SKHS’ Matthew Gutelius Takes A New Track In Athletics

By: Liam Foley

As he began his senior year, Matthew Gutelius never truly considered playing any type of winter sport. The SKHS senior had just finished a successful campaign with the football team losing in the D1 semifinals against Hendricken.

After a long season with the Rebels football team he was planning on taking the winter off to recover. But due to a persistent friend, sophomore Tori Burton, the athletic football player later joined the indoor track team for what was to become one of the best track stories in SKHS history.

On Saturday February 13th, 2016, Gutelius competed in divisionals at Rhode Island’s, Providence Career Technical Center. Not only did Gutelius just walk on but he competed in two events, the shot put and weight. In these two events, he faced eight throwers and was asked to throw a weighted balls as far as he could.

For the shot put, Gutelius was asked to shuffle forward and throw as far as he could. He sported a whopping 40 feet and 7 inches. This landed him in 3rd place for shot.

In his next event, Gutelius competed in weight. He now had to throw the weighted balls as far as he could, while spinning. “This skill takes many years to master and Gutelius did it in three months” says his throwing coach Patrick Egan. Even with having little practice time, to master this skill, Gutelius placed in 2nd for division, throwing 49 feet and 12 inches.

“Practice makes perfect,” Gutelius said. “I have some natural ability that was shown through this event, but now as look back on the past three months, I’ve put in so much hard work with my coaches, Egan and Murphy.”

Gutelius was the first in his family to ever step foot inside an indoor track facility. His family had only known of two particular sports (soccer and football). Gutelius played football for his whole life and was on varsity team since he was a sophomore due to his amazing size and speed. Gutelius played on defense but he was outstanding at special teams. So when talking to his family about himself, Gutelius said they kind of laughed at the idea of him doing that.

At first, Gutelius didn’t take his indoor track career seriously. He just showed up to practice and did a little of everything.

It wasn’t for a couple of weeks into the track season until the coaches pulled him aside and asked him to try the ball throwing events. Gutelius said the first time he touched the disc he knew it was the event for him.

From that day Gutelius practiced and worked hard to try and master his technique with Coach Egan, who is also the men’s track coach for the University of Rhode Island. But Coach Murphy also had big role in helping out the new walk on. Coach Murphy helped him with his footing for both the events he competed in.

Gutelius’s teammates also had a very large role in his success. According to Gutelius, there were other teammates that pushed him and had competitions with him at practice to make him better and this also benefited them as well.

“When I first saw Matt Gutelius throw the shotput, I knew he was going to be a star. My impression was correct seeing all of the accomplishments and all the things he has done for the league,” Gutelius’s teammate Tristan Kozul said and who also competes in events such as the high jump.

Outside of track, Gutelius says he works hard in school and is always a great help when people don’t understand certain criteria. According to Gutelius not everything has come as naturally to him as his track events have, Gutelius works very hard in school and many of the finest SKHS students see that.

“Matthew inspired me in many ways and seeing now that track is all over, he continues to be an inspiration in all aspects of life.” says Gutelius track teammate Tristan Kozul.

In the future Gutelius has big plans. Next fall Gutelius is planning on attending the University of Rhode Island, but does not yet know what he would like to study.

As to his indoor track career, Gutelius is all but done competing. The athlete’s plans are to continue to throw for fun in college and return to SKHS to teach new upcoming high school students how to throw shot put and weight.