Dedication paying off for Kernel throwers Bryer Stach, Logan Bessler

Apr. 29—MITCHELL — Success in throwing the shot put or the discus doesn't come by accident.

So it's no surprise that Mitchell High School is seeing success from boys throwers Bryer Stach and Logan Bessler early in the 2026 season.

They were two of the most dedicated throwers for the Kernels in the offseason, so much so that Kernel assistant coach Sterling Dockweiler was no longer surprised when he would drive past the MHS practice fields on a Saturday to see either one of them throwing on their own or taking advantage of their open pit times during the offseason.

"They push each other all the time, in a good way," Dockweiler said.

Stach, a Kernel junior, has already surpassed his best throws from 2025, which measured at 50 feet, 0.75 inches in the shot put and 142 feet, 10 inches in the discus. Stach admitted he always viewed himself as more of a shot thrower than discus, but he can't argue with the results this season, considering he's already 20 feet past his best throw from 2025.

"Right now, it's the first time I've actually been ranked higher in discus than shot put. I've always kind of been a shot put kind of guy," Stach said. "It's cool to see that I'm getting higher in both and being up there for discus, too."

The 163-foot discus throw at the Corn Palace Relays is the No. 4 throw in South Dakota this season. Stach is also now in the top-10 in Kernel discus history.

He is further up on the MHS all-time shot put marks, with a top throw this season of 53 feet, 6.5 inches, landing him fifth all-time at MHS and fifth-best this season in South Dakota.

Stach said the year-round throwing — whether it was at MHS or indoors at Dakota Wesleyan — helped give him a good start into the spring outdoor track season.

"It's a great feeling to see that progress, seeing all of that work you do actually pay off right away," he said. "It only motivates you."

Bessler, a senior, said he had a little bit slower start to the season than he wanted, but still cleared 49 feet in the shot put and 150 feet in the discus, taking some of the stress off of the season related to qualifying for this weekend's Howard Wood Dakota Relays and the state track meet. Bessler is ranked in the Kernel all-time top-10 in both discus and shot put, as well.

"They listen to their coaching, their training," Thill said. "They put in a lot of time other than just during the season, with camps and open pits and the weight room. And they do other sports, as well, and I think some of that success is piggy-backing off the other sports."

Some of the most valuable instruction comes from the athletes themselves, coaching each other. Dockweiler called it like having extra coaches on staff.

"We're usually able to look at each other's film and watch the throws and give each other coaching," Bessler said. "It's probably one of the best things about this program, being able to have our coaches go help younger kids and our older kids are able to help each other out. It just means we get more coaching and instruction all the way around."