March 18, 2024

PCM’s Clark signs with Grand View track team

MONROE — Choosing which college to attend is a tough choice for any high school athlete who wants to extend his or her athletic career.

For Noah Clark, choosing which sport to play in college was equally as tough.

In the end, Clark picked the sport in which he has the most room to still grow, and he signed a letter of intent to compete in track and field for Grand View University.

“I still have a lot of potential in track and field, and I haven’t hit my peak yet,” said Clark, who qualified for the state meet last year in the discus.

“I really enjoy throwing disc, and I feel like I can excel more in track, too.”

Clark hauled in 78 career receptions, scored 13 career receiving touchdowns and gained 1,277 receiving yards as a three-year letter winner on the PCM football team.

Clark had opportunities at the Division II and NAIA level to extend his career in football.

He also played baseball and started for the last two years at third base. Opportunities in that sport were at and Buena Vista.

For track and field, Clark also was being heavily recruited by Buena Vista and Wartburg.

“When I went to Grand View, I just felt like I could see myself walking around campus, seeing myself study and seeing myself involved with the track team,” Clark said. “The faculty is really nice, and I think it’s a great fit.”

In 2015, Clark’s best throw in discus was 120 feet, 6 inches. As a junior last year, Clark’s best toss in discus was 150-1, which qualifyed him for the state meet in Des Moines.

At Grand View, Clark also will compete in the hammer throw, weight throw and javelin.

“It was really tough. I went back and forth forever. I canceled some schools out and then brought them back in” Clark said. “I wasn’t interested in track at first. Then, it gained some steam and the other ones fell off a bit. I talked it over with my family and my friends gave me input. I felt like I made the right decision.”

Grand View is located on the east side of Des Moines. Staying close to home was a key factor for Clark.

“I still have a brother in high school, so I like being close to him,” Clark said. “I am a really big family guy. Home is home for me.”

Clark plans to major in physical education. He said he also plans to minor in coaching or special education.

His goal for the 2017 track and field season is to qualify for the state meet in both discus and shot put. For now, he is just ready to get outside and take advantage of the nice weather.

“I’m itching to get outside,” Clark said. “I need to figure out where they put the equipment so I can get started. My goal is to make it to state in both shot put and discus. I am going to start heavy in shot put and then work in discus. I have been throwing discus in some camps, and the shot put is the one that needs the most work. I really want to be good at both.”