FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The weekend of March 21st for NAU junior thrower Andres Rossini consisted of many highlights and a bit of confusion. The Argentina native represented his home country in the discus competition at the South American U-23 Championships in Medellín, Colombia against some of the continents best young throwers. It was the first time Rossini was invited the to the prestigious event.

The U-23 games take place every two years, with South American Championships on the docket every four. The 2010 games featured both events occurring simultaneously, giving the competition an Olympic-like feel.

The 2008 games featured only four discus throwers, so Rossini was unsure of how the competition would play out this time around.

"This time there was 10, with one of the throwers in there having a mark of over 50 meters coming into the competition, so I thought it was going to be better then last time," Rossini said.

After the competition was complete, Rossini walked away as champion with a person-best throw of 56.28 meters (184-6.5), besting the second-place finisher by just under 12 feet. Unsure that his best throw would be good enough, Rossini was elated when he saw that it held.

"I knew the guy that finished second from Peru also came down from the U.S. to compete," Rossini said. "The week before he had thrown over 56 meters at a competition in Florida. I knew I couldn't be confident with my biggest throw with him there, but luckily it was good enough to win."

Throws coach Mohamad Saatara was also thrilled that Rossini was able to claim the title, and was confident that he was going to set a new personal record early in the season.

"He wasn't 100 percent prepared for that competition because we only had about five practices outside before he left," Saatara said. "I was sure that he would throw a personal record, although I didn't expect him to have a throw of that range yet, but obviously we are excited to see that."

After the competition, Rossini headed to the airport to fly back to Flagstaff to resume classes and the outdoor season. When checking in for his flight, he learned that his visa had expired and that he wasn't going to be able to make it back to campus when he had planned to.

"I went to the airport in Colombia to fly back, but my visa was expired," Rossini said. "I never even thought about it becoming expired. After a few hours of stress there in the airport, I figured I should just go back home to Argentina and get it renewed. The Olympic committee got me a flight with the team back home. I had to go and do some quick paperwork, and luckily I have it again."

Rossini was originally slated to miss only three days of class for the competition, but wound up absent for nearly two weeks. With the help of his academic advisor and understanding from his professors, Rossini will be able to make up the work he missed.

"I have a lot of homework to makeup, but I kept in touch with all of my professors and they were very understanding of my situation, so I got some exams and homework moved back a week," a relieved Rossini said.

Now that he is back in the States, Rossini can focus on better preparing himself for the upcoming meets and for his ultimate goal of reaching 60 meters.

"That 60 meter mark is one I really want to reach," Rossini said eagerly. "It is four more meters to try and get. Now that I have that 56-meter throw and a win from the competition, I am feeling a lot more confident. It was very early in the season too, so I wasn't expecting my best throw of the season that early. I am pretty excited to try and get that 60-meter throw."

Saatara has also noticed a confidence boost in the junior college-transfer's attitude as well.

"I think this has helped motivate him coming into the collegiate season to get him ready to face the big guys at the NCAA Championships," Saatara said.

With the tutelage from Saatara, and a championship under his belt, the sky is the limit for Rossini come the outdoor postseason.

DID YOU KNOW?…The student-athletes recorded a 3.0 GPA overall for the fall semester, the fifth time in the last six semesters the department has had a 3.0 or better GPA for the semester.