Close your eyes, take a deep breath, visualize, step on the runway, pick up your pole, check your grip, lean back, take a step forward and do it three times. This is junior Aaron Wein’s routine before he sprints down the runway to pole vault.

     “My mom told me you have to do something for your mind and body — school is the thing for my mind, and she wanted me to do a sport. I watched a practice and thought pole vaulting looked cool,” Wein said.

     Wein started pole vaulting in seventh grade, and in his eighth grade year, Track Coach and Associate Director of Athletics Richard Cameron moved him up to varsity. 

     “I became team captain my freshman year because I knew my way around the competition, and I recruited a few of my friends,” said Wein.

     Practice is five days a week. Four of them are outside practicing vaulting, and one of them is lifting in the weight room.

     “It’s really important for the team that we all cheer each other on and do well together. I think it creates a great atmosphere, and it’s become more about the team and less about myself,” said Wein.

     The height of the previous school pole vaulting record was 4.2 meters, and Wein broke it with a height of 4.21 meters. 

     “To break the school record is awesome because next year I’m going to get a plaque in the gym, and it’s something I wanted to have to leave a lasting impact after I graduate,” said Wein.

     To move on to the regional competition, athletes must either place in the top four at their district meet or be one of the next eight best-marked competitors in their region from the regular season. To qualify for the state championship, athletes must finish in the top four at their regional meet or be among the next eight best-ranked performances across all regions after competing at the district meet. Athletes also must compete in at least five regular-season meets to be eligible to compete at states.

     “Last year, when I qualified for the first time, it was crazy because I thought states was something that seemed so far out there that it was just never gonna happen. I thought it was crazy that I was even going,” said Wein.

     After years of pole vaulting and leadership, accepting failure is another lesson that is a part of sports and everyday life.

     “Being okay with failure is the biggest lesson I’ve learned, and also watching your teammates succeed is like watching you succeed,” said Wein.

     He highlighted how finding comfort in your teammates is important, and that at high-pressure competitions, your teammates can help you feel like you’re at a regular practice.

     “My teammates make the competition more friendly — they help me do better. [But] it’s not always about how well you do. It’s about how well your team does. Friendly competition is a really good thing, and it can be fun to compete with your friends,” said Wein.