JOHN HICKEY
Tappan Zee High School
Class of 2005
Tappan Zee High School graduate John Hickey holds the honor of being one of Rockland County’s greatest throwers.
A three-time New York State champion in the shot put with gold medals from the 2004 outdoor meet plus the 2005 indoor and outdoor seasons, John added the National Scholastic Indoor championship in the shot put during his dominant 2005 campaign. That year also brought a bronze medal from the Nike Outdoor Nationals and a Section 1 outdoor record of 64-11 ¾. That mark remains No. 3 on the all-time Rockland County list to keep company with his 64-4 toss that’s runner-up on the indoor list.
An accomplished discus thrower, John took the New York State crown in 2004. He now sits at No. 5 on Rockland County’s all-time list at 172-1. The Piermont native also resides on the 25-lb. weight throw list at ninth and eighth in the hammer throw.
John is the only scholastic male athlete from Rockland to claim two New York State individual championships in the same season, having harvested gold medals in the shot and discus at the 2004 NYSPHSAA championship meet. He also was the first Rockland student-athlete to be named The Journal News athlete of the season twice and three times, having secured the honor for the winter season his junior year and winter and spring seasons as a senior.
At a rock-solid 295 pounds, with a low center of gravity and surprising agility, John was an ideal candidate to learn the spin technique in the shot from Coach Bob Favre, one of Rockland foremost throws coaches. John was tempted to join the Tappan Zee football team his senior year after the program regained varsity status following a one-year hiatus. But sound advice from Favre and others helped persuade him to concentrate fully on track & field, and the scholarship opportunities it offered, compared with the injury risk in football.
After his 2005 graduation, John moved on from Coach Favre’s savvy guidance to the University of Iowa. On an even bigger stage in Iowa City, John proved truly impressive. Twice a Big 10 champion in the shot put, John was a three-time All-America for the Hawkeyes. The top step at the USA Track & Field Junior Nationals Championship in 2006 earned him a trip to Beijing, China for the IAAF World Junior Championships, resulting in a fourth place among the stiffest international competition.
A three-time New York State champion in the shot put with gold medals from the 2004 outdoor meet plus the 2005 indoor and outdoor seasons, John added the National Scholastic Indoor championship in the shot put during his dominant 2005 campaign. That year also brought a bronze medal from the Nike Outdoor Nationals and a Section 1 outdoor record of 64-11 ¾. That mark remains No. 3 on the all-time Rockland County list to keep company with his 64-4 toss that’s runner-up on the indoor list.
An accomplished discus thrower, John took the New York State crown in 2004. He now sits at No. 5 on Rockland County’s all-time list at 172-1. The Piermont native also resides on the 25-lb. weight throw list at ninth and eighth in the hammer throw.
John is the only scholastic male athlete from Rockland to claim two New York State individual championships in the same season, having harvested gold medals in the shot and discus at the 2004 NYSPHSAA championship meet. He also was the first Rockland student-athlete to be named The Journal News athlete of the season twice and three times, having secured the honor for the winter season his junior year and winter and spring seasons as a senior.
At a rock-solid 295 pounds, with a low center of gravity and surprising agility, John was an ideal candidate to learn the spin technique in the shot from Coach Bob Favre, one of Rockland foremost throws coaches. John was tempted to join the Tappan Zee football team his senior year after the program regained varsity status following a one-year hiatus. But sound advice from Favre and others helped persuade him to concentrate fully on track & field, and the scholarship opportunities it offered, compared with the injury risk in football.
After his 2005 graduation, John moved on from Coach Favre’s savvy guidance to the University of Iowa. On an even bigger stage in Iowa City, John proved truly impressive. Twice a Big 10 champion in the shot put, John was a three-time All-America for the Hawkeyes. The top step at the USA Track & Field Junior Nationals Championship in 2006 earned him a trip to Beijing, China for the IAAF World Junior Championships, resulting in a fourth place among the stiffest international competition.