Eli Reese vaulting to greater heights (OK)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.enidnews.com/sportslocal/loc ... 01244.html

Eli Reese vaulting to greater heights

By Bruce Campbell Staff Writer
Eli Reese is setting some high goals as an encore to being the defending Class A state champion in the pole vault.

The Deer Creek-Lamont junior has his eyes set on trying to break the state-meet record of former Eagle vaulter Chad Tolle, who went 14 feet in the 1989 championships.

“That’s what I’m shooting for,’’ said Reese, who will be competing at the Ringwood 8-man meet today. “It takes awhile to get everything down. I’m not in the best shape yet.’’

DCLA might be the small-school pole vault capital. The Eagles finished 1-3-4 at state last year with Reese, Steven Golay and Randon Lowe. Reese, at 13 feet, 6 inches, and teammate Derric Richards (12-6) have the two best vaults in Class A, according to OHSTrack.com.

“We have had some guys who have come through who are pretty good,’’ said DCLA coach Michael Thompson. “Those guys are willing to come back and help these guys along. They get their fundamentals down and work pretty hard at it.’’

Reese has been helped by former DCLA vaulter Brian Bachman, whom Reese credits for the Eagles’ recent success.

Bachman comes over every Sunday to help Reese and Richards not only with their form, but with their mental toughness, too.

“He gives you some confidence when you’re down,’’ Reese said. “I couldn’t get over 13 feet for awhile, but he keeps pushing you until you finally clear it.’’

Reese said pole vaulting is more mental than physical.

“It’s really mental,’’ he said. “If you have a head wind, or it’s really cold, you can be vaulting a foot or a foot-and-a-half under what you usually do. You can start doubting yourself.

“You have to be able to block things out. After the second miss (vaulters are allowed three at each height), one gets a little nervous.’’

Reese didn’t clear 13 feet until the state championships.

“I just wanted to clear 13 feet,’’ he said. “I didn’t know I would do that well. When I won, that was a bonus.’’

Reese has brushed 14 feet this spring. He is shooting to go 14 feet to 14-6 today, if the weather is right.

“I think he can go somewhere in that neighborhood,’’ Thompson said. “Maybe, he can go 15 feet.’’

“I tried something new on my last vault at 14 feet and I almost cleared it,’’ Reese said. “I think I can get 14 feet easier than I could 13 last year because I have more confidence.’’

Reese said Ringwood is a good place to vault because the competitor always is facing north and they get a tailwind.

“That helps you push through the pole,’’ he said. “You can get on a bigger pole. The main goal is to get on the biggest pole you can because you can shoot up a lot easier. A smaller pole won’t lift you up as much.’’

Reese said his mother has done “a lot of stuff to make sure I get the right poles.’’

Richards and Reese push each other in practice. Reese tries to be a mentor to Richards.

“When I’m watching him, I can relate it to what I need to work on,’’ Reese said. “It really doesn’t matter which one of us wins. We need all the points we can get.’’

Reese started pole vaulting in the seventh grade. He saw his friends do it and thought he could do well.

“I thought if I could do average in it, I could win most meets,’’ Reese said. “I was thinking I would like to medal, at least.’’

Now he’s a state champion. Pole vaulting, he said, is more challenging than being the quarterback on the football team.

“There’s a lot of pressure,’’ he said about being the defending champion. “You want to be first at every meet, because you won last year. I’m getting a lot of competition, especially from Derric.’’

The Ringwood meet will start at 10 a.m.

Meet director Larry Nance expects anywhere from 15 to 20 teams. Geary, Agra and Porter are among the newcomers.

“I think it’s pretty wide open,’’ Nance said. “Medford would certainly have to be among the favorites.’’