The bar is high for the pole vaulters at Gladwin every year and, with the help of coach Randy Wilford, it keeps going up.
“We’ve taken a pole vaulter to the state meet every year since 2005,” said Wilford. “We usually take more than one and, more times then not, we bring a medal home.”
Wilford competed in the event during his high school career at Gladwin and was all-state in 1985 with a personal best effort of 13-4.
He didn’t have much interest in the sport after graduation, but said that he, “got back into it when my kids got involved.”
His daughter Elizabeth showed an interest and, by the time she was in eighth grade, Wilford was taking her to a camp in Arkansas that was run by Earl Bell.
“He was the man when I was vaulting back in ’85,” said Wilford. “He was a world record holder at one time and he won the bronze at the 1984 Olympics.”
Wilford studied Bell’s methods and Elizabeth wound up winning the state championship in 2008. Both she and her sister, J.J., were all-state three times. Elizabeth went on to qualify for the nationals three times while competing at Saginaw Valley State, where her dad also coaches.
The duo was inducted into the Gladwin High School Hall of Fame last year.
Wilford is still on the job and things are looking up for this year’s vault crew.
Naturally.
Heather Beecher earned all-state honors as a sophomore, but missed the better part of last season after suffering a broken leg competing in the hurdles.
She is back for her senior year and, at a recent meet at Beaverton, she cleared the bar at 10’6” to establish a new personal best.
“I came out here thinking about going for 10 feet,” she said. “I didn’t think about 10’6” at all, but things worked out really well.”
Beecher will continue her career at the University of Wisconsin-Stout next year.
On the boys team, the top vaulter is senior Roger Wilford, a second cousin of the coach, who was all-state last year after clearing 13’6” to finish sixth at the Division 3 finals. He has signed to compete at Lake Superior State.
“He is on track to be our best vaulter ever,” Randy Wilford said.
Both Beecher and Roger Wilford came up through the ranks, beginning their careers in Gladwin’s junior high program.
“That’s where it starts,” Randy Wilford said. “We find out who has a talent for it, who likes it and who is going to stick with it. They have a junior high Mega Star event every year and maybe eight or 10 kids from the area qualify in their events. We have half of the kids who make it in the pole vault consistently every year.”
Beecher took to her event right away.
“In the seventh grade, I vaulted seven feet,” she said. “With pole vaulting, you are either good at it, or you’re not.”
The best need discipline, dedication and no fear of flying. It helps if they are fast, too.
“It takes coordination, balance and speed,” Wilford said. “You have to be a fearless competitor and the faster, the better. You have to practice your steps and your technique and the equipment plays a big role but, when it comes down to it, the faster runners are the better vaulters.”