The 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior won the shot put and discus at the Class AAA state meet this past season, leading the Bulldogs to a sixth-place finish as a team. Sobota took bronze in the shot at this month's New Balance Nationals Outdoors with an effort of 65 feet, 11.75 inches, which ranked as nation's No. 13 performance among prep competitors this spring at the time of his selection. Sobota also finished sixth in the discus at NBNO. His personal-best discus throw of 190-3 set a state-meet record and ranked No. 38 in the nation this season.
Sobota has maintained a 4.35 weighted GPA in the classroom. He remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
An accomplished bass player, Sobota is a member of the Knoxville Youth Symphony Orchestra. The president of his school's Key Club, he has volunteered locally at the East Tennessee Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House. "Josh seems to be the classic success story, combining gifted ability with passion and determination," said Don Madgett, head coach of South Doyle High. "This is the kind of kid coaches love."
