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February 5, 2010

ON CAMPUS: Former Floyd star Steven Hnat’s likeness on I-64 billboard

By KEVIN HARRIS

Steven Hnat has become one of the big men on campus at the University of Louisville.

Literally.

The former Floyd Central and current Louisville men’s track member is among several Cardinals who are gracing U of L billboards across Louisville and Southern Indiana.

Hnat’s image is displayed facing Interstate 64 west bound near the Sherman Minton Bridge into Floyd County.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be on a billboard,” the U of L senior said. “Track athletes are usually not promoted, but it’s neat. U of L has good athletes across the board. It’s just not everybody knows about them.”

The U of L athletic administration decided to display Cardinal student-athletes from either Kentucky or Southern Indiana on the billboards in a sign of support for the communities the athletes grew up in.

Hnat did not have prior knowledge that he was going to be one of the Cardinal athletes selected. He learned about it a few days before Thanksgiving when some of his friends left him voice-mail messages to inform him about the billboard.

“My initial reaction was I was pretty shocked,” Hnat said. “I was never told about it. I had no knowledge about it up until then.”

Since the billboard’s unveiling, Hnat has been contacted by a wide variety of people. He has heard from all of his former coaches at Floyd Central, some of his current professors and parents of his friends from FCHS.

“A lot of people have called my parents’ house in Floyds Knobs when they’ve seen it,” Hnat said. “It’s been pretty special.”

Hnat deserved to be on the billboard after last year’s outstanding outdoor season.

He won the Big East Conference outdoor shot put title for the first time in his career and broke his own outdoor school record five times. The last time he snapped the school mark was in the Big East Championships with a personal-best toss of 60 feet, 6 1/2 inches.

Hnat also earned his first-ever trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. He received an at-large berth and finished 24th.

“Winning the Big East title was a goal of mine from the beginning of the season,” Hnat said. “Going to nationals was special. It was an awesome experience to compete at that level. The resources at U of L gave me that opportunity.

“Last spring, I never hit a rough patch and it made it less stressful.”

Hnat, whose final year of indoor track eligibility was last season, will attempt to make a return trip to nationals when the outdoor season starts on March 26-27 in the LSU Relays.

But earning a spot will not be as easy as it was in 2009.

The number of NCAA regionals have been reduced from four to two, as athletes across the nation will be split in an East Regional and a West Regional. The top 12 shot putters in each regional will automatically qualify for nationals, and unlike in past years no at-large berths will be given.But Hnat plans on being loose and enjoying his pursuit of trying to reach nationals again.

“It’s going to be a one-and-done deal. But I’m going to have fun with everything,” Hnat said. “There is no pressure on my side. I’ve enjoyed my time at U of L. I’ve traveled all across the country and I’m going to graduate in May with two (undergraduate) degrees.”

Hnat’s degrees will be in exercise science and public health education. After graduation, he plans on going to graduate school to help his pursuit of a physical therapy career.

Hnat has been accepted into Ohio State University’s doctor of physical therapy program. He is scheduled to interview for University of Nevada-Las Vegas’ graduate program today and has applied for graduate school at the University of Kentucky and Bellarmine University.

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