Aaron Conn, in his own way, has separated himself from the typical behavior they’ve come to expect. “He’s so different from most pole vaulters — if the wind’s not right, if the runway’s not just right, if they don’t like the pit — he’s just not that way,” said Tammy Kirchhoff, who doubles as Iraan High School’s boys and girls track and field head coach. “Both my kids were pole vaulters and they’d just drive you crazy with all the little things, and he just doesn’t. He’s just like, ‘It’ll be cool.’ ” Conn most definitely marches to his own beat. Mark Kirchhoff, Iraan’s head football coach and athletic director who took over for Kurt Hanna as vault coach this season, describes Conn’s demeanor as even-keel. He said Conn takes in stride all the necessary adjustments, knowing those tweaks will turn into the results he’s after. No complaints. No questions asked. But he does make one request. “Before I vault I’ve just got to make sure Mrs. Kirchhoff is there watching me. She just makes me feel like I’ve got more confidence,” Conn said Thursday before practice. The Kirchhoffs, who have been married for 28 years, will be an added support staff once again Friday in Austin as Conn participates in the UIL State Track and Field Championships at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Stadium. Conn, who last year became the first Iraan pole vaulter to earn a berth to the state meet since 2009, qualified this time with a Region I-1A Division I-winning jump of 14 feet, 3 inches — a personal record. more
