Virginia State Champ

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.bedfordbulletin.com/articles ... orts01.txt

Wilson wins state pole vault title, Pavia second
By Melva Shelor


Jefferson Forest pole vaulter Jason Wilson had a few things he had to overcome to win his first state indoor track title.

First, he had a bad vault on his second attempt to clear 13'6". He didn't come close to getting over the bar and as he came down on the mat, he landed wrong on his neck, straining it. The fall left him a little dazed and shaken, but a few moments laying down off to the side, gave him a chance to catch his breath, regroup and clear out the cobwebs.

The second thing he had to overcome, not surprisingly in high school pole vaulter circles, was his own teammate Anthony Pavia, who was also still in the competition.

Already those two were the only ones left standing after Phillip Hoover of Broadway failed to clear 13'6" on his final attempt.

Wilson was first up and it was clear he had put the bad vault behind him when he easily cleared 13'6".

Pavia, on the other hand, didn't get the height he needed on his third attempt, bringing the bar down and giving his teammate, Wilson, the state title.

"This tops off a season of hard work," said Wilson, a senior.

And though Pavia had to settle for second again (he took that same position a year ago) it was a triumphant day with the Cavaliers taking the top two spots in the competition.

"They didn't talk about going 1-2, though they knew it was possible. They took a much better approach of going out and doing the best they could and he's happy for Jason. If he was going to be second in this meet, the one person he'd want to lose to is Jason. He doesn't mind it and it would have been the same for Jason, if it had been the other way around. They can accept the fact they lost if it's the other one that beat them. No one else can beat them, though," said JF coach Robert Butler.

And really neither of them knows what it like to lose to anyone else this season.

The training partners admit they are hyper competitive with each other.

"We had a side competition going on who would win the most meets. Going into this meet we were tied, I had won six and he had won six," Pavia said, agreeing it was only fitting that the bragging rights ended with a title at the state meet for one of them.

A year ago, they along with then teammate Jeff Tolley, were considered the top three vaulters in the state until Stephen Thompson of Western Albermarle came out of nowhere to beat all three of them at the state meet.

Thompson, now a junior, was expected to push Wilson and Pavia at this year's meet, but he injured his back recently vaulting and had to sit the meet out.

"We really wanted to vault against him, but he should be back for outdoor. I feel bad for him," Wilson said.

Both pointed to their consistency as being what helped them finish first and second.

"I only had the one miss. I landed on my neck on that one and it made me mad," Wilson said.

Neither had missed a vault attempt (they didn't come into the competition until the 12-foot mark) until 13'6".

"When we aren't missing like that it keeps us both in rhythm," Pavia said.

And whether they are missing or not, both are coaching each other after each vault and can't imagine getting to the level they have without each other's help, as well as Tolley's.

"I thought it was going to be hard when Tolley left [he graduated in 2003], but we were still jumping. It helps having someone to consult with," Pavia said.

Butler agrees that the pair's friendship, camaraderie and competitive drive with each other has been key.

"They drive each other. They critique each other not to hurt the other one, but to help each other to improve. It helps them stay away from those mistakes and bad habits other athletes pick up by themselves," Butler said.

They'll take a little time off now and then gear up for the outdoor season where a new competition will begin amongst themselves and the rest of the state.

[Atleetwinvaulter]

Both of them are great guys and i have vaulted many a times with them this year, im so stoked that they went 1-2 at AA states thats the bomb good job guys ill cya guys this outdoor!!!!