The TAKEOFF Magazine

TAKEOFF

So, You Want to Vault in College?

What You Need to Know for Where You Want to Go

PUMA in the pit

PUMA in the Pit #6 Oct 2021 #3 APR 2021

The mission of TAKEOFF Magazine is to inspire amateur athletes to personal greatness.

My name is Adele San Miguel, and I am the co-founder of Pole Vault Carolina, a training facility based in Durham, North Carolina.

TAKEOFF is the next iteration of our club’s mission: to coach the athlete to their highest self.

I’m thrilled to have you on our runway.

ADELE SAN MIGUEL, PUBLISHER + EDITOR

Cover photo credit: pngkey

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

H

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

HELLO THERE!

October 2021

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Competing as a collegiate athlete is a dream for many high school amateurs. At Pole Vault Carolina, we have a wall of photos dedicated to the 31 athletes who have continued to pursue their greatness on a university team. What does it truly take to pole vault in college? Jose R. San Miguel answers your questions on page 18.

Sydney Horn, a sophomore at High Point University, surpassed all expectations in her first year as a collegiate vaulter. Sydney broke the school record and qualified twice for the NCAA championships, placing 3rd indoors and 6th outdoors in difficult conditions. Elite vaulter Megan Zimlich brings us Sydney’s story on page 16.

Megan also penned an article about coaching her fiance, Scott Houston, at the Olympic Trials this past June. Love at the Olympic Trials is on page 24.

David Kendziera is an Olympic 400 meter hurdler who found personal success by mentoring other athletes. In If I Knew Then What I Know Now, David explains how he avoids wrapping his identity around being a track and field athlete. Page 26.

In Carbs: The Key to Performance, Summer McNeill breaks down which carbohydrates will enhance your training, and when to eat them pre and post workout. Page 14.

Do not miss our ClubHub column featuring athletes from Vaulthouse in North Carolina, and Philly Jumps Club in the greater Philadelphia area!

We thank our advertisers Kanstet Runways, Fibersport Poles, and RockBack Pole Bags!

All the Very Best,

Adele

3

O N

D E C K

Issue Number 6 It’s college recruiting season and we have straightforward advice on how to pursue your athletic dreams as a student-athlete!

Letter from The Editor 3 Makes and Misses 6

ClubHub

PhillyJumps Club 8 Vaulthouse 10 Carbs: The Key to Performance 14 Sydney Horn: Higher at High Point 16

So, You Want to Vault in College?

18 Love at the Olympic Trials 24

If I Knew Then with 2020 Olympian David Kendziera 26

4

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

CONTRIBUTORS

5

Summer McNeill B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics Post Collegiate Pole Vaulter Carbs: The Key to Performance

Jose R. San Miguel Head Coach of Pole Vault Carolina Makes and Misses So, You Want to Vault in College?

Megan Zimlich

Elite Vaulter Pole Vault Coach - Vaulthouse Blogger Love at the Olympic Trials Sydney Horn - Higher at High Point CluHub - Vaulthouse

MAKES & MISSES By: Jose R. San MIguel

Growing up in Puerto Rico, in a loving family with amazing parents, I was surrounded by opportunities to become better, not because my family had the means (they did not), but because I never knew what we were lacking. My parents encouraged me to believe I could accomplish anything.

Like most kids on the island, I played many sports and was passionate about winning. Track and field gave me that opportunity. I was not the strongest, fastest, or best, but most failed to beat me.

6

Academically, I was not as accomplished. Lacking confidence in the classroom, I struggled for years and no one knew why. Tutors and special classes produced little improvement. My parents never gave up in their search to help me. Finally, I had the good fortune to meet Sr. Mendez when I was in sixth grade.

Sr. Mendez noticed my dyslexia and taught me how to make sense of math. With this new skill, I felt empowered and my outlook for the future changed. A year later I was accepted into Colegio San Jose, where I flourished academically and athletically from grades 7-12. What an amazing gift!

One day as a junior in high school, I saw a man in his sixties pole vaulting. I introduced myself and asked if I could try it. His name was Don Carlos Loubrier. He said no way un-

T A K E O F F T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E M A G A Z I N E

less my father agreed, as the sport is very difficult. My father approvedI tried it, and was hooked.

Papa became a student of the event and coached me to a full scholarship at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez. He believed that having excellent technique in every event could compensate for not being as tall or fast as other athletes.

I spent hours studying film on an 8mm projector and a VCR. My father was hard core 100% of the time.

With no room for excuses, my job was to perform at my best in every single practice, which was hard but it worked for me. As a senior in the PRHSAA Championships, I finished 1st in the pole vault and long jump, 2nd in the 110H and high jump, and 1st place in the Puerto Rico Junior Nationals decathlon.

My mom made sure I had balance in my life. She sat down with me daily to ensure my schoolwork was properly done and that I understood how to study for my tests. She instilled perseverance, the value of surrounding myself with good people, that hard work equals success, and to never quit regardless of the adversity. I graduated from high school with a 3.47 GPA, a huge accomplishment for me. Flying high, I intended to pursue my dream of becoming a physician. Imagine, Dr. Jose!

