WEBSTER – Webster has returned to its roots to soar to new heights this spring.

The Bearcats are making the most of their opportunities in the pole vault and have three vaulters among the state track and field leaders for both boys and girls. Webster claimed the top three spots in the Region 1A pole vault competition on Wednesday.

Webster had one of the premier vaulters back in the day in multi-time state champion Sam Pribyl. Then the school did without the vault for about 15 years before Brandy Gangle became the head coach in 2016.

“That was one of my big goals when I started head coaching was to bring pole vault back to Webster, because there used to be back in the Sam Pribyl days before me, there was a strong tradition and then it faded,” Gangle said. “That was one of my goals. The former head coach said I could do that when I took over, so I did.”

Gangle always had an interest in the pole vault, but never competed in it. However, she knew who to connect with when it came to vaulting, like former Aberdeen Central vault coach Jeff Sahli, current Northern State vault coach Wade Royer, and Webster volunteer assistant Kevin Duenwald, who Gangle labels “a pole vault guru.”

It’s safe to say that vaulting is now back in Webster with a variety of athletes found near the top of the state’s top performances, led by Drew Reetz who is second among Class A boys.

Gangle said her group of vaulters is a bit different than most teams, which features sprinters and jumpers.

“My pole vault athletes are mainly middle distance runners, like all of them, the boys and the girls,” Gangle said. “A couple are sprinters, but in general they’re 400 runners, which is kind of odd, but they’re also really talented athletes so they were able to pick it up and run with it.”

Gangle pointed to versatile athletes like Tayne Dunse and Annie Witt who provide leadership with their willingness to try new things.

“Tayne picked up the 300 hurdles last year and he’s hoping to medal at the state meet this year. Annie used to run 800 now she runs 200,” Gangle said. “They’re those kind of kids that just say I’m going to go and I’m going to do it. They really take ownership of it and that makes everybody else step up around them, too.”

It’s interesting to note that the past is still contributing to the present. The Pribyl family planted an indoor vault box inside the Webster Armory. It allows the Bearcats to get in a good workout when others can’t because of the weather.

Other Webster vaulters who are among the state leaders include Jaiden McCreary, Max Duerre, Erin Case and Emily Richie.

When Gangle was given the green light to restore vaulting, she said it was greeted with sort of mixed reactions.

“I think that pole vault is one of those things some people are scared of, and some people are full throttle,” Gangle said.

She said that the Bearcats are the only team in the state that consistently wears helmets each time they vault.

“I think that made a difference with some of the fear factor,” Gangle said. “A helmet won’t eliminate injury, but will dramatically reduce injury if something were to go wrong.”

Pole vault requires a lot of technique, and Gangle credits Sahli for his role in helping vaulters at many different schools through the years.

“He can get kids to turn and get upside down in about two practices. I’ve seen him do it with our kids,” Gangle said.

That element alone can make a huge difference when it comes to vaulting according to Gangle.

“Just by turning you can put a foot on it or more because it gets hip height,” she said. “Getting inverted is the thing. If you can bend a pole and get inverted, now you’re like a real pole vaulter.”

LEADING THE WAY

A pair of male athletes continue to lead three individual events. Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City Stevens leads Class AA in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. On Tuesday, he ran on a sprint medley relay team that clocked the second fastest time in state history at 3:27.52. That time is tied for the fastest in the nation.

Jovi Wolf of Chester leads Class B in the 100, 200 and 400.

There are currently 15 athletes who lead two individual events including Sam Rohlfs of Aberdeen Central in the AA long jump and triple jump, Ella Boekelheide of Northwestern in the Class B 1,600 and 3,200, and Hank Kraft of Timber Lake in the Class B long jump and triple jump.

BY THE NUMBERS

There are currently three teams that lead their respective classes with seven events each. That trio is Sioux Falls Christian in Class A boys, Chester Area in Class B boys, and Colman-Egan in Class B girls.

Other team leaders include Rapid City Stevens and Brandon Valley in Class AA boys (four events each), Sioux Falls Lincoln, Brandon Valley and O’Gorman in Class AA girls (five events each), and Sioux Falls Christian in Class A girls (five events).