Frazier hopes to achieve new heights this season

<p>Franklin pole vaulter Matt Frazier didn’t medal at last year’s state track and field meet, but the experience gained was invaluable.</p><p>Frazier, who starts his senior season on Monday in a home meet against Whiteland and Perry Meridian, wants to again showcase his talents on the ultimate stage.</p><p>“This year I would like to break 14 feet,” said Frazier, whose personal record of 13 feet, 3 inches came while placing first last season at the Mid-State Conference meet at Decatur Central. “I was real close toward the end of the season and then at state I had a bad day.</p><p>“But there were a lot of people, a lot of really good people. It was a good experience for me.”</p><p>Frazier finished 20th at state with a best of 12-6.</p><p>Qualifying to spend the day at Indiana University showed how far he’s progressed in pole vaulting since starting as a freshman. Frazier’s best vault that year was 10-6 at the sectional, while his top sophomore height was 11-6.</p><p>Frazier was also a diver for the Franklin boys swim team. Diving and pole vaulting are comparable in the importance of approach, timing, discipline and the fearlessness necessary for someone to be successful.</p><p>A diver since seventh grade, Frazier picked up pole vaulting two years later.</p><p>“I became interested in pole vaulting from watching the Olympics,” Frazier said. “I always thought it would be fun. The body control from diving helps a lot, but (vaulting) is a lot more physical. Diving for me is fun, but track and field is my main sport.”</p><p>Grizzly Cubs coach Mike Hall feels Frazier benefited early in his pole vaulting career practicing daily with Payton Utterback, a 2017 regional qualifier two years his senior.</p><p>All the same, Frazier enters competitions with his own characteristics.</p><p>“Matt has a great understanding of how to control his body in midair,” Hall said. “He’s a very competitive vaulter. Sometimes he’s better at vaulting in the moment than he is vaulting for height.”</p><p>Frazier carries a 3.9 grade-point average. He’ll likely attend college either at Southern Illinois or Purdue, and could be part of the SIU men’s track team depending on how he fares this season. Frazier will major in soil science.</p><p>At 5-9, 148 pounds, Frazier isn’t as large as some of his pole vaulting competition. He feels he makes up for it with his quickness down the runway. He’s versatile enough to compete in any number of other events, namely sprints, long jump and high jump.</p><p>“Our coaches want to give Matt every opportunity to get back to the state meet in the pole vault, but he could help us in other events in a few meets,” Hall said. “If you look at pictures of him from his freshman year he looked a lot like a little boy.</p><p>“But Matt has been in weights during the day, and the time has been well-used.”</p>