Allentown, NJ –Mike Fritsky and Billy Herzer are after some more history. In the fall, the two seniors were part of the Allentown High School boys soccer team’s first run to the Group III state championship. Now they are setting records in indoor track and field. They combined for a school-record 22-feet-6 to place second overall at the Group III state relays on Saturday at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
”I was expecting to do pretty well,” said Herzer, who jumped 11-feet. “During the meet, I was more focused on the school record. It was 21-feet. I obviously knew we broke that. When they announced we got second, I was surprised. I didn’t think we were doing that well. It was a pleasant surprise.”
It wasn’t the only AHS record to fall on Saturday. Daivone Thomas threw 45-7¼ and Alden Littlefield threw 42-6¾ as the Redbirds placed fifth in the shot put with a new school record 88-2.
”I think it was 20 feet further than the old record (68-10½),” said Redbirds head coach Brian Harshman. “That’s a big deal.”
Not only did Fritsky and Herzer smash their pole vault record, but they made a big jump in the standings. They did not place in last year’s Group II meet when the combined for 19-6. The two are well ahead of last year’s pace.
”We broke our school record by a foot and a half,” Fritsky said. “I think we’re doing good considering the circumstances.”
The two barely ever get to jump in the indoor season. Winter weather conditions have kept them inside, and their usual practices consist of weight training, running sprints and doing circuits of explosive muscle exercises. But no pole vaulting.
”The meets are pretty much of a combination of our practice and the actual meet,” Fritsky said. “Winter is pretty much trying to get ready for spring.”
The relay meets are over with the conclusion of the state relays. The duo can focus on going after another record, the 12-foot indoor individual record held by Alec Townsend, who was a junior at AHS when Fritsky and Herzer began vaulting as freshmen, and he remains close with the two.
”I have to give him some credit,” Herzer said. “He was a big help when we were younger.”
The outdoor mark of 13-6 they will be chasing this spring is also set by Townsend. With Townsend’s graduation, the two have had each other to help drive toward the records.
”We’re really good friends,” Herzer said. “We motivate each other to get better. Especially for the relays, we depend on each other. It’s good to have the chemistry to motivate each other.”
The two are at opposite ends in soccer, with Fritsky a defender and Herzer a striker. But in the winter and spring, they come together to push each other to new heights in the pole vault. Both cleared 12-feet by the end of last year.
”We just want to break most of the records,” Fritsky said. “For winter, we just want to get back to 12 where we were last year. Then when we get to spring, we’ll be going up from there.”
Despite minimal jumping, the two have managed to get their senior years off to a good start. They are on track to reach their goals even without the amount of training in the offseason of some pole vaulters.
”I think we’re just getting used to it now,” Herzer said. “It’s a lot easier to back into doing it.”
The two are hoping that they can build on their performance from the state group relays when they compete in the Mercer County Championships on Sunday at Lawrenceville School. The two failed to place at the Lavino Relays held their two weeks ago.
”I personally feel pretty good,” Fritsky said. “I’d like to be able to vault once this week, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Not only did Fritsky and Herzer smash their pole vault record, but they made a big jump in the standings. They did not place in last year’s Group II meet when the combined for 19-6. The two are well ahead of last year’s pace.
”We broke our school record by a foot and a half,” Fritsky said. “I think we’re doing good considering the circumstances.”
The two barely ever get to jump in the indoor season. Winter weather conditions have kept them inside, and their usual practices consist of weight training, running sprints and doing circuits of explosive muscle exercises. But no pole vaulting.
”The meets are pretty much of a combination of our practice and the actual meet,” Fritsky said. “Winter is pretty much trying to get ready for spring.”
The relay meets are over with the conclusion of the state relays. The duo can focus on going after another record, the 12-foot indoor individual record held by Alec Townsend, who was a junior at AHS when Fritsky and Herzer began vaulting as freshmen, and he remains close with the two.
”I have to give him some credit,” Herzer said. “He was a big help when we were younger.”
The outdoor mark of 13-6 they will be chasing this spring is also set by Townsend. With Townsend’s graduation, the two have had each other to help drive toward the records.
”We’re really good friends,” Herzer said. “We motivate each other to get better. Especially for the relays, we depend on each other. It’s good to have the chemistry to motivate each other.”
The two are at opposite ends in soccer, with Fritsky a defender and Herzer a striker. But in the winter and spring, they come together to push each other to new heights in the pole vault. Both cleared 12-feet by the end of last year.
”We just want to break most of the records,” Fritsky said. “For winter, we just want to get back to 12 where we were last year. Then when we get to spring, we’ll be going up from there.”
Despite minimal jumping, the two have managed to get their senior years off to a good start. They are on track to reach their goals even without the amount of training in the offseason of some pole vaulters.
”I think we’re just getting used to it now,” Herzer said. “It’s a lot easier to back into doing it.”
The two are hoping that they can build on their performance from the state group relays when they compete in the Mercer County Championships on Sunday at Lawrenceville School. The two failed to place at the Lavino Relays held their two weeks ago.
”I personally feel pretty good,” Fritsky said. “I’d like to be able to vault once this week, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Not getting any jumps in practice makes competing a bit more difficult.
”It’s been pretty hard,” Herzer said. “The (Lavino) meet, I no heighted because I had no practice going into it. I feel like every meet, we’re getting better and better.”
They aren’t sure exactly what to expect from the county competition, but Fritsky and Herzer figure to be among the top contenders if they jump well.
”Our coach, he’s a volunteer coach, Duncan Littlefield, he’s been working with them,” Harshman said. “This is his third year working with our pole vaulters. He’s done a fantastic job with them. He’s with them the whole time at their event. He gave me the lowdown. He said they both did good and can both do better.”
The two took some training at a pole vaulting club last year, and it helped them go even higher. This year, the expectations are that they can approach the records.
”They’re both probably capable of doing 13-feet,” Harshman said. “Hopefully by the time they get to outdoors, they can. I think they’ve both done 12. They did well over the weekend, 11-6 and 11.” more
”It’s been pretty hard,” Herzer said. “The (Lavino) meet, I no heighted because I had no practice going into it. I feel like every meet, we’re getting better and better.”
They aren’t sure exactly what to expect from the county competition, but Fritsky and Herzer figure to be among the top contenders if they jump well.
”Our coach, he’s a volunteer coach, Duncan Littlefield, he’s been working with them,” Harshman said. “This is his third year working with our pole vaulters. He’s done a fantastic job with them. He’s with them the whole time at their event. He gave me the lowdown. He said they both did good and can both do better.”
The two took some training at a pole vaulting club last year, and it helped them go even higher. This year, the expectations are that they can approach the records.
”They’re both probably capable of doing 13-feet,” Harshman said. “Hopefully by the time they get to outdoors, they can. I think they’ve both done 12. They did well over the weekend, 11-6 and 11.” more
