in the discus at the meet to join Brendon See of JSerra High in California, Roury McCloyen of St. Joseph High in Mississippi and Mitchell Blakeslee of Conroe The Woodlands High in Texas in that elite group this year. Deines revisits taking third in the invitational discus and placing fifth in the invitational shot put at Arcadia last season and how much improvement he has made in his technique since then and explains how meaningful it is to be able to compete at events like the West Coast Relays, Arcadia Invitational and Mt. SAC Relays in consecutive weeks in his home state. He expresses gratitude to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame coach Nick Garcia for helping Deines develop a passion for throwing during the COVID-19 pandemic and credits him for being a mentor for so many elite athletes in throwing community. Deines also shares his family history in the sport, with his father and grandfather both throwing in college, in addition to being able to share the experiences with his sophomore sister Jamie, who also plays volleyball for Redondo Union. Deines explains his decision to attend Penn and his excitement to collaborate with throws coach Fletcher Brooks, in addition to the potential to expand his resume to include the weight throw and hammer throws. Deines speaks about his goals of winning a pair of state titles, surpassing 200 feet in the discus throw, and trying to lead the Redondo Union boys team to a podium finish in Clovis.