A few days after my high school

graduation, I broke my wrist pole vaulting, and my athletic future was bleak. I went on to college, unable to jump until November of my freshman year. My strength and speed improved, but I did not connect well with the pole vault coach. Seeing this, my father went on a mission to find the best coach in Puerto Rico.

He quickly figured out that the most knowledgeable person was Cristobal Lago. Don Lago had coached every Puerto Rican Olympian, since 1946 including Rolando Cruz who finished 4th at the Rome Olympics.

He coached at four Olympiads!

Don Lago no longer trained athletes and was soon to retire from being the Postmaster General for the United States Postal Service in Puerto Rico. My dad went to see him, explained my situation, and he agreed to meet me.

Don Lago was in his seventies at the time, kind, giving, super proud, and full of pole vault knowledge. He refused to train me until I was able to do ten muscle ups on a high bar. I was ready. He took me to the Sixto Escobar Stadium in San Juan, where we had to climb a 15’ cement and iron fence to enter. In that first practice, he told me that he expected me to be at the stadium every Sunday at 10 am, a 2.5 hour drive from my college dorm; he required me to give my all, no excuses; to trust him and his process; and to win the uni

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

For 21 years, I wanted nothing to do with the sport. But in the fall of 2009, my oldest son came home from high school and said he had joined the track team as a freshman pole vaulter. The school did not have a vault coach but he would be coached by other student vaulters.

I could not allow that to happen.

Overnight I became Coach Jose, with all my mentors’ lessons imbued in me.

1986 at Sixto Escobar Stadium in Puerto Rico with my mother Carmen and Don Lago behind us. versity championships four months later. We shook hands and began.

At that time in Puerto Rico, my generation of pole vaulters wanted to do it the newfangled way, and thought Don Lago was behind the times. Not me. I completely trusted him. When he saw me being hesitant, he always instructed me to coge mas vara, grip up on a bigger pole. I was going to get over the bar one way or the other and have the confidence to do it. We trained in the rain, the heat, into a head wind by the ocean, and we prepared for every circumstance.

As a 20-year-old, I did not understand the magnitude of Don Lago’s influence in my life. He was like Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid. Don Lago gave me his best and I was fortunate to have him as a coach, friend, and mentor. He taught me to be a good person and to respect my competitors. He gave me his time and knowledge and in return, I gave him my best. Don Lago never accepted money for coaching me.

I eventually left the island to pole vault at the University of Tennessee, which I know hurt him, but he never stopped caring for me.

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

At UT, my next mentor stepped into my life, Olympic gold medal coach Jim Bemiller. At the time he was a 25-year-old graduate student who had been appointed the pole vault coach for the NCAA championship team that had no pole vaulters. Jim quickly earned our trust, trained us really hard and we all made big improvements in our first year – over 1’ each. We ran and lifted alot, and did some unnecessary stuff like 10-meter platform cannonball diving at the aquatic center. But we became a team that achieved great results.

We believed in Jim, and he believed in us. We set the foundation for the amazing pole vault history that Tennessee established during Jim’s tenure that will never be duplicated, including 7 vaulters in the SEC Top 10, Olympic silver and Olympic gold medals. More importantly, I met my wife at Tennessee. Although difficult to leave Puerto Rico, it was the right decision for me.

When I failed to make the 1988 Olympic team, I was done with track and field. That same year, it was a great honor when Don Lago asked me to escort him to his induction into the Pabellon de la Fama del Deporte Puerto Rico, the sports hall of fame in Puerto Rico.

I never expected to be a coach. I had plenty of bad coaches in my life, but they also taught me who not to be, and what not to do. I was fortunate to have my parents, Sr. Mendez, Don Lago, and Jim Bemiller to guide me. I never became a doctor or an Olympian. But the journey has served me well.

Every year as athletes come through our doors, I wonder how their lives will turn out, and what their contributions to the world will be. I hope the lessons learned during the time we work together will serve them well, particularly in the difficult days that they may face.

I wonder if I influence them as my mentors influenced me.

Pole vaulting is not just about the bars we clear, but about how we handle ourselves in victory and failure; what we do to get up when we fall; and how to persevere until we succeed.

As coaches, we have the privilege and opportunity to influence so many we come in contact with.

We know how to get them to jump higher and become better athletes.

We also need to focus on them as human beings. More than a state or national title, my aim as a coach is for our athletes to leave us with strong moral fiber and the intention to give to life and not take from it.

7

Philly Jumps Club Philadelphia, PA Coach: Brian Mondschein

Erin Kelleher Erin Kelleher graduated from high school this past spring, and while she is now enjoying life as a freshman at Virginia Tech, her legacy endures at Philly Jumps Club.

Erin started pole vaulting with Coach Brian Mondschein as a lazy 12-year-old. She used to feign fatigue to quit practice early. But, as her love for the event grew, so did her work ethic. Erin became the first one to arrive at practice and the last one to leave. Stepping into the role of club leader, Erin pushed younger athletes through tough times.

