MARY CIECEK/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Throwers junior
Scott Moser and redshirt freshman Dan
Ames dominate the Pac-10 in the shot put and discus.
By Glen Worthington
Daily Bruin Contributor
For junior Scott Moser and redshirt freshman Dan Ames, the
numbers speak for themselves. In the Pac-10 conference, they are
the best shot put and discus throwers. In national rankings, they
are close.
UCLA is No. 3 in the IAAF/USATF Team Power Rankings, thanks in
large part to these two. At the team’s recent meet against
USC, Moser and Ames accounted for 20 of UCLA’s 81 points
““ nearly one quarter of the entire team’s points.
Simply put, the two dominate.
Together Moser and Ames placed 1-2 in the discus and the shot
put in three regular season meets. On top of that, they came in 1-2
in discus at the Cal-Nevada Championships two weeks ago.
Any team would be thrilled to have one competitor of that
caliber. UCLA is lucky enough to have two.
Men’s Head Coach and Throws Coach Art Venegas has nothing
but praise for his two stellar athletes.
“Scott’s been the leader of the program. He’s
been at a national level from beginning to end, and we can’t
say that about anyone else. He’s been highly ranked all the
way through.”
“Dan has been the big breakthrough guy,” Venegas
continued. “He’s one of the best freshman in the
country. He is the best combined thrower in the country, shot and
discus, for freshman.”
Ames is the Pac-10 leader in the shot put at 63-feet-10 inches,
followed by Moser at 62-4. They are eighth and 12th in the nation,
respectively.
In the discus, Moser is first at 206-8 and Ames is second at
196-8. Nationally, they are third and sixth. Interestingly enough,
they are the only two Americans in the top seven. That bodes well
for their track and field Olympic hopes.
As if their shot and discus dominance isn’t enough, in the
Pac-10 Moser is third in the hammer throw at 198-7 and Ames is
sixth at 192-10. When those are your worst statistics, you’re
doing quite well.
“They’re world-class guys,” Venegas said.
“They’re on schedule to be as good as some of the great
ones we’ve had here. Talent-wise they’re both in that
level.”
Venegas points out that each has their individual gifts. He says
that Moser is one of the strongest guys ever at UCLA in any sport.
Ames’ strengths are his speed and explosive ability, though
Venegas says he is coming up in the weight room too.
On top of their innate talents, both athletes point to teamwork
as being a key to this year’s successes.
“We get along a lot better as a team this year,”
said Moser. “We’re a lot closer, and practice is more
fun because of it. It’s like, “˜Hey! Let’s go hang
out and throw things.’ It’s more fun and I think
that’s why we’re doing better.”
“There hasn’t been a solid throwing team here for a
little while,” he continued. “Now I think we’re
coming together and showing a lot of good things.”
The fun they have in practice was apparent in their banter. When
asked if there was any rivalry between them, Moser replied without
missing a beat.
“I hate him,” he said.
“I don’t hate him as an athlete,” Ames
rejoined with a laugh. “I just hate him as a
person.”
But they can be serious too.
“It’s not so much of a rivalry,” Ames said.
“We really push each other. We really feed off each
other’s success.”
Venegas also recognizes the team unity and fun spirit.
“They have good senses of humor. They do kid each other a
lot; there’s a lot of banter going back and forth. But they
get along great; they’re really good friends,” Venegas
said. “I’m real proud to coach them.”
Later the conversation turned to the pressures of being the
best. With so many of UCLA’s meet points lying on their
shoulders, they are expected to perform day in and day out.
“I don’t know if we’re masochistic or
something,” Moser said, “but we like the pressure on
ourselves. When you’re in the ring, there’s nobody else
in there. You throw the shot or disc and wherever it lands is
because of what you did. I like the work ethic involved and the
self-discipline. I dig that.”
The two paused, trying to find a better way to explain the
pressure they face. Then Ames spoke up
“We’re starting to learn to use the pressure to our
advantage,” he pointed out, a comment Moser applauded.
“Ahhh, there you go,” he said. “That’s a
good one. And I hate him too, did I mention that?”
Always the banter. But when you continue to compete with and
beat the best, you’re allowed to have a little fun.
What does the future hold for UCLA’s throwing tandem? This
weekend they have the Pac-10 Championships. Moser and Ames are
already champions in the hearts of the team, but a title would be
nice. Then they’re off to the NCAA Championships. And after
that?
“Both of us are aiming for Greece in four years,”
Ames said.
“We know we have talent,” Moser added.
“It’s just whether or not we’re going to bring it
out of ourselves. All we got to do is listen to Art.”
And Venegas believes that the Athens Olympics are a definite
possibility.
“I think both of them have a chance to get on an Olympic
podium in the future. Whether they reach that or not depends on how
serious and motivated they remain and how well they handle
adversity, because every athlete will face adversity at some
point.”
All told, Moser and Ames may bleed blue and gold, but it’s
track and field that runs in their veins.
“I would say that it is my life,” Moser said.
“I don’t have anything against education, but I’m
here for track. I’m planning to throw until my body falls
apart.”
“Behind God and family, it’s pretty much the most
important thing to me that I do,” Ames said.
Moser and Ames are two superb athletes who should be recognized
not only for their competitive prowess but also for their attitude.
They give Bruin athletics a good name.