STATE CHAMPION: Austin Goolsby vaults way to top of podium
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS – One year after placing as the state runner-up in the Division II pole vault event, Hillsboro junior Austin Goolsby vaulted his way to the state championship on Friday morning as he earned the top spot, needing just four jumps to earn the top prize.
In the win at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in front of his personal cheering section across from the pole vault area, Goolsby gave the Hillsboro faithful in attendance a lot to cheer for, winning the Division II state championship with a height of 15-02.00. Getting to that point, Goolsby jumped 13-10.00 on his first attempt, followed by vaults of 14-02.00 and 14-10.00 before his winning height.
Before what was his final jump, Goolsby looked at his video with boys head coach Bud Marsh, talked it over and went back to the vaulting area. From there, he took a deep breath and went on a full sprint. As he vaulted in the air and reached the 15-02 height, he let go of the bar and raised his arms in the air as he dropped down. After a very short celebration, Goolsby pointed into the air, then acknowledged the Hillsboro fans in attendance.
After securing the state championship, Goolsby attempted 15-08 but narrowly hit the bar on his release.
“I am so happy for him. I am so happy,” Hillsboro boys head coach Bud Marsh said. “He works hard. He’s doing the right things. He was disappointed about the height, and I just told him, ‘Don’t worry about the height. You’re the state champion. It doesn’t matter how high it is. You’re the state champion!’
“He’s doing great in warmups. When you come in 14, there were only four or five left, and we’d been here almost four hours. He warmed up three and a half hours ago and had to wait. That’s tough on him. But I’m really proud of him. He did a great job. His goal was the state champion and the state record.”
Entering the state tournament, Goolsby’s goal was to win the state title one year after placing second in the event, and goal achieved as the junior was somewhat at a loss for words after standing on the top spot of the podium.
“It hasn’t sank in yet. I’m really excited, and I felt great on my last jumps,” Goolsby said. “I just felt really good. I was going really consistent, and that was probably one of my most fun meets this year. The atmosphere at state is just great. I did what I wanted to do, so I was really happy.
“It’s better than I even thought.”
In qualifying for the state championships this postseason, Goolsby vaulted 15-00.00 at the South Central Ohio League Championships in early May, followed by vaults of 15-06.00 at districts and 15.00-00 at regionals, winning all three championships before earning the top prize of the state on the campus of The Ohio State University.
“It was definitely a challenge [getting to state]. I definitely had the expectation to make it here, but just to clear those heights and keep your mind right, it takes a lot of focus. It’s really mental,” Goolsby said.
Last year at state, Goolsby vaulted 15-08 en route to the state runner-up spot.
Marsh talked about the journey Goolsby took getting to the state championship. Goolsby vaulted a best 10-06.00 his freshman year, and his sophomore year he was state runner-up. As Marsh said, “Hard work pays off.”
“It’s a rare feat to do what he’s done, not that it hasn’t, but you don’t see many,” Marsh said of Goolsby’s improvement. “His freshman year, he went 10-6, and that was the end of the year, and he went 15 in the winter, six months later.
“Six months after that, we were at 15 feet, and then he was 15-08, then he was at 16 at indoor, he did 16 this spring and then did 15 here. The progression each year, to make that big of an improvement from his first year, is just phenomenal. You usually have a foot. You don’t have five feet. That’s a big jump in anything.
“He’s a great kid. I’m really proud of him. He represented Hillsboro High School well. I can’t say enough about him.”
Goolsby had those he wanted to thank in helping him earn the state championship.
“I want to thank God for everything he’s done for me and giving me this talent, my family and friends,” he said.
In the win at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in front of his personal cheering section across from the pole vault area, Goolsby gave the Hillsboro faithful in attendance a lot to cheer for, winning the Division II state championship with a height of 15-02.00. Getting to that point, Goolsby jumped 13-10.00 on his first attempt, followed by vaults of 14-02.00 and 14-10.00 before his winning height.
Before what was his final jump, Goolsby looked at his video with boys head coach Bud Marsh, talked it over and went back to the vaulting area. From there, he took a deep breath and went on a full sprint. As he vaulted in the air and reached the 15-02 height, he let go of the bar and raised his arms in the air as he dropped down. After a very short celebration, Goolsby pointed into the air, then acknowledged the Hillsboro fans in attendance.
After securing the state championship, Goolsby attempted 15-08 but narrowly hit the bar on his release.
“I am so happy for him. I am so happy,” Hillsboro boys head coach Bud Marsh said. “He works hard. He’s doing the right things. He was disappointed about the height, and I just told him, ‘Don’t worry about the height. You’re the state champion. It doesn’t matter how high it is. You’re the state champion!’
“He’s doing great in warmups. When you come in 14, there were only four or five left, and we’d been here almost four hours. He warmed up three and a half hours ago and had to wait. That’s tough on him. But I’m really proud of him. He did a great job. His goal was the state champion and the state record.”
Entering the state tournament, Goolsby’s goal was to win the state title one year after placing second in the event, and goal achieved as the junior was somewhat at a loss for words after standing on the top spot of the podium.
“It hasn’t sank in yet. I’m really excited, and I felt great on my last jumps,” Goolsby said. “I just felt really good. I was going really consistent, and that was probably one of my most fun meets this year. The atmosphere at state is just great. I did what I wanted to do, so I was really happy.
“It’s better than I even thought.”
In qualifying for the state championships this postseason, Goolsby vaulted 15-00.00 at the South Central Ohio League Championships in early May, followed by vaults of 15-06.00 at districts and 15.00-00 at regionals, winning all three championships before earning the top prize of the state on the campus of The Ohio State University.
“It was definitely a challenge [getting to state]. I definitely had the expectation to make it here, but just to clear those heights and keep your mind right, it takes a lot of focus. It’s really mental,” Goolsby said.
Last year at state, Goolsby vaulted 15-08 en route to the state runner-up spot.
Marsh talked about the journey Goolsby took getting to the state championship. Goolsby vaulted a best 10-06.00 his freshman year, and his sophomore year he was state runner-up. As Marsh said, “Hard work pays off.”
“It’s a rare feat to do what he’s done, not that it hasn’t, but you don’t see many,” Marsh said of Goolsby’s improvement. “His freshman year, he went 10-6, and that was the end of the year, and he went 15 in the winter, six months later.
“Six months after that, we were at 15 feet, and then he was 15-08, then he was at 16 at indoor, he did 16 this spring and then did 15 here. The progression each year, to make that big of an improvement from his first year, is just phenomenal. You usually have a foot. You don’t have five feet. That’s a big jump in anything.
“He’s a great kid. I’m really proud of him. He represented Hillsboro High School well. I can’t say enough about him.”
Goolsby had those he wanted to thank in helping him earn the state championship.
“I want to thank God for everything he’s done for me and giving me this talent, my family and friends,” he said.