She applauded their successes and showed them what is possible.

brings through her. She is someone I could always count on to guide the young kids. I will coach other great athletes in the future, but I am hard pressed to believe that anyone will have a larger impact on the culture of pole vaulting at PJC. Erin Kelleher embodies everything any coach could ask for, and she will be greatly missed as she continues on at Virginia Tech.”

Erin’s career is a high school vaulter’s dream: 7-time state champion; 7-time national championship qualifier; 2-time All-American; and Delaware state record holder.

8

Erin jumped 13’4” as a junior, but her senior year brought many challenges: Covid, quarantines, illness, injury, and the death of her school track coach. For a time, Erin faced adversity after adversity. But even from the sidelines, or through bad days, she was always there for the other girls, and she managed another All-American placement in the indoor season.

In Coach Mondshein’s words, “Erin is the reason our young athletes are so far ahead and have such high goals. They have seen what hard work

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

Photo provided by Philly Jumps Club

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

Maddy Kelley At the end of her 8th grade year, Maddy Kelley ventured into pole vaulting at Philly Jumps Club.

Shy by nature, the former gymnast enjoyed early success, but she hesitated to move to bigger poles, and in competition, her nerves would flare.

In time though, Maddy’s love for the sport developed and along the way, she befriended Erin Kelleher, a club leader, who taught her how to compete and mentored her to mental toughness.

Pole vault requires more than speed and strength.

Fortitude, which is courage through adversity, is often tested and at 15 years old, Maddy has already proven what she is made of.

Maddy finished her season with a personal record of 11’7” and was the only freshman at the Pennsylvania state meet, where she finished 9th, tying her PR!

That resolve was tested this past season.

At a summer meet, Maddy cleared a new personal best of 12’, quite an accomplishment for a high school freshman. But Maddy’s coach, Brian Mondschein, noticed that the bar was improperly set. The 12’7” pole Maddy jumped with should not have hit a bar placed at 12’. With the meet officials already preparing for the next athlete, it would have been easy to let the error go unnoticed, but Coach Mondschein could not overlook it. He informed Maddy that the height she actually cleared was 11’6. Maddie did not flinch. She immediately regrouped and attempted 12’ again, missing all three tries.

How we react to setbacks determines our greatness. That day, Maddy Kelley’s response was guided by inner strength instead of by avarice.

She believes enough in herself to know that an incorrectly recorded mark would not truly be a personal best if it was earned by oversight.

Photo provided by Philly Jumps Club

Vaulthouse High Point, NC Head Coach: Eric Morrell

Zoie Hembree Zoie Hembree, a sophomore at High Point Christian Academy, is a dual athlete in both varsity volleyball and track and field. With jumping in her bones as an outside hitter on the volleyball court, Zoie began pole vaulting in seventh grade after her strength coach at Dominate Athletic Performance, Andy Hepler, encouraged her to try it. Zoie has excelled in the sport and what she likes most about pole vault is how fun it is to do something so unique.

Regular training and putting in work outside of practice has been the biggest reason for her progress. Having attended two Vaulthouse camps, Zoie has improved from more one-on-one coaching and grown her love for the sport by meeting new people with the same passion. Her fun, positive energy is contagious on the runway!

This competitive sophomore looks forward to her continued success and joy in the sport.

Zoie came out victorious in her first year of high school, winning the NCISAA D2 state championship with a vault of 10’ 6”. Zoie’s goal for this year is to defend her title and soar over the 11’ barrier to 11’6”. She tries to keep a positive mental attitude towards pole vaulting, understanding that it is a complicated sport and changes will take time. A mature perspective paired with her athleticism indicate that Zoie’s potential is exceptional.

10

Juggling a busy schedule between two volleyball teams, pole vaulting, and maintaining a 4.475 GPA, Zoie likes being a multi-sport athlete, but it can be hard to manage sometimes. Zoie says it also makes her want to work harder in school.

Although Zoie enjoys the team aspect of volleyball, she wants to focus more on pole vaulting. She enjoys the way the sport makes her think differently and wants to work towards competing at the DI collegiate level.

Photo provided by Vaulthouse

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

KJ Byrd Kenneth Byrd, “KJ”, is an outstanding athlete on the rise at Vaulthouse in High Point, North Carolina. Having made much progress early on, it’s hard to believe this newcomer picked up pole vaulting only twelve months before the start of his freshman year at East Burke High School. KJ found Rocketman Pole Vault as a competitive outlet after his regular track season was cancelled due to Covid-19. He started with coach Rick Richards and in his first year vaulting, KJ set the bar high as the NCHSAA 2A pole vault state champion, with a personal best mark of 15’, higher than any freshman in North Carolina has ever cleared!

family of athletes and musicians. His grandfather pole vaulted on bamboo sticks in high school and his father was a competitive basketball player at Wake Forest. With a very supportive dad who is also a great coach, KJ says his father has helped him build a good work ethic.

