April 1, 2009 –Dylan Austin didn’t need to be at Moon Valley High School last Friday night. Sure, the Rockets were hosting the Glendale Union High School District track and field meet, but the boys’ pole vault was completed on Wednesday. The senior was there cheering on the girls And then, when the meet was over, he didn’t need to stay. But “the most fun thing in the world” was calling him. “My pole was just sitting there, and it looked so lonesome,” Austin said. “It’s just so much fun flying up in the air, so why wouldn’t I do it whenever I can?” It is that attitude and love for the sport that has allowed Austin to come so far in his four years at Moon Valley. His freshman year, Austin had never pole vaulted in his life. Now, he is one of the top pole vaulters in the state. Only one high schooler in Arizona has topped Austin’s 15-foot, 6-inch mark this season, and he is in Class 5A Division I. The next closest 4A-II pole vaulter, who happens to be Austin’s teammate and best friend, is a foot and a half behind Austin. “We’re always helping
each other out, and we’re such good friends, but we definitely get competitive when we compete,” teammate Kyle Schlosser said. “But he’s a ways ahead of me.” And Schlosser isn’t the only pole vaulter Austin helps out during practice. Head out to a Moon Valley track and field practice, and Austin is coaching the pole vaulters as much as veteran pole vaulting coaches Jerry Kemper and Ken Anderson. “He leads all the exercises and warm-up drills,” Anderson said. “If you’re not doing it right, he tells them, ‘Hey, pick it up.’ ” “When he’s coaching, the other kids listen because they are like, ‘Dylan’s telling me this, it has to be right,’ ” Kemper added. In the first meet of the 2009 season, Austin achieved one of primary high school goals when he beat head coach Brian Raper’s best high school pole vault. And Austin hasn’t let his coach forget it. “He’s given me a pretty heavy dose of grief since then,” Raper said. “But he deserves it because he’s a much better athlete and pole vaulter than I could ever be. “With everything he does for this team, we’re so fortunate to have him. He’s everything you want in an athlete.” And now as the season is nearing its end, Austin only has one goal left – he wants to clear 16 feet, which would set a school record. That height should easily win the 4A-II state title. When the season ends, Austin’s pole-vaulting career will be far from over. He will attend Arizona State in the fall and he wants to pole vault in a maroon and gold uniform. Right now, Austin’s 3.9 GPA has earned him a partial academic scholarship to ASU, and he hopes his pole-vaulting skills will pay for the rest of college. “Ever since my freshman year, pole vaulting is all I’ve ever wanted to do and I’m not ready to stop,” Austin said. “That would be the coolest thing ever. Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/preps/phx/articles/2009/04/01/20090401phx-mvalleytrack0403.html#ixzz35BqfSdvf
