Senior Josh Switzer is a powerful young man (6-foot-3, 238 pounds) who can bulldoze nearly everything in his path. But in order to prevail in his ongoing fight with dyslexia, Switzer (pronounced SWITE-sir) relies on determination and patience.
Michael O’Leary / The Herald
Coach’s corner: Sultan assistant track and field coach Ben Murphy said Switzer, who competes in the shot put and discus, downplays his ability. That humble attitude helps the senior constantly improve. “He’s a much better athlete than he’ll give himself credit for,” Murphy said, “but in some ways it’s good because he never stops working hard. He’s always looking forward (and thinking), ‘What can I do next?’” Switzer launched a personal-record shot put heave of 41 feet, 2.5 inches in a season-opening home meet – a foot better than his best freshman-year mark. Last Thursday, at Lakewood, Switzer demolished his previous PR with a toss of 44-1.
Class act: Murphy, who also coached Switzer in football, calls the senior “a leader among his peers.” A three-year starter for the Turks gridiron team, Switzer earned first-team All-Cascade Conference honors for his work as a right offensive tackle this past fall. He was picked to play in this summer’s Class 2A/1A/B East-West All-Star Football Game in Yakima.
Defeating dyslexia: Switzer has dyslexia, a neurological learning disability that hinders reading comprehension. He was placed in special-education classes in elementary school and often must read something twice before he fully understands it. “There’s no real trick to fix it,” said Switzer, whose mother also has dyslexia. “It takes a little more time to go over things. … The letters get jumbled up and I don’t get a (reading) flow going.” But Switzer has made major strides and is on track to graduate. He thanked Sultan teacher Mike Bowie for guiding him through frustrating times.
Hay ya!: During the summer Switzer bucks hay bales at a Sultan farm. He also has worked as an assistant for Aquatic Weed Control in Seattle, cruising around in boats on Lake Washington and aiding the company’s licensed divers.
Pasta bowl: Group-friendly Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo is Switzer’s favorite place to eat out, even though he once caused a ruckus there by accidentally spilling Coke on his prom date. “All the (date’s friends) had to say something,” he said, laughing. “It was not what I was hoping for.”
Favorite movie: “Varsity Blues” (1999) starring James Van Der Beek, Jon Voigt and Amy Smart. Switzer and his football teammates once re-enacted a scene from the movie – with a Sultan twist – at a school pep assembly.
From rap to Roses: Rockers AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses share space with rappers Ludacris, Jay-Z and 50 Cent on Switzer’s list of favorite music acts. Rap in Sultan? Heck ,yeah. Switzer has a message for those who assume Sultan is strictly Tim McGraw territory: “Every DJ that comes to our (school) dances plays country. Just because we’re from Sultan doesn’t mean we like country (music)!”
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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