Aspiring to clear 16’ this year, KJ is an athlete to look out for.

KJ is talented not only in pole vault, but in several events in track and field. A strong sprinter and jumper, KJ holds impressive marks in the high jump of 6’4”, triple jump of 41’, long jump of 19’ 3.5” and 110H of 16.10. Off the track, KJ is a running back and safety for his varsity football team.

Driven by his love of chasing new heights, KJ trains at Vaulthouse regularly each week to work with his calm and collected coach, Eric Morell. KJ likes training with Coach Morell as he explains things in multiple ways because he knows each athlete has a different method of hearing things. Coach Morrell gets a lot of energy when something good happens and KJ feels he is one of the best coaches he has ever had.

Number eight of nine siblings, KJ comes from a

Photo provided by Vaulthouse

Distributor of New and Used Equipment

Poles

Mats

Standards

(919) 523-8333 jose@polevaultcarolina.com

Hurdles

13

Carbs:

The Key to Performance

By Summer C. McNeill | B.S. Nutrition and Dietetics

Carbohydrate = carbs = CHO Carbs! There is much controversy and confusion around carbohydrates. It seems like everyone has their own opinion on whether carbs are “good” or “bad.” Well, I am here to tell you what the evidence says, starting with this; carbs are not good OR bad. Carbs have no moral value. They are just a source of fuel and energy for the body. That probably goes against everything you’ve ever heard. Every diet ad, magazine, and fitness influencer has probably given you their biased opinion on how you should consume your carbohydrates.

So, take a moment, forget everything that you’ve learned, and let’s start with the basics.

Carbohydrates provide energy for muscles, help preserve muscle protein, promote digestive health, fuel the central nervous system, and so much more. Carbohydrates are extremely complex, so for the purpose of this article we will focus on how you can utilize carbohydrates to fuel your performance.

14

There are two types of carbohydrates, simple and complex. They can also be categorized as fast and slow, respectively. Simple or fast

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

carbohydrates absorb into your bloodstream more quickly and are great for providing your muscles and brain with quick, ready-to-use energy. Complex or slow carbohydrates absorb more slowly and steadily which provides you with longer, sustained energy. Both types of carbohydrates should be included in your daily diet.

Examples of simple and complex carbs: Simple: • Fruit • Sugar • Fruit juice • White rice or pasta • Honey • Lactose • Sports drinks Complex: • Whole grains • Oatmeal • Beans • Brown rice • Quinoa • Vegetables When we eat carbohydrates, they are first absorbed into the blood stream as what we call “blood glucose.” This is your body’s first and preferred choice of energy. Extra carbohydrates are stored in the liver

T A K E O F F

and muscles as glycogen. When our bodies use up our blood glucose, we begin to use our muscle glycogen as energy so we can continue to move our muscles without feeling fatigued. If you find yourself feeling quickly exhausted during workouts, you should increase the carb intake in your daily diet, as well as eat a carb rich snack before you exercise.

Pre-exercise You should never exercise on an empty stomach. A pre-exercise meal or snack high in carbohydrates will ensure that your muscles have optimal energy for performance. Your CHO intake should adjust as your training does. For long or intense training sessions, your intake should increase. For light training days, your intake should decrease. Focus on how your body is feeling and don’t be afraid to play around with new types of foods during training to find the ones that make you feel your best.

If you train early, you need to ensure that your dinner before training is loaded with carbohydrates. You should also consume a well-tolerated source of simple carbs 5-10 minutes before your workout. A snack before exercise will help maintain your blood glucose and muscle glycogen.

If you are training later in the day, eat a full meal 3-4 hours before exercise.

Your meal should be balanced with a variety of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fruits, and veggies. Then, eat a snack with simple carbs as you get closer to your workout.

During exercise If you are exercising for longer than 60 minutes you should be replenishing your carbohydrates during the exercise so that your muscles have enough energy to do what you need them to do. Try to consume 6-12 ounces of some type of sports drink (ex. Gatorade) every 15-30 minutes.

Be sure to avoid drinks that are labeled as “low” or “zero” sugar. For high intensity activities you can also look into using sports gels or sports gummies as a source of carbohydrates.

Post-exercise If you plan on training again within 8 hours, eat as soon as possible after your training session and continue to consume small, frequent snacks leading up to your next session. You’ll want to include protein in your meals and snacks to assist in the muscle recovery process. And, of course, don’t forget to re-hydrate.

If you are done training for the day, you still need to eat something within a couple hours to replenish your gly-

M A G A Z I N E

cogen stores and repair your muscles. Try to eat a meal with all of the food groups. If you are unable to do that, eat a snack containing carbs and protein.

Possible recovery snacks: • Greek yogurt with fruit or granola • Chocolate milk • Peanut butter and jelly • Peanut butter with fruit • Grapes and cheese • Trail mix • Hummus with pita bread or chips •Protein shake Conclusion Everyone needs carbs, especially athletes! Energy comes from carbohydrates. You will never be able to achieve your potential as an athlete if you neglect to fuel and recover properly. Please do not be afraid to eat. Listen to your body and trust yourself. For a more personal fueling and recovery plan please speak to a sports dietitian.

