Northern Virginia –What makes Lucas Wratschko and Logan Besougloff unique about their involvement in the sport of pole vaulting is both didn’t take up the event until their freshman years in high school and each overcame injuries along the way to eventually excel. As their careers evolved, both steadily improved to the point of dominating the sport during their senior outdoor seasons in the 2013 spring campaign. The two dueled much of the spring, with Oakton High’s Wratschko winning both the Group AAA state and Northern Region outdoor meets. Langley High’s Besougloff was a close second in each. Both cleared 14-feet, 6-inches in the state meet in tough conditions. Wratschko won on fewer misses. The conditions at the meet were windy with a lot of heat and humidity, and the vaulters were jumping into the sun. At the region meet, Wratschko, who will jump at the College of William and Mary won at 14-6. Besougloff, who will jump at George Mason University, was second at 14-3. Prior to the region, Besougloff won the Liberty District outdoor meet when he cleared a personal-best 15-feet to set a district record. He was the only vaulter in the state at the Group AAA level to clear 15 feet this past spring. Besougloff vaulted 14-3 or better six times at meets during the spring. For Wratschko, what made the biggest difference this past school year was staying pretty much injury free. That came after breaking one ankle as a sophomore, then the other as a junior. Besougloff solved the injury bug this past spring as well. But that wasn’t always the case. “He is a fabulous kid who overcame stress fractures in both feet and a badly-sprained ankle to achieve great things,” Langley pole vaulting coach Ginny Shapiro said. more
