Alec Whiteside was all smiles while waiting for the signing ceremony to begin. That's nothing new for the Chillicothe Senior whom always seems to have a grin from ear to ear, except when he steps into the Shot Put and Discus circle. Then he's all business. Next year, he'll bring his grin and his intensity to William Jewell College. Whiteside has officially signed a letter of intent for Track and Field with the Division 2 college in Liberty.
     While Whiteside is skilled in the discus and shot put, he will have to learn two new skills: the hammer throw and the javelin.
     "I've never even picked up a hammer or javelin" Whiteside said chuckling, "but I'm sure it will be a great experience. Coach Graves, he's the head throwing coach and he's really good about teaching the techniques of the hammer and javelin, so I'm sure he'll enlighten me"
     Whiteside is just the latest in a long line of Chillicothe throwers who have made it to the College ranks. Chillicothe assistant track coach Ken Stull, who is in charge of the shot put and discus events, says Whiteside has the skill set to make it in college.
     "Alec has always been very explosive and that makes a big difference" said Stull. "He's also fairly strong and he has a will to win, and that's made a big difference."
     Stull says Whiteside is a very good technical thrower. "He's learned to do well in his glide position and he's getting better in his spin position, so both of those allow him to go to the next level."
     Whiteside knows college will be more than just the track team. He's also excited about the academic side of William Jewell College.
     "I really like the campus. I like how there you're not a number, you're a person. You can have good conversations with your professors when needed. It's a really highly thought of school when it comes to academics."
     Whiteside has finished 2nd the Shot Put in the State Meet each of the last two years and finished 7th in the discus last year. The Chillicothe track season begins March 19th with the Chillicothe Time Trials, then hits the road on March 26th for a quad meet with Kirksville, Marceline and Brookfield.