46 // VARSITY February 27, 2014
school state record-holder in the hammer throw
who had placed sixth at USA Junior Championships.
Since the hammer was not a high school sport in
Wisconsin, Sidnie couldn't compete in the event
for her high school team. Instead, she competed in
a high school division outside the Wisconsin Inter-
scholastic Athletic Association (WIAA).
Lihrman contacted Sidnie and asked who her
coach was. She told him that her coach was her fa-
ther, Deren Wilder, a former Division II All-Ameri-
can hammer thrower at St. Joseph's College in Rens-
selaer, Ind.
Wasting no time, Lihrman contacted Deren Wild-
er the next day and quickly began practicing with
his daughter a few times a week for the duration of
the summer. Wilder's guidance proved invaluable,
as he helped Lihrman improve both physically and
mentally.
"He has basically made me who I am as an athlete
and has taught me how to train, think and act like a
champion," Lihrman declared.
• • • •
D
uring his sophomore campaign in 2012,
Lihrman's performance dramatically im-
proved. He finished 11th in the weight throw
― the indoor equivalent of the hammer ― at the
NCAA Division III indoor championships and fourth
in the hammer throw at the national outdoor meet.
During spring break between his indoor and out-
door track seasons, Lihrman went back home and
continued to train with Wilder. At a local restaurant
one night, they discussed Lihrman's performance
during the indoor season and how he mentally pre-
pared for each meet.
But that wasn't all. Wilder also pushed Lihrman
to move up to a Division I program. Wilder believed
Lihrman had the ability to thrive at the highest col-
legiate level, even if Lihrman didn't.
"I came home that night and told my parents
that I wanted to go to Division I," Lihrman recalled.
"They thought I was crazy because it was a spur-of-
the-moment decision, but I knew I needed to move
"If I set goals that I knew I could
reach, I wouldn't be doing a very
good job at pushing myself," Lihrman
explained. "I like to shoot for an unre-
alistic mark because it makes me try
even harder to reach that goal."
