Budget-crunch grounds pole-less Satellite High vaulter (FL)

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http://www.floridatoday.com/article/201 ... gh-vaulter


Budget-crunch grounds pole-less Satellite High vaulter
9:41 PM, Feb. 17, 2011 | Comments
Columnists
Brian McCallum

Cody Cooper of Satellite High was fourth in the state pole vault last year. / 2010 FLORIDA TODAY file
How to help

Call Satellite High athletic director Linda Anderson at 321-779-2000.
His football season has been over for months, and soccer finished up recently. By Monday, Satellite athlete Cody Cooper hopes to have been cleared to practice by doctors who have been treating his injured hamstring.

Finally, the Scorpions pole vaulter will be ready for track and field season.

Ready to wait.

The new budget atmosphere means the pole vaulter who was fourth in the state last year and has legitimate hopes of winning a state championship this year -- it would be Brevard's third state pole vaulting champ in three years -- has nothing with which to practice.

Last season, he borrowed poles from someone in Boca Raton. After breaking one in the state meet, Cooper and his coach are doubtful that generosity will be repeated. Worse, now that athletic equalization money has been cut by the county, the track and field program has no money to buy its own poles.

The type of pole Cooper needs would cost about $800.

"We definitely need some funds for him," Satellite coach Jason Carter said. "We started with nothing (in the budget) this year."

The team has been raising money during middle school meets by running a concession stand, but an $800 pole is both expensive and not at the top of the priority list. If you haven't read about equalization money here before, it's the money the county once provided Brevard high school athletic departments to make up for budget shortfalls not covered by ticket sales and other revenue.

Once provided, that money is gone. Any money a school spends on sports now has to come from the money it brings in from ticket sales, concessions and the like.

Satellite's football program has improved dramatically during the past two years, but it isn't quite fueling the entire athletic department yet. Lacking that, Satellite has previously counted on county money that simply isn't there any more.

Many voters believe public money shouldn't go to sports in the first place, and that's an understandable theory. It does not stand on its own, however. The other side of that coin is volunteerism. For supporters of Satellite athletics, this is a great time to respond.

Actually, it's a great time for volunteers everywhere to step up for their schools. Call Satellite athletic director Linda Anderson at 779-2000 if it strikes you. Or call the athletic director, band director or cheerleader sponsor of your choice. Unemployment is high, but many of us are doing well enough to help others.

"He's got all the raw materials -- strength, speed and agility -- that he could go a lot higher," said Carter of his star vaulter. Cooper cleared 13 feet, 6 inches at the 2010 state meet. The three young men who finished ahead of him were seniors. "I think he could go over 15 this year."

Mike Vani won for Merritt Island in 2009 and set a state meet record of 16-8. Last year, Lindsey Enders of Holy Trinity won the Class 1A girls title by clearing 12-6. A third consecutive win for the county would be impressive. Or maybe two, as Enders is back for her senior season.

"I was expecting to win state," Cooper said on Wednesday, "if I can get the right pole."

That would increase his odds tremendously.