Rauch, a junior, is ready to make her first appearance in the Class 2A discus at this weekend’s University Interscholastic League State Track and Field Meet in Austin.
She’s also the favorite with a season-best throw of 138 feet, 6 inches that ranks sixth in the state - in any classification.
Yet Rauch is more concerned about her nerves come 10:30 a.m. Saturday than the competition itself.
“I think 90 percent of it’s going to have to be me being relaxed and 10 percent’s going to be physical,” Rauch said. “There’s a lot of pressure on this being the state meet. It’s pretty nerve-wracking.”
But Rauch has calmed her nerves just fine so far this season. She’s undefeated against 2A competition and has thrown two of her best marks in the last few weeks.
Rauch improved by nearly 20 feet in the span of just a week after winning the District 25-2A title. She bested district competition with a throw of 118-7½.
A week later at a regional qualifiers meet, which featured qualifiers from area Class A through 4A schools, Rauch recorded the best throw of her career.
She admitted that she surprised herself with the toss of 138-6. The biggest difference, she said, was simply enjoying the moment.
“I was just relaxed having fun with the people around me and I hit it big,” she said.
But when Troy girls coach Amber Guin heard about Rauch’s season-best throw, she wasn’t surprised.
“She definitely has the physical ability, there’s no doubt about that,” Guin said. “A lot of it’s going to be relaxing and taking care of business.”
Rauch followed up that throw with a 126-6 at the Region IV meet two weeks ago in San Marcos.
Though the throw wasn’t near her personal best, Rauch simply was glad that she calmed her nerves and clinched a spot at state.
“I was happy I made it, but I was disappointed because I saw what I could do,” she said. “I was a little disappointed, but I was happy to be advancing.”
The thing that helped Rauch in the regional qualifiers meet - being relaxed - has been one of the keys to her improvement this season.
“I think a lot of it has to do with her own maturity as an athlete,” Guin said. “Mentally, she’s a lot stronger. Not that she wasn’t mentally strong, but Steph has the tendency to stress herself out.
“I think she’s been more relaxed and more matured this year and she’s definitely a competitor.”
Rauch also runs and spends at least two days a week in the weight room to help build strength.
Along with turning herself into one of the state’s top throwers, Rauch was also a key member of Troy’s softball team.
She was one of the Trojanettes’ leading hitters, with an average better than .350 and nearly 20 runs batted in. Rauch also was a big part of Troy’s state championship team last year.
But with the softball season over, Rauch has devoted her full attention to the discus for nearly three weeks.
Rauch has been relaxed this week, but Guin said the fact that she’s achieved a dream has started to sink in.
“I think the realization of ‘I’m going to state on Friday’ has started to set in,” Guin said. “But I’m confident she’ll be able to get it done."
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