Find a dietitian: https://www.eatright.org/find-a-nutrition-expert?rdType=url_edit&rdProj=fane_update&rdInfo=fae If you are struggling with an eating disorder: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline

Photo provided by Pole Vault Carolina

15

Sydney Horn Higher at High Point

By Megan Zimlich Lancaster, PA native, Sydney Horn, made a name for herself on the national stage during her freshman year at High Point University. Sydney arrived on campus with a personal best of 4.12m / 13’ 6”, and improved her mark by a foot in her first year.

Setting both indoor and outdoor school records with jumps of 4.41m and 4.44m, Horn made program history by becoming the first student-athlete to qualify for both the indoor and outdoor NCAA track and field championships. A true competitor at both events, Horn placed third and sixth respectively, to top her freshman year off with a twotime All-American honor.

At the encouragement of a teacher, Sydney tried pole vault her freshman year of high school. It was an easy switch for this level 8 gymnast, not to mention Sydney’s older sister, Mackenzie, also clicked with

pole vaulting. Sydney immediately took a liking to her new sport, enjoying how new and different it is from gymnastics. She trained at Vaultworx in Camp Hill, PA, with coach Matt Concannon, where practice was held in a fun, team environment and there was always something novel to challenge herself with.

16

Sydney hoped to continue her career at High Point University and join Mackenzie, who is three years ahead of her with a redshirt year.

Sydney loved the campus, and her college decision ultimately came

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

down to the coach and the education program offered. Academically, Sydney knew she wanted to be an elementary school teacher, so she chose to major in special education; athletically, it was coach Scott Houston who cemented her decision. Houston’s way of implementing training and his ability to relate exactly to the athletes’ experience, being a professional pole vaulter himself, is what Sydney liked most.

Houston said, “I consider myself a Guinea pig. I get to share experiences that have worked really well with the younger generation, and can also advise them to avoid the things I have found that don’t work well.”

The transition from high school to college went smoothly for Sydney.

It was helpful to have her sister in the new environment. The biggest

change of being on her own was learning to manage extra free time in her class schedule, while also getting lots of sleep. Focusing on adequate recovery from the higher volume in workouts was a tip Sydney took to heart from her peers. Once competition season rolled around, Sydney competed every weekend.

The travel exhausted her at times, but her teammates were extremely helpful and like a second family.

Indoor season started sweetly for the freshman, as she cleared at least one new personal best each

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

17

Photo credits: High Point University Athletics

meet for the first three consecutive weekends. Coach Houston commented,

in sports ever since I was little. No matter how I performed, they always backed me.”

“Sydney’s fall training was of good quality, but was nothing to indicate that she would be capable of the heights that she cleared. What stood out the most was the way she competed.” In only her third meet, Sydney cleared her 5th personal best of the season at 4.33m, which qualified her for the NCAA Indoor Championships.

After the quarantine, Sydney had just over two weeks to prepare for indoor nationals. This event turned out to be her favorite freshman memory, and rightfully so, as she entered the championship an underdog and came out on top.

Sydney’s rise was abruptly halted with her biggest obstacle yet – contact tracing. Unfortunately, she was forced to quarantine away from campus for back-to-back weeks, missing two meets without contracting the illness.

She spent that time at home in Pennsylvania, which turned out to be a bright spot in a dark time, as she was still able to safely train. It was helpful to see family and feel supported before returning to High Point. Sydney credits her parents with her success. “They have always pushed me to be better and put me

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

“Going into it, no one knew who I was.

I got over 14’ once and ended up third at my first NCAAs,” said Sydney.

Seeded tenth and finishing third with a double PR at 4.41m, and becoming an All-American was a fun surprise that exceeded her and her coach’s expectations.

In Coach Houston words, “Sydney is willing to take challenging, calculated risks better than most. Her ability to listen, execute cues, and implement changes in meets, in full confidence, allowed her to reach higher heights faster, which was very exciting and unexpected.”

Sydney carried the momentum into the outdoor season, where

she reached a new personal best of 4.44m at the Big South Outdoor Championships, winning the meet, and breaking her own previous school record. This was a special weekend for the High Point track and field team as a whole, celebrating their first ever triple crown. Following that, Sydney qualified for outdoor NCAA’s, to place sixth in difficult conditions, becoming a two-time All-American.

Looking ahead to this upcoming year, Sydney is most excited about spending more time with her pole vault squad of ten men and women.

This is a special group who contributes to her motivation by holding her accountable during workouts. Sydney is hopeful that the meets in the upcoming season will not have to adhere to Covid restrictions. Aiming to improve her running efficiency to get faster and compete for a national title, Sydney intends to participate in the next Olympic trials and to train post-collegiately.

We are certain that Sydney’s competitive drive and coachability will springboard her to success!

