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St. Cloud State University
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Sports
Vaulter aims to add to impressive résumé
By Derek Sullivan
Published:
Monday, March 29, 2004
Media Credit: Ryan Henry
Senior SCSU All-American pole vaulter Jodi Tarasewicz looks to carry over her past success to the new outdoor season.
Pole vaulting requires speed, strength, body awareness and agility. These characteristics are not needed simply to win; they are needed to avoid serious injury.
One of Division II's best pole vaulters competes for SCSU. Senior All-American Jodi Tarasewicz recently competed her final indoor season and now looks ahead to her final outdoor campaign.
A five-time All-American, Tarasewicz almost enrolled at a Missouri Southern. Last minute recruiting by then head coach Tracy Dill and current vault coach Kevin Hanson brought the Cottage Grove native to St. Cloud. At the 1999 high school track and field state meet, Hanson told Tarasewicz to give the Huskies consideration.
"I went to Hanson's camp (at SCSU) and it felt kind of like a recruiting trip," Tarasewicz said. "I talked to people around (SCSU) and realized this is where I am going to school."
Tarasewicz set records in her first year. In 2000, she set the school pole vault record jumping 12-feet-3.5 inches. Over the next four years, Tarasewicz qualified for nationals (indoor and outdoor) seven times.
On top of setting records, the senior captain has taken on the role of leader. Head coach Seth Mischke, who arrived with Tarasewicz in 1999-2000, noticed the pole vaulter's overall leadership.
"We could tell right from the time when she was a freshman, that she had the makings of being a quality kid," Mischke said. "She does more for us than just scoring points at meets and qualifying for nationals."
March 12-13, 2004, Tarasewicz made her third trip to Boston, Mass. for the Division II Indoor Championships. She placed seventh with a jump of 12 feet. Amanda Frame of Minnesota State-Mankato won with a jump of 13-feet and three quarter inches.
Tarasewicz and Frame were not the only pole vaulters from the North Central Conference. The SCSU star competed with several conference rivals at nationals.
"Seven of the 14 competitors were from the NCC," Tarasewicz said. "It was kind of like the conference meet all over again."
Even though Tarasewicz proudly competed at nationals, she wished she had more company than just her coaches.
"Boston just was not as fun as it could have been, because none of my teammates were there with me," Tarasewicz said.
The Huskies' track and field outdoor season began Saturday at the Truman State Open. Junior Jodi Rosborough, sophomore Melissa Bachman and first-year competitors Danielle Larson, Sarah Lencowski and Charlie Schnobrich traveled with Tarasewicz to the initial meet. Tarasewicz hopes a few of her teammates will travel with her to the Outdoor Championships May 27-29 in Pomona, Calif.
"I would love to have my teammates go with me," Tarasewicz said. "They all have the potential to (qualify)."
The women's track team placed eighth at the NCC indoor meet Feb. 27-28 at Minnesota-Mankato.
Despite the last place finish, Tarasewicz noticed tremendous support within the team. Teammates continually stand on the sidelines cheering for the Huskies.
"Sometimes people will compete, then go sit at camp or go eat," Tarasewicz said. "This year's team will just stay near the track and cheer everyone on."
The camaraderie continues off the field. The night before the team left for the Truman Open, Tarasewicz and her teammate went to a movie.
"When I first came here there was not much of a team atmosphere as there is now," Tarasewicz said. "There was not many times before (this season) we would hang out, like we do now."
Tarasewicz began pole vaulting seven years ago in high school. Her brother, Eric, talked her into giving the event a shot. She immediately knew the sport was for her.
"At first, I was not sure," Tarasewicz said. "The next thing I knew, Eric and I were pole vaulting every summer."
Many states do not allow the pole vault at the high school level. Every year a handful of athletes lose their lives competing. Tarasewicz said she relies on technique to keep herself safe.
"The main thing in vaulting is your technique," Tarasewicz said. "If your technique is good, if your coach knows what he is doing, if you know what you are doing, you're not going to get seriously injured."
According to Mischke, Tarasewicz has fought through many injuries in her career. Throughout the bumps and bruises, the All-American stayed focused.
"She is a real tough competitor," Mischke said. "She is able to get it done and put it on the line, even when she is not 100 percent."
This season, the senior has avoided the nagging injuries and positioned herself to break her school record and return to nationals.
"She is as healthy as she has ever been, fit as she has ever been," Mischke said. "I think good things are going to happen for her outdoors."
With several strong young pole vaulters on the women's team, the future is bright. That does not mean Mischke will not miss his All-American.
"It sucks that this is her fifth year, and she will be gone next year," Mischke said. "That's the way things work in this business."
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