For example, Lancaster and Watkins Memorial have cornered the market on pole vaulters for at least 15 years. Six of the area's top eight vaulters hail from those two schools and new power Fairfield Union. Once we started having some success at the pole vault several years ago, some of the kids began picking it up at the junior high. Trained as a sprinter, Watkins Memorial coach Marty Dahlman can't pinpoint how he became such an expert on the pole vault. It's a tradition, and expectations.
Kids here know they have to be good to even try out.
Twelve feet is our standard for a varsity letter here now. Ninety percent of the schools would kill for a 12-footer. Long before state record holder Krista Keir arrived on the scene, Westerville South was known for outstanding shot putters and discus throwers. A big reason is specialty coach Chris Mitko. If you get a group of people interested in the same area, it becomes sort of like an exclusive club and everybody wants to do it.