BACK AND FOCUSED: After a Year Away, Union/A-C Valley’s Dawson Camper Hoping to Pick Up Where He Left Off in the Shot Put

RIMERSBURG, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Two years ago, Dawson Camper was a rising star in the shot put as a member of the Union/A-C Valley track and field team.

Then a sophomore at Union, he snapped a school record in the event that had stood for 57 years when he muscled up a throw of 53 feet, 9 inches. That shattered the previous mark of a shade over 49 feet set by Denny Divins all the way back in 1965.

Camper won the District 9 Class 2A title in the shot with an effort of 49-½ and qualified for the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

It looked like nothing could stop him.

But last year, Camper stepped away from the sport to deal with personal issues. He said it was a difficult time in his life and he missed track and field.

“Last year I had a big hump to get over in my life,” Camper said. “It was hard for me. I had some things going on in my life. I just worked a lot. I did one meet last year and ended up quitting. Just a bunch of things happened in my personal life.”

With that behind him, Camper is back, trying to reclaim the form that had him among the best throwers in the state.
Now a senior, Camper has focused on accomplishing all the goals he put a pause on pursuing a year ago.

“I’m really trying to get back in the swing of things,” he said. “Two years ago, I had a big, big throw and broke our school record. This year I’m back and I’m planning on doing the same thing.”

Camper has clear objectives.

He wants to hit 60 feet. He wants to win another D9 championship and he wouldn’t mind returning from the state meet in Shippensburg with a gold medal dangling around his neck.

To do that, Camper is bearing down on his technique. 

“He’s already at 46-8 in his first meet and he threw (53-9) as a sophomore with bad technique,” said Dave Sherman, a volunteer coach for the Union/A-C Valley track and field team. “It’s not his delivery of the shot put, it’s how he gets across the circle. He kind of taught himself and he threw with his goofy technique, a shuffle or whatever you want to call it. We’re working on his rotation. I think that’ll get the best out of his ability. His delivery — there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Camper has also returned this year with heightened determination.

He wants to make up for that lost time.

“It was tremendous what we saw him do his sophomore year throughout the whole season,” said Falcon Knights’ throwing coach Lexis Twentier. “Last year, we missed him a little bit. We’re welcoming him back this year, his senior year, and he’s come back strong and quick. We’re excited to see what he can do. He’s certainly putting the work in this season.”

Camper said the grind is necessary. He’s starting almost from square one on his approach in the circle, learning to spin his body before his release, and it has been arduous.

The weather hasn’t helped. Cramped inside a gymnasium has been challenging, but also a strange blessing. It has allowed him to hone in on the finer points of his new mechanics.

Camper was cooped up inside again on Wednesday after the heavy rains scuttled a scheduled meet with Redbank Valley.

“It’s definitely hard inside because there’s only a limited amount of things you can do,” Camper said. “You’re not really getting the reps in throwing. But you can work on the small stuff, the technique stuff, which is good. Still, you need to be outside.”

Camper said he is slowly getting a hang of it.

“The biggest challenge is, really, it’s just a lot of work to perfect it,” Camper said. “It’s starting to come together.”

Always big, strong and athletic, Camper is even more powerful than he was two years ago.

That was clear this winter when he dominated on the basketball court in the paint, averaging 11.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He also handled the ball as a point guard at times, even at 6-foot-4.

Camper may also be faster — certainly speedier than most would think for someone as big as he is.

He is running a leg on the 4×100 relay team this year and has been impressive.

“At first, I was really nervous to run,” Camper said. “Coaches came up to me the other day and asked me to get back into running, so I gave it a shot. Our team is actually looking really, really good.”

Camper’s speed for his size even struck the coaches by surprise.

And a few of his teammates.

Hayden Smith, a three-time state champion in the high jump, marveled at how fast Camper can move.

“He can really move,” Smith said, smiling.

Camper is also throwing the discus and is trying his luck in the long jump for the first time this season.
“Not good,” Camper said, grinning, of his progress in the long jump. “I haven’t really had a lot of chances to practice it yet.”

No matter, the shot put is where Camper can make his biggest impact.

And he’s determined to do just that.

“It’s going to be good,” Camper said. “It’s going to take time, especially taking that year off and learning a new form this year. It’s definitely going to take a while, but it’s going to be good. It’s going to be worth it and I’m working hard at it. I want to win states.”