The Throws Meet is held annually in memory of Lyon Newell, a 1998 graduate of UMS-Wright who excelled in both track and football. After graduating from The University of Alabama, Lyon died from a tragic accident in October 2002. Soon thereafter, Lyon's parents, friends and the UMS-Wright community established the Throws Meet.

The meets occurring in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 have raised over $100,000 which was  contributed to Wilmer Hall Children's Home and the Child Advocacy Center. Last year's meet hosted 18 teams from Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.   

Last year, the Child Advocacy Center was again the recipient of the funds raised from the meet. The Child Advocacy Center provides services to help child abuse victims and their non-offending family members in Mobile County.

Lyon Newell attended UMS-Wright from Kindergarten through 12th Grade Graduation in 1998. Throughout his career at UMS-Wright, Newell was a talented multi-sport athlete participating in football, basketball, baseball and track. Eventually he focused his attention on football and track and field. Newell exhibited his athletic ability even more as a track athlete at UMS-Wright, earning All-State honors as both a junior and senior. At 6-1, 205 lbs, Newell was a versatile athlete. Despite being outweighed by most of his competitors, Newell was a consistent winner in the throwing events with personal bests of 50-11 feet in the shot put and 142-5 in the discus. Moreover, Newell would often leave the throwing circles to compete in the running and hurdle events as a member of four of Coach Pat Galle's state championship teams. Newell ran impressive times in everything from the 55-meter dash to the 300-meter hurdles. As a result of his success in competition, Newell was selected as a co-captain of the 1998 squad, earned the Radcliff-Rayford Award for the most points scored in the field events and the Top Dog Award for most points scored in all events.