So, You Want to Vault in College?

By Jose R. San Miguel Competing in college is the ultimate goal for many high school athletes. You yearn to wear a singlet from your school of choice, live in an athletic dorm, and benefit from the perks of being a student athlete like preferential class schedule, lots of gear, tutors, and recognition.

Plus, you hope to surpass your high school record.

The truth is that less than 2% of high school athletes continue competing in their sport in college. And of those, fewer than 30% finish all four years of eligibility.

Being a collegiate athlete is a job.

You will train twenty hours per week, which does not include hours spent traveling to meets. Between practice, school work, and relationships, your time management will be challenged as you will have to prioritize rest and recovery.

You will be forced to give 100% of yourself every day or be replaced by the next athlete who is managing a little bit better than you.

18

And, if you make it, it will be one of the most rewarding chapters of your life. Those who complete their athletic journey enjoy a unique experience that no one can take away.

You may be too young to fully comprehend the magnitude of the accomplishment. Employers will be glad to consider you for jobs because if you compete for four years,

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

they know you are disciplined and organized. You have overcome adversity and achieved.

College Athletics is a Business College athletics is a business. A coach’s decisions are not emotional, they are practical. Their job security depends on how well the team performs at the conference meets, and they will recruit athletes who they think will be able to score points for the team during their four years in school.

The bigger the athletic recognition of the school, the higher the athletic standards to get recruited. If you are looking at a Southeastern Conference school, you need to be jumping at least thirteen feet as a woman and seventeen feet as a man.

The reverse is also true. The higher the academic recognition, typically the lower the athletic standards to get recruited, although there are exceptions. Smaller Division I schools have lower athletic requirements than larger ones.

In order to learn where you can play, take the list of schools you are interested in and go to www.tfrrs. com. Look up the conference of the school, MEAC, SEC, ACC, Sunbelt, Big South, etc. Research what heights scored at the conference meet for the last three years. What heights

did the meet open with? Can you clear those heights? Now, consider your personal record and see where you might fit in.

If the women conference scorers jumped 13’, 13’6, and 14’ and your current PR is 10’6’, you have work to do, and you need to be realistic about what you can accomplish with the time you have left in high school.

Can you add two feet to your personal record in two years? Yes, but you will have to work for it. You will need to train year-round, and pay close attention to the difference between what your coach is instructing and what you are actually executing. Where are you brushing off their recommendations or being stubborn?

In the space between direction and doing lies your opportunity for improvement.

You will need to practice pole vault two to three days per week. There is too much technical work needed to polish each phase of the jump.

This can only be achieved through consistent effort over time. You and your family will have to prioritize vault practice.

Achieving Your Dream Sports is a vehicle to an education.

You must fit into a school as a stu-

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

19

This Spot is For You!

dent before you play as an athlete.

There are several thousand colleges and universities in the country, and you are a perfect match for one of them. Find the school that is the best for you.

What do you want to study? Be sure the school has your first, second, and third choices for a major.

Don’t be swayed by the brand of a school. Universities are expert marketers! You may think you want to attend a big school because you like their football team, but if it is not the right match for you academically, it is not worthy of your time, consideration, and ultimately your dollars.

There are 3 types of student athletes: Walk on – you are good, but not good enough yet to earn a scholarship.

The coach may offer a semester trial to give you time to train and jump a certain height. A walk on is the most dangerous type of athlete as they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If this is you, prepare your mind to work harder than everyone else. Be the first to practice and the last to leave.

Recruited / Preferred Walk On– you have earned a spot on the team, but are not receiving any scholarship.

Scholarship – you are given athletic money to cover some or all of your college expenses. You will be expected to perform, and you can do it.

20

We have had athletes receive full ride athletic scholarships to the wrong school for them, and because of that, they dropped out and are no longer competing and no longer receiving an education. Fit matters.

Let’s Talk About Money How much are you willing to spend

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

on your college education?

Everyone’s situation is different. If you will be taking out student loans, calculate how much debt you are willing to incur at the end of four years and work backwards from that. Have open conversations with your parents. It can be difficult to talk about money, but it’s better if everyone is on the same page.

If you decide that you want to graduate with no more than $30,000 in student loans and your college of choice costs $15,000 per year, then you have to estimate that you will

take out $7,500 in loans per year, or $3,750 per semester. You will essentially pay half upfront, and half through the loans, which come due six months after you graduate. Interest will accrue and that $30,000 may turn into $38,000 by the time you are done paying it off.

If a school is out of your price range, get creative, but be realistic. Don’t burden yourself with too much debt.

Someone has to pay those loans back, likely you.

It will be helpful to create a spread sheet listing the schools you are applying to, the tuition to attend each, the potential scholarships you hope to earn, and the impact on the bottom line, which is what you have to pay out.

Communicating With Coaches Once you have identified the schools you are interested in, create a plan to contact the coaches.

