Goolsby returns to defend state title in Columbus
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Pressure in any sporting event is a feeling that can be taken either as a positive or a negative, but any way there is to look at it, there is always some level of pressure. Now imagine for the past three years being an athlete who not only has had a large amount of pressure in their sport, but has had to live up to the pressure of being the best at the sport at the state level.
Welcome to the world of Hillsboro senior Austin Goolsby, who is not only a three-time state qualifier for the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships, but as a sophomore he was the state runner-up in the pole vault event, and last year he took home the pole vault state championship for the Indians.
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This time around, even though he’s been working for this moment his entire track and field career, he enters as the one with the target on his back. For Goolsby, he says there is pressure, but it isn’t something to worry about much as he’s put in the necessary work to defend his championship.
“There’s definitely a little bit more pressure this year because everyone is just saying ‘You’d better get state champion again’ and ‘You can do it.’ It’s a little more pressure on me, but I think I’m handling it well,” Goolsby said. “Just with the recent meets we’ve had, I think I’m going to go big. I’m not too nervous about it.
“It’s definitely a good feeling (on returning as the defending champion). Like I said, it’s just a little bit more pressure, but I’m going to go after it and work to get another state title.
“The guy that I was competing against at regionals, he jumped 14-08, and he’s the guy I’m going to have to beat. It gave me a little bit more confidence, competing against him. I think it’ll be close, but I think I have a little bit more experience. He’s a sophomore, but I think I’m going to come in a little bit more confident and jump higher.”
Goolsby this season won the regional championship with a height of 15-04 and was also a district champion at 14-06 and the inaugural Frontier Athletic Conference champion with a vault of 14-06.
Last year, Goolsby won the state championship with a winning height of 15-02. As a sophomore, when Goolsby was the state runner-up, his second-place height was 15-08.
Even with all of that success, the humble Goolsby still hasn’t checked off every box on his season goals list, which include not only a second state championship, but the highest mark in Division II pole vaulting.
“I’ve met most of my goals, but I’ve still got two of mine. I want to get the state champion again, and I want to go for the state record,” Goolsby, who will compete for the University of Cincinnati next fall, said. “I at least want to try it. I jumped at 15-10 at regionals to try and get the record, for the regional record, but the state record is 16-06. I was a foot over the 15-10, so I think I could have some good shots at it, if I’m just having a really good day. I think I’ll have a good chance at it.”
Envisioning the potential success of a state record isn’t something that occurs overnight – not for Goolsby, at least. The state-champion pole vaulter has put in an immense amount of work, time and effort to become the athlete he is and to reach the heights he’s achieved. This season, even after winning the state title a season ago, the Hillsboro senior changed how he prepared and trained in practice and during the offseason.
“Last year in practice, I kind of just went for bungees and a little bit different type of practice going into it,” he said. “This year, I’m going to try to be a little bit smarter about it and practice with the bar and try and actually go for some big heights.”
Ask any athlete, and they will tell you confidence is key if success is to follow. Goolsby knows there is a line between confidence and cockiness, and for the level-headed Goolsby, he’s stayed humble and true to his roots as he begins his final state journey at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium this weekend.
“I’ve been a little bit more confident, but I think I’ve become a little more humble,” Goolsby said. “I’ve had some tough meets, and I’ve had some experience with some good things, but I’ve also tried to keep in mind just to be humble and not be the guy that’s going to be intimidating other people and being cocky. There are times to be that, but I always try to stay humble and be a good team player.
“I guess I’m kind of used to it now (on qualifying for state), but a couple years ago, I was only jumping 10 feet. So never would I have thought that I would be a three-time state qualifier and six-time national qualifier. It’s just crazy to think about it. I just never would have thought I would be here, and I’m blessed and thankful.”
Entering what is his last state tournament representing the Hillsboro Indians, Goolsby said there were many people to thank and that he didn’t get to this point alone.
“I want to thank my parents, most of all, because they’ve helped me out mostly, just getting to all the meets,” Goolsby said. “For indoor, the meets are like three hours away, and we went to New York for nationals. They’ve been there from day one, and they’re always super happy whenever I do well. They’re even happy when I do bad. They just want to see me do well, and they’re there even if I don’t do well. I want to thank them and thank my coaches.
“[My coaches] are always supporting me and always getting me to that next level. Coach (Bud) Marsh, he just – whenever I get upset, he’s always like ‘You know, it may seem bad right now, but it’s going to turn around, especially once we get some warmer weather.’ He’s just been my motivator, and Coach (Anthony) Amore has been there getting my steps on and always coaching me to do the best that I can. He’s always the one that’s telling me what to do and what not to do. All the coaches that I’ve had, everyone’s always been there for me, and I’m just very lucky.”
