Fairview's Merryman achieves big goals senior year

Jake Merryman set two goals at the beginning of his senior year at Fairview High School. By the time he graduated, he had accomplished both and then some, celebrating a banner year in the track and field event of discus throw.

Merryman's first goal was to beat the Fairview High School record in discus throw. He accomplished that at a home meet on March 31 with a throw of 136'1", exceeding the previous record of 129’10”.

His second goal was to qualify to go to the TSSAA Boys' Track State Championships in Murfreesboro. He not only qualified, but placed 5th in the state at the May competition.

The coach, who helped the 18-year-old athlete get there, was none other than his own father.

"I'm so glad my dad was there to coach and encourage me," said Jake Merryman of his father Scott, who still holds the record in discus throw at Greensboro Day School in North Carolina with a throw of 152’3”. That record netted him first place in the state tournament as a high school senior in 1986.

"I hope my discus record will stand for as long as my dad's has," Merryman added.

Merryman began throwing discus in 6th Grade at Fairview Middle School and over the years was one of only a few on the team who participated in the event. "He heard his dad talking about it and thought he'd try. He was surprised how quickly he picked it up and how much he enjoyed it," said mom Katrina.

While he participated in other sports in middle and high school, as a senior he decided to focus exclusively on discus. The results speak for themselves. Merryman placed 1st in discus in every regular high school meet this season and placed 3rd in the Williamson County Championships.

He was invited to the Great 8 Invitational as one of the top eight discus throwers in Middle Tennessee. He received 4th place at Sub-Sectionals, 2nd at Sectionals and then finally 5th at State.

Merryman's impressive showing also got him nominated for Track and Field Athlete of the Year at the Willco Awards, an event that recognizes Williamson County's finest athletes.

"I'm really proud of all the hard work and effort Jake put into making this his best year ever," boasted dad Scott Merryman. "It's been so rewarding to share with my son a sport that I love, to pass on the passion, so to speak."

"It's been so fun watching Jake grow and improve over the years. To end his high school discus career with such an epic year makes all the time and energy he put into it so worth it," said mom Katrina.

Merryman is headed to the University of Tennessee Knoxville in the fall and will major in Biomedical Engineering.

He has not yet decided if he will continue with discus there, but he did learn an important lesson during his senior year at Fairview High School.

"This year has shown me that if you want something and you work hard for it, you can achieve it.”