If, after doing your research on www. tfrrs.com, you are close to being in the top three in your school of choice, you are ready to reach out. If you are not close to the top three, you will be better off putting the work in and reaching the target height for

performance. You have one shot in your communication to the coach. Do not waste it. When a college coach receives your email or phone call, the first thing they will do is look at Milesplit to validate your claimed marks and overall athleticism.

1. Ensure that your profile is accurate, and contact the administrator if it is not.

2. Do not compete in events you have not trained for.

Coaches look for performance benchmarks to measure athleticism and

potential. If you ran the 200 meters without training just to help your high school team, and ran it super slowly, the coach may overlook it. But if your profile also shows that you ran another lackluster time in the 100 meters, and have a middling long jump mark, they will assume that you lack potential.

Compete only when you are ready to do so. Once a performance shows up on your profile, it starts telling a loud story about you.

3. Prepare your email to the coach and include athletic information, accomplishments, and why you are a good fit for that university and team. What can you contribute?

Your communication should be grammatically correct, contain your transcript, character letters of recommendation from coaches, and a video of your best performance. Invite the coach to attend a practice if a reasonable distance for them to travel.

Request a time to have a phone call with them to learn more their program.

This email is your resume - take the time to do it right. And it must be you who does it, not your parents. Coaches communicate with the athletes.

4. If you are in the top 3 at the school, complete the athlete’s questionnaire on the university’s athletic website.

T A K E O F F

5. If you are in the top 3 and are committed to pursuing a collegiate career, register for the NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse. There is a fee for this.

6. Follow-up, follow-up, and follow-up.

The #1 ranked athletes in the country may not need to pursue the coaches, because coaches are eager to have them. The rest of us need to be persistent. Email the coaches, call them, and if necessary, show up and introduce yourself. Show gumption. The coach may be waiting to see which athletes truly want to be a part of their program.

Tell Yourself the Truth The competitive landscape of athletics is pushing performance levels to new heights. College coaches are looking for developed athletes who can make immediate contributions to their teams.

They want successful students who can maintain their eligibility status. They want drama free teammates who are eager to work, and be part of something bigger than themselves.

Current seniors will face the most challenging recruiting process in recent years as the NCAA gave an extra year of eligibility to those whose seasons were affected by Covid. Several high tier programs have fired coaches, and others have dismantled programs so the options are fewer.

Honestly ask yourself the following: 1. Am I good enough to get into the university on my own academic merits?

Coaches do not want to worry about you succeeding in school.

expensive process as it adds, in some cases, an extra year of paying for college as not all courses will carry over.

3. Is the financial burden on my family or on my future worth attending a specific university?

Is the upside to your athletic development worth the additional financial burden? Don’t make emotional decisions about money. Being a student athlete may reduce your financial burden. Do not overlook the smaller public universities in your state.

We have coached 31 high schoolers into

collegiate athletics at their university of choice. They all trained three days per week at Pole Vault Carolina and on the other days, improved their strength and speed at their high schools or private training facilities. The dividend on the investment of hard work was becoming collegiate athletes.

Of the fourteen who graduated from high school between 2012 and 2016 only seven completed their NCAA eligibility, but all of them graduated from college.

Most collegiate athletes will become professionals in something other than pole vaulting.

Athletics and life are similar. Perseverance and hard work will open doors. It is up to you to commit to become the best athlete you can be. Don’t chase a height or time, but improve your strength, speed, and technique, and the heights will show up. It is your job to use the skills learned through sports and education to become a better person.

2. Would I be happy at this university if I am just a student?

Plan to put up high marks early in the season, so you can be done with the recruiting process and enjoy the rest of your time in high school.

Your passion for being a student-athlete may dwindle; you may get injured; be cut from the team; or your coach may leave the school. Transferring is an

How your journey starts depends on many circumstances, but once you make the team, you will be a collegiate athlete forever.

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

M A G A Z I N E

21

ADVERTISE HERE

23

LOVE

At the Olympic Trials

By Megan Zimlich Competing for a spot on the U. S. Olympic team is a meaningful pur-

suit. To earn the opportunity to be competitive among the best athletes in the world is something to be very proud of. To be able to get to that level and do it alongside the love of your life takes the experience of that athletic dream to a deeper level of joy.

My fiancé Scott Houston and I are elite pole vaulters based out of Vaulthouse in High Point, NC. Our relationship dynamic is unique; we are each other’s training partners and coaches, while also being engaged. With shared goals of competing at the Olympic Trials to earn a spot on Team USA, we train together and coach one another year-round alongside our teammate, Austin Miller.

24

As a group, we have evolved into a true team. We shared the challenges that came with the postponement of the Trials due to Covid-19.

Training was difficult during the pandemic and competing nearly impossible; however, we managed to make the most of it and grow into better versions of ourselves through it all.

Austin hit a personal best outdoors in 2020 with a mark of 5.73m which qualified him for the Trials. Scott

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

made a comeback after two hip surgeries with a world standard mark of 5.80m in January of this year, which auto-qualified him as well. I saw big improvements during my indoor season, with averages better than ever over 4.30m. Unfortunately, I suffered an ankle injury in February which required surgery and was unable to remain competitive for the rest of the qualification window.

