One is a thrill-seeking junior with state-medal aspirations. The other is a determined senior with Olympic bloodlines, hoping to end his high school career on a high note.
Both of the athletes from The Bear Creek School have the same goal.
Jake Matthews, a junior, and Will McCahill, a senior, are hoping to make history this spring and earn a spot in the pole vaulting competition at the Class 4A state track and field meet. Bear Creek has never sent two pole vaulters to the state meet, according to third-year coach Scott Wright.
“We’re hoping to both make it to state,” said McCahill, who also runs cross country with Matthews. “It will be tough to do, but hopefully we both can make it.”
Matthews is seeking consecutive trips to the state meet and his first aboard the medal podium. McCahill is hoping to nail down his first state spot after barely missing the cut last season.
“Make it to state, that’s the big one for me,” said McCahill, whose second cousin Nick Hysong won the pole vault gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
True competitors
McCahill is off to hot start this season, already posting a personal-best mark of 10 feet. Matthews, whose personal best is 9-6, has only cleared 9-0 so far this spring. Matthews said he is switching to a new pole this season and he is working hard to be the ace pole vaulter for Bear Creek.
“I’m feeling a little behind. I can’t leave him alone at the top,” Matthews said of his competition with McCahill. “I have to challenge him for that spot. … We’re both pretty fierce competitors.”
The two pole vaulters have a friendly rivalry and constantly push each other, Matthews said.
Matthews finished last season strong, clearing 9-6 to earn a spot to state. McCahill, who injured his foot just four days before the district competition last spring, cleared 9-0, and missed the state cut.
Now this season, Matthews and McCahill are hoping Bear Creek can clinch two of the district’s three state berths.
Leading the way
McCahill and Matthews are two of pole vaulting pioneers for Bear Creek, setting the tone for the program. McCahill started pole vaulting as a sophomore and Matthews came out as a freshman, but he battled injuries much of the season. They were only vaulters in the program that season. Now the pole vaulting program has grown at Bear Creek with six boy vaulters and three girls, Matthews said.
It’s not surprise these two teens got into the adventurous sport of pole vaulting. During the winter season of his freshman year, Matthews enrolled in the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts in Seattle. In addition, Matthews said as a junior high student, he did a lot of slack lining — a balance sport which uses nylong webbing stretched tight between two anchor points, like two trees, for example.
“It’s kind of like tight-rope walking,” he explained.
It was only a matter of time before Matthews, who loves to rock climb and kayak, gravitated to the pole vault pit.
“I didn’t think (pole vaulting) was that crazy,” Matthews said. “There’s a big mat to fall on.”
As for McCahill, he was motivated by his cousin’s results, saying that “if my cousin can win a gold medal, maybe I can do well also.”
McCahill, who has competed in four different sports in his career at Bear Creek, has no fear in the pole vault pit and is seeking new heights this season.
“No other sport lets you hurl yourself up on a stick and land on a giant pillow,” McCahill said with a chuckle.
McCahill, along with Matthews, hopes to “land on a giant pillow” on the state stage.
“We’ve never had two pole vaulters get to state,” said Wright, the Bear Creek coach. “If we get two kids to go to state that would be outstanding. They have a good chance.”
REDMOND BOYS TRACK AND FIELD AT A GLANCE
REDMOND MUSTANGS
• Head coach: David Peabody, second year
• 2009 turnout: 64.
Key returners
• Sr. Cameron Sandquist: Anchor veteran sprinter has big-meet experience; excellent all-around athlete broke school record for receptions during football season.
• Sr. Mack Young: Coming off a great cross-country season, will be a threat in the distance events. Finished third at state in the 1,600 meters last spring.
• Sr. Aiden Irish: Great endurance and work ethic, defending district champion in the 3,200.
• Sr. Dan Sanders: Top returning hurdler can also compete at middle-distance track events.
• Sr. Jimmy Brookman: Javelin specialist won Kingco; placed second in districts and 9th at state last year.
TOP NEWCOMERS
• So. Scott Daley: Hurdler/sprinter made varsity 400 relay as a sophomore. Comes with experience, good technique and work ethic from junior high.
• So. Miles Hille: Big contributor has nearly broke two minutes in the 800 already in the season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Second-year coach David Peabody served as an assistant for seven years at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. where he worked with athletes on sprints, hurdles, jumps and throws.
AT THE NEXT LEVEL
Anthony Ellis, class of 2008, is currently running at Division I New Mexico State. Ellis finished runnerup last year at state in the 1,600.
COACH’S QUOTE
“We’ve got a bunch of talented athletes who are new to the sport of track and field. We’re still working on finding the best events for these athletes that will put us in a position to represent RHS in the league.”
— Coach Peabody
BEAR CREEK GRIZZLIES
• Head coach: Scott Wright, third year
• Turnout: 16
Key returners
• Sr. Erik Richardson: Strong thrower is a three-time state participant is hoping to crack the medal podium for the first time. Has chance to compete at state in both discus and shot put.
• Soph. Josh Firminger: Top returning sprinter was an alternate on last season’s 400 relay team. Expect his times to get lower as the weather heats up.
• Jr. Jake Matthews: Two-time state participant in the pole vault has a good chance to earn a state medal this spring.
Sr. Will McCahill: Pole vaulter has state-meet aspirations — and the talent to get there.
TOP NEWCOMERS
• Jr. Kyle Blankenbeckler: This is the sprinter’s first season doing track. He has the athleticism and competitiveness to be a solid performer.
• Fresh. Lucas Fernandez: Young sprinter with district-meet potential will contribute right away.
DID YOU KNOW?
Firminger, who has the top 200 time (24.54) in the Sea-Tac B League so far this spring, ran the anchor leg on the 400 relay team at the league, district and state meet last spring as a freshman. He replaced now-graduated Jimmy Rehfeld, who tore his hamstring about half way through the season. “Josh ran very good last year. We expect big things from him this season,” Wright said.
COACH’S QUOTE
“We got a lot of talent on the boys’ side. These guys have a lot of potential. We’ll be good for a few years.”
— Coach Wright
