2005 College Commitments

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.tribstar.com/articles/2004/1 ... orts02.txt

South's track star Bertoli commits to Indiana State

Pole vaulter hopes to also compete in decathlon

By Craig Pearson/Tribune-Star

Oct. 8, 2004

Just a few weeks into his sophomore track season, Anthony Bertoli had the goal to reach 10 feet in the pole vault. Starting out he was vaulting eight feet, but within a month of practice and indoor meets he reached the 12-foot plateau.

"That was the first indication he was going to be a good pole vaulter," Terre Haute South Coach Jeff Martin said. "We learned to vault together through camps and clinics on both of our parts. He just kept improving."

Bertoli cleared 13-6 that sophomore season, and his career best is 15-0. Bertoli finished seventh in the IHSAA state finals this spring in that event.

After making visits to Oklahoma and Eastern Illinois, Bertoli has verbally committed to compete for Coach John McNichols at Indiana State University. A night in ISU's dorms convinced him to stay in Terre Haute.

"I really enjoyed myself," said Bertoli, whose goal of being a science education teacher also fits well with ISU.

While the vault is his best event, Bertoli has hopes of competing in the decathlon.

"The vault is my best event, but I'm not sure what I'll be doing," said Bertoli, son of former Indiana State volleyball coach Jim Bertoli. "I might change if I get faster and stronger."

His work ethic is what made him a strong vaulter as well as one of the Wabash Valley's best competitors in the 400-meter run and a member of the Braves' state-finals qualifying 1,600-meter relay team, Coach Jeff Martin testified following Thursday's cross country practice at South.

Bertoli has become a strong contributor to South's cross country team in addition to his track exploits.

The 1,500-meter run is the final event of the decathlon, and Bertoli said he surprised himself with his performance in that long-distance running event at the United States Track and Field Junior Olympic National Championships in July at Eugene, Ore. That performance and personal records in six of the 10 events took Bertoli to eighth place in the decathlon, which includes the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400, 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and the 1,500.

Bertoli also vaulted 14-11 at the championships, a personal record outdoors that gave him fifth place out of 30 competitors vying for the national title.

In short, Bertoli's overall ability will be missed by Martin. But Martin's also excited for his pupil to join his former mentor at ISU.

"It's exciting," said Martin, a former hurdler for McNichols. "ISU has a good tradition of decathletes and pole vaulters."

[rainbowgirl28]

I don't know if she still pole vaults or not.

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index. ... ion=Sports

Mehlisch tabs NDSU track


By Jeff Kolpack,The Forum
Published Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Another one of the area's top athletes is staying put. Fargo South standout sprinter McKenzie Mehlisch gave North Dakota State a verbal commitment.


Mehlisch, a three-time North Dakota Class A champion as a junior, has been a major contributor with the Bruins since seventh grade.

"It's a good track program, it's close to home and I just thought it would be a good experience," Mehlisch said.

Mehlisch won the long jump, 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles in last spring's state meet. The news of her commitment came one day after Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton volleyball standout Kelly Lopez spurned Big 10 Conference offers and committed to the Bison.

Mehlisch said attending NDSU games as a little kid made an impression on her.




"Ever since I was little I thought it would be kind of cool to go to this school," she said.


Mehlisch was also on a state champion relay team. An all-around performer, she qualified for state in the pole vault as a seventh grader.

"She's had an impact since seventh grade," said South head coach Cory Lehman. "And she has more potential as she matures, that's for sure."

Mehlisch is the fourth recent South athlete to sign with a Division I school. Crystal Cummins went to Brown before transferring to NDSU, Lisa Svaleson signed with Montana State and Christin Kingsley is a freshman at the University of Minnesota.

"She goes up there with the best of them," Lehman said.

[VaultnGus]

It's not often we send a New England vaulter to mix it up with the big guys...

Brad Holtz of Barrington, Rhode Island (PR 15'06") will be suiting it up for the Tennessee Volunteers next year.

[ladyvolspvcoach]

We'll have our best Southern hospitality on for him. I'll keep an eye out for him and tell him his coming has been foretold.

[VaultBrad]

thanks, i am certainly looking forward to being a vol (the southern hospitality is a big plus)

[ladyvolspvcoach]

Brad, I think you'll really like it in Knoxville. Especially the change in the weather from the RI weather. I think you'll really like working with B.
Coach J

[VTechVaulter]

hey brad

i must say i was impressed with your tape. our coach called me up one night and we sat down an analyzed it. you def. have a promising career ahead of you. we would have enjoyed having you here at virginia tech. However im sure you will be quite happy at UT. Coach Miller, i think it was, is a very knowledgable man, i enjoyed speaking with him at one of the outdoor meets last year. Anyway, best of luck with your senior year and look forward to seein ya at some meets the following year

[VaultBrad]

thanks VtechVaulter,

my grandfather went to virginia tech, so it was defnately a possibility. i look forward to seeing you at some meets in the future. -Brad

[VaultBrad]

i wonder how many other people have seen my video

[VTechVaulter]

i wonder how many other people have seen my video

coach phillips and i are the only ones here. our head coach just passes em along. pretty cool dvd though.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://wvgazette.com/section/Sports/2004111535

November 16, 2004

Capital’s Hansen to sign with Slippery Rock


Jennifer Hansen, a senior at Capital High, will sign a letter-of-intent to attend Slippery Rock (Pa.) University and participate in track and field.

The signing is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. in the school library.

Hansen has won three straight Class AAA pole-vault championships in the state track meet at Laidley Field and cleared 12 feet three times last season, including a best of 12 feet, 6 inches.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/ ... 41&ntpid=5

Recruiting update: Madison Memorial senior Jenny Soceka will sign her national letter of intent to attend the University of Wisconsin at 3:45 p.m. today at the school. Soceka, the WIAA Division 1 state pole vault champ, also visited Arizona, Minnesota and Purdue