Coming to terms with this was very difficult. To fall short of a goal that I believed I was capable of is a fate I had to acknowledge was out of my control. While heartbreaking, accepting it has been a catalyst for a change in perspective of how I view the sport and the opportunities it presents.

Life hands you gifts in funny ways sometimes and you have the choice to find the good or bad in any situation. As much as I had wanted to be there competing alongside Scott, I chose not to waste time being upset about my previous goal not being fulfilled. Instead, I found the beauty in this twist of events: I was relieved of the pressure of worrying about my own performance. I enjoyed stepping into my role as Scott’s coach and put all of my energy into supporting our Olympic journey together. I was beyond excited and

honored to coach him in the Olympic Trials finals. My gift was to share this experience with Scott.

In order to get to where he is today, Scott faced many battles with injury and overcame them all. Scott believes everyone’s athletic journey is their own. He has dealt with much adversity and his first Olympic Trials ended in injury. In 2016, Scott had cleared the heights with fewer misses in the preliminaries, however, at the bar height to determine the final competitors, Scott landed back on the runway and mildly rolled his ankle. Using the remaining time for his attempt, he made another approach, in pain this time, and came down on the runway once again.

Two days later he could barely jog.

He ultimately watched the finals from the bench, a gut-wrenching blow as he had felt confident in his ability to make the team.

Still, Scott made the best of it. In his own words: “To travel five years into the future after many life changes, and my future wife at the Trials with me was a new level of fulfillment. The journey ended with us earning my highest ever height cleared at a national championship of 18’10.75” on my last attempt, and a 7th place finish in the best American competition in

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

25

the history of the sport. I am elated to be where I am with friends, family, and support all along my journey to help make my second Olympic Trials final an experience I will cherish forever. So much credit goes to all the great athletes competing at their highest level to make that day more memorable.”

Scott and I kept the big picture in mind on the big stage, recognizing the honor of the shared experience.

While out in Oregon, we were advised to ‘smell the roses’ and enjoy the present moment. We did exactly that. We approached each day with the intention of making it a memorable experience and celebrated this milestone for Scott’s second Olympic Trials. We were beyond grateful for every moment.

Happy endings don’t always end with an Olympic gold medal. We technically both fell short of our goals. Scott did not make the Olympic Team and I did not compete at the Trials. Yet, we enjoyed every minute that we tried. We gave our best and came very close. The trip to Oregon taught us that life is bigger than pole vault.

What is most important is that we pursue our highest potential in life, while enjoying every step along the way together. That is the true beauty in chasing big life goals.

2020 Olympian, 400 Meter Hurdles

David Kendziera

IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW...

I would not wrap my whole identity around being a track and field athlete.

Achieving a spot on Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics in the 400 meter hurdles is a huge accomplishment. Yet being an Olympian is not the only way I see myself. I am much more than that.

In 2016, as a junior at the University of Illinois, I was forced to redefine myself after a series of injuries sidelined me for over 3 months. Depressed, I felt unsure of my athletic future.

Getting back onto the track brought me joy, but I could not seem to accelerate my recovery, which created frustration and took the fun out of reaching for my goals.

I regrouped and decided to lead my way through the setback. I began mentoring my teammates, and learned that if you want to achieve something, the easiest way to do it is to help another accomplish what they want for themselves.

Assisting others taught me about the event and made me a better athlete. It kept me from obsessing about my own results in workouts and meets.

Changing my perspective made track and field fun again. It created mental space to focus on other things that deserved my attention like building meaningful personal relationships. In committing to build up others, I gained a positive outlook.

26

Still, I carried the load of expectation going into my senior year in college. In the previous season, I finished 3rd at the NCAAs in the 110m hurdles and 7th in the 400m hurdles, so the assumption the following year was that I would win it all. The emotional weight of this prevented me from living in a balanced way. I shifted attention away from myself to ensure my teammates had the best experiences possible throughout the season. I wanted them to enjoy the same success as I had, and they did.

After graduating, I turned professional and continued to train at my alma mater until my coach took a new position at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. In November of 2019, I moved there to continue working with him.

The journey to the Olympics is not an easy one. Along the way I realized that injuries are not the end of the world. I am proud of my accomplishments in the sport, as I should be! But I am also pleased that, at 26 years old, I have a great outlook on life. Success is not always measurable, but it is the intention for everything I put my mind to as an athlete, a coach, a friend, and a family member.

Expectations that once weighed me down, now lift me up, as I believe I will live a fulfilling life, no matter what I accomplish on the track.

David Kendziera is a 400 meter hurdler who competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. David was a 10-time All American at the University of Illinois. David is training for the 2024 Olympics and lives in North Carolina. His personal bests: 400H 48.38 and 110H 13.39.

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

T A K E O F F

M A G A Z I N E

Photo credit: University of Tennessee Athletics

Photo provided by John Tillman

28