The Story behind the State Champ Pole Vaulter - David Patzer

Here we go:

The dream of a state individual championship was there, but the the road to the championship was not what we expected! After jumping 14 feet indoors in the Lehigh meet, the idea of jumping 15 feet & possibly winning the state outdoor pole vault title was possible. Especially, if David could jump on the new 15 foot pole!!

Season started out fine, bad weather & one or two nights a week we could jump and not freeze or be blown off the pit! The meets started & David was our top sprinter. The plan was to pole vault & run the 100 meters & 400 relay. Winning the McCaskey meet was key in winning the section one title. David finished second in the 100 meters & ran the 400 relay. We won the meet, but David had pain in the groin area. Not good. He was out indefinitely and the long wait started! One week, two weeks, therapy & doctor visits was the new schedule not vaulting into the pole vault pit!

After 30 days off, David took one jump against Penn Manor and won the meet at 12'6". Then 5 jumps in the Blue Streak Relays and 13 feet added to 12'6", won the relay at 25'6"! Next the quad meet against Donegal, Annville-Cleona & Lancaster Mennonite. It rained Monday, pole vault was canceled & we finished at Annville-Cleona. Still on 13 feet & districts may need a higher height to get in. One more meet to do it - the League Meet.

The boys pole vault started at 4 PM with 33 competitors! At 6:30 Dave finally strted to jump! And around 8:15(with the lights on) it was down to two jumpers - David & the McCaskey jumper. The good news David made 14 feet which secured a district spot, but lost to Harbuck from McCaskey on misses - 2nd place at leagues. We will take it!

Districts - now the goal is to qualify for states! Competition was great & we were ready - David jumps 13'9", finishes fouth & qualifies for states - top 5 in district 3 automatically go to states!

States - The State Meet is always a goal for any successful track athlete! Just getting there is very, very difficult! The competition was amazing! We started with 23 jumpers, all made openning height of 12'6". All jumpers made 13', 17 made 13'6" and 12 jumpers cleared 14'! David was still in it - 12 jumpers left for 8 state medals! The bar is now at 14'6", this would be a school record for David! Six jumpers cleared 14'6" AND DAVID WAS ONE OF THE JUMPERS! School record 14'6"!!!!!

Ok, 6 left to jump at 15', David already has a state medal! One of the jumpers was Olover Harbuck, from McCaskey. He beat David at leagues and at Districts. Also, Chris Dodd from Wilson, a 15 foot jumper. And the other three were also great jumpers! Well, EVERYONE missed their first two attempts! Six on the last attempt. First jumper missed, he is out, now it's David's turn. Last attempt at 15 feet. He races down the runway, drives & rocks back like never before - gets vertical and flies over 15!!! He is in the lead!! Four more jumpers at 15'! They all miss - David is the PIAA State Pole Vault Champion at 15'!!! I repeat:

David Patzer - PIAA State Pole Vault Champion at 15'!!!
David Patzer - PIAA State Pole Vault Champion at 15'!!!
David Patzer - PIAA State Pole Vault Champion at 15'!!!

Hempfield's first ever Pole Vault State Champ!!!
What a day for David & Hempfield Track & Field!!!