More than nine months have passed since Taylor Jarosinski cleared 12 feet, 9 inches on the pole vault at the state meet.
Even though she was not able to replicate that mark during her club season, the Center Grove junior has no doubt that she’s starting from a much better place than she was last spring.
"I’m definitely more confident in my consistency," she said. "My goal is really just to be above 12, make 12 my new normal and then kind of build from there."
Jarosinski finished second at state in 2019, matching Hamilton Southeastern senior Kennedy Drish at 12-9 but losing out on the title as a result of more total misses. With Drish, a three-time state champion, now at Virginia Tech, Jarosinski becomes the presumptive favorite to take the crown this year — no other returning vaulter went higher than 11-9 at state.
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So if 12 feet is what Jarosinski plans to set as a baseline …
Despite the absence of a clear rival, Center Grove coach Wes Dodson isn’t worried about Jarosinski being able to find ways to stay motivated.
"The great thing about pole vault is you’ve got heights," he said. "I don’t know that we have that rival right now, but you can always say, ‘Today’s goal is 12 feet. Tomorrow, the goal is 12-6. The goal at the end of the season is 13 feet.’ So you can easily push yourself if there isn’t anyone."
"Going into every meet, it’s just going to be beating myself, competing with myself," Jarosinski added. "And not even necessarily height-wise, but did I perform better in this meet than I did last meet, even if the height doesn’t reflect that. I think I’ll definitely be my biggest competition regardless of who else is out there, and I’m just definitely going to be improving every meet in some way, whether that is reflected by height or just by a skill or certain technique."
The technical focus this preseason, Jarosinski says, has been on inversion — staying back on the pole, being patient on top of the vault and turning up the pole. She admits that it was something she didn’t put enough emphasis on last season, and she and Trojan pole vaulting coach Alex Basham have been trying to remedy that.
In addition to winning a state title, Jarosinski’s list of goals this season includes clearing 13 feet for the first time and making a good showing at the New Balance outdoor nationals; she qualified for the indoor meet but was unable to attend.
When asked what Jarosinski’s ceiling might be, he cautioned against setting one, noting that she compares favorably with Center Grove alumna Sydney Clute, a former All-American at Indiana University who is competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials this summer.
"Sydney almost jumped 15 feet two weeks ago," Dodson said, "and Taylor’s ahead of where she was. So I don’t want to ever cap what I think she can do, because anything’s possible."
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Center Grove Trojans
Coach: Wes Dodson
Last season: Won Johnson County and sectional championships, second in MIC and regional, ninth at state meet
Key returnees: Gabrielle Harrell and Kiyah Yeast, seniors; Taylor Jarosinski, Makensie Kramer, Brooke Lee, Myana Pace, Ella Rasche and Sadie Schemmel, juniors; Skyler Sichting, sophomore
Top newcomers: Bella Hodges, sophomore; Shelby Wingler, freshman
Outlook: Dodson feels pretty good about his chances at success this season, as well he should — the Trojans have the state’s top returning pole vaulter in Jarosinski, and Yeast has the ability to win state titles in both the 100 and 200 meters. Those two highlight a deep roster that also includes a strong hurdler in Kramer, a shot put state qualifier in Rasche and a slew of capable distance runners. Center Grove will again be a heavy county and sectional favorite, with another top-10 state finish well within reach.
Edinburgh Lancers
Coach: Amy Schilling
Last season: Did not score as a team at county or sectional
Key returnees: Lili Ervin, senior; Elle Dayton and Malkia Willard, juniors; Katrina Hendren, sophomore
Top newcomers: Cloee Britton and Hannah Pile, freshmen
Outlook: The main concern for the Lancers, as it so often is, will be building enough depth to be competitive. Schilling, taking over the track teams after a successful girls basketball season, hopes to add some more numbers to the roster before the first meet.
Franklin Grizzly Cubs
Coach: Ray Lane
Last season: Third at county meet, fourth in Mid-State Conference and sectional, eighth at regional
Key returnees: Maggie Auger, senior; Jaclyn Boardman, Cami Kelsay, Lillian Lacy, Jenna Newton and Lauren Sandrock, juniors; Macy Doublin, sophomore
Top newcomers: Stephanie Brady, junior; Allie Lacy, Morgan Sandrock, Mia Tisdale and Eran Treibic, freshmen
Outlook: The Grizzly Cubs were hampered by injuries a year ago, and there are still some question marks in that area going into this spring, most notably with distance standout Lillian Lacy. But overall, this is a young and talented group that should be able to improve upon its 2019 showing. Kelsay appears to be healthy and should be the team’s top point producer as a sprinter and jumper, and Auger is the returning county champ in the 400. If the freshmen can make contributions, Franklin should be on very solid ground.Â
Greenwood Woodmen
Coach: Blaine Williams
Last season: Fourth in county, sixth in Mid-State and sectional, 12th at regional, tied for 31st at state meet
Key returnees: Julia Arruda, Mallory Watson and Riley Weber, seniors; Siena Halfaker, Ava Leininger and Izzy Zekalo, juniors; Selena Piñon and Lauren Pritchett, sophomores
Top newcomers: Lily Hommell and Emily Metzger, freshmen
Outlook: The Woodmen lost all of their state meet points with the graduation of thrower Emily Bonser, but Williams believes a few of his holdovers can at least make it to Indiana University. Leininger came close to qualifying in the 800 last year, and Halfaker (hurdles) and Zekalo (shot put) are also regional qualifiers looking to take the next step.
Greenwood Christian Cougars
Coach: Sean Branch
Last season:Â Did not score as a team at county or sectional
Key returnees: Hannah Farley, junior; Whitney Smith, sophomore
Top newcomers: Alexis Mead and Zoey Schaefer, seniors; Adeline Jolley, freshman
Outlook: Branch is excited about the increased turnout this spring; he’s got 16 girls on his roster, far and away the most the school has ever had. The Cougars should at least be able to put some points on the board at the bigger meets for the first time in a couple of years, and Smith might be a potential regional qualifier in the 800 meters.
Indian Creek Braves
Coach: Brady Devine
Last season: Fifth in county, 10th at WIC and sectional meets, 22nd at regional
Key returnees: Tesa Alexander, Sierra Bowman and Lissy Vannette, seniors; Kiley Breeden and Lucy Woodrum, juniors; Jada Flora, Paxton Marshall and Amanda Ulerick, sophomores
Outlook: The Braves don’t have the depth to compete for championships on a team level, but Devine feels he has some individuals with the capability to make some noise and perhaps at least advance to regionals. Leading the way on that front is Woodrum, a contender in the 800 and the leader of a strong distance contingent. Flora has some potential in the throws.
Whiteland Warriors
Coach: Brandon Bangel
Last season: Second in county and Mid-State Conference, third at sectional, fourth at regional, tied for 31st at state meet
Key returnees: Gabrielle Allen and Isabella Jackson, juniors
Top newcomer: Amelia Edens, freshman
Outlook: Jackson was third in the state in the high jump and also qualified in both hurdles events; Bangel believes that Allen, a big point producer in sprints and hurdles, could get on the podium in the 100 hurdles this year. Whiteland should be able to ride that pair and a deep group of distance runners to some strong finishes in the conference meet and the postseason.
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