Welcome to the world of Hillsboro senior Austin Goolsby, who is not only a three-time state qualifier for the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships, but as a sophomore he was the state runner-up in the pole vault event, and last year he took home the pole vault state championship for the Indians.
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This time around, even though he’s been working for this moment his entire track and field career, he enters as the one with the target on his back. For Goolsby, he says there is pressure, but it isn’t something to worry about much as he’s put in the necessary work to defend his championship.
“There’s definitely a little bit more pressure this year because everyone is just saying ‘You’d better get state champion again’ and ‘You can do it.’ It’s a little more pressure on me, but I think I’m handling it well,” Goolsby said. “Just with the recent meets we’ve had, I think I’m going to go big. I’m not too nervous about it.
“It’s definitely a good feeling (on returning as the defending champion). Like I said, it’s just a little bit more pressure, but I’m going to go after it and work to get another state title.
“The guy that I was competing against at regionals, he jumped 14-08, and he’s the guy I’m going to have to beat. It gave me a little bit more confidence, competing against him. I think it’ll be close, but I think I have a little bit more experience. He’s a sophomore, but I think I’m going to come in a little bit more confident and jump higher.”
Goolsby this season won the regional championship with a height of 15-04 and was also a district champion at 14-06 and the inaugural Frontier Athletic Conference champion with a vault of 14-06.
Last year, Goolsby won the state championship with a winning height of 15-02. As a sophomore, when Goolsby was the state runner-up, his second-place height was 15-08.
Even with all of that success, the humble Goolsby still hasn’t checked off every box on his season goals list, which include not only a second state championship, but the highest mark in Division II pole vaulting.
“I’ve met most of my goals, but I’ve still got two of mine. I want to get the state champion again, and I want to go for the state record,” Goolsby, who will compete for the University of Cincinnati next fall, said. “I at least want to try it. I jumped at 15-10 at regionals to try and get the record, for the regional record, but the state record is 16-06. I was a foot over the 15-10, so I think I could have some good shots at it, if I’m just having a really good day. I think I’ll have a good chance at it.”
Envisioning the potential success of a state record isn’t something that occurs overnight – not for Goolsby, at least. The state-champion pole vaulter has put in an immense amount of work, time and effort to become the athlete he is and to reach the heights he’s achieved. This season, even after winning the state title a season ago, the Hillsboro senior changed how he prepared and trained in practice and during the offseason.
“Last year in practice, I kind of just went for bungees and a little bit different type of practice going into it,” he said. “This year, I’m going to try to be a little bit smarter about it and practice with the bar and try and actually go for some big heights.”
Ask any athlete, and they will tell you confidence is key if success is to follow. Goolsby knows there is a line between confidence and cockiness, and for the level-headed Goolsby, he’s stayed humble and true to his roots as he begins his final state journey at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium this weekend.
“I’ve been a little bit more confident, but I think I’ve become a little more humble,” Goolsby said. “I’ve had some tough meets, and I’ve had some experience with some good things, but I’ve also tried to keep in mind just to be humble and not be the guy that’s going to be intimidating other people and being cocky. There are times to be that, but I always try to stay humble and be a good team player.
“I guess I’m kind of used to it now (on qualifying for state), but a couple years ago, I was only jumping 10 feet. So never would I have thought that I would be a three-time state qualifier and six-time national qualifier. It’s just crazy to think about it. I just never would have thought I would be here, and I’m blessed and thankful.”
Entering what is his last state tournament representing the Hillsboro Indians, Goolsby said there were many people to thank and that he didn’t get to this point alone.
“I want to thank my parents, most of all, because they’ve helped me out mostly, just getting to all the meets,” Goolsby said. “For indoor, the meets are like three hours away, and we went to New York for nationals. They’ve been there from day one, and they’re always super happy whenever I do well. They’re even happy when I do bad. They just want to see me do well, and they’re there even if I don’t do well. I want to thank them and thank my coaches.
“[My coaches] are always supporting me and always getting me to that next level. Coach (Bud) Marsh, he just – whenever I get upset, he’s always like ‘You know, it may seem bad right now, but it’s going to turn around, especially once we get some warmer weather.’ He’s just been my motivator, and Coach (Anthony) Amore has been there getting my steps on and always coaching me to do the best that I can. He’s always the one that’s telling me what to do and what not to do. All the coaches that I’ve had, everyone’s always been there for me, and I’m just very lucky.”