The University of Mississippi Athletics
Andrews Quietly Steps To The Front
8/20/2002 | Track and Field
Aug. 20, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - At 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds, Stacy Andrews is hard to miss. But the Ole Miss track team's thrower might sneak up on you anyway.
"I'm what you call the shy one out of all the throwers," said Andrews, a rising senior from Camden, Ark. "When we get around each other we have fun, but I'm pretty much the quiet one."
Andrews is quietly sneaking up on the rest of the SEC, too. Andrews placed third in the discus and fifth in the hammer throw at the 2002 SEC championships, and took first place in both events at the SEC Quad.
Andrews, who holds the school records for both the discus (186 feet, 10 inches) and hammer throw (189 feet, 4 inches), says his favorite event is the weight throw.
"My favorite event used to be the discus, but the weight is my best event now," he said. "I'm improving in it more and more each year. My discus technique is coming along too."
The throwing ring isn't the only place where Andrews throws weights around. Andrews boasts a 450-pound bench press and a 710-pound squat, the second-highest squat among Ole Miss student-athletes this summer.
One of his goals for the summer was to get in the weight room and shed some pounds.
"I've been trying to lose some weight and get a little faster in my technique," said Andrews. "I haven't backed off my strength training, though."
Andrews says throwing is far more complex than most people think, and requires a lot of work outside the weight room.
"A lot of people think you just spin around and throw," said Andrews. "There's a lot more technique than that. You've gotta be able to sit back and even the weight out so you don't fall over."
Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker says Andrews' strength is not the only thing that has made him such a great thrower. Walker attributes Andrews' work ethic to his success.
"Stacy is a tireless worker and a pleasure to coach," said Walker. "He's a quality thrower and brings a lot to our program."
Andrews says his goals for his senior year are to take the final steps in becoming the league's top thrower.
"My goal is to be number one in the SEC, and go to nationals and make a statement there," said Andrews.
Lofty goals, he admits, but well within his considerable reach.