Annually, the nation’s college, high school and club pole vault coaches and athletes gather in Reno for the National Pole Vault Summit in what has become a huge competition as well as an awards banquet.
Mike Wagenveld of the North County Pole Vault Club was sitting in the back of the room with his friends and compatriots when the USA Track & Field National Coach of the Year award was announced.
The winner: Mike Wagenveld.
“I looked at the others in my row because I couldn’t believe I heard my name,” said Wagenveld. “Then I realized I had to hustle up to the front. It surprised me — actually, I was shocked.
“You’re in a room with a few thousand people, then you hear your name. Our athletes were there along with the staff, so I was able to share the award.”
Wagenveld s long-time Rancho Bernardo pole vault guru Tom Martin who was honored in 2013.
“This is the ultimate honor for us in our coaching career,” Martin said.
Wagenveld said it another way.
“There is no Academy Award for coaches,” said the 56-year-old. “Most people take coaching for granted, there are no accolades. This is peer respect and I hold my peers in high esteem. It’s humbling. It’s meaningful because these are people who know pole vaulting.
“To be mentioned in the same breath as Tom Martin is special. He was one of my mentors, so what are the chances of two coaches receiving this national award? Poway and Rancho Bernardo, just five miles apart. Tom set such a high standard.
“This is the pinnacle.”
Although Wagenveld was a decathlete at Calvin College in Michigan, his best of the 10 events was the pole vault, so when he returned to coach at Poway, Calvin Christian and Maranatha Christian, he gravitated into teaching the event.
Wagenveld started the North County Pole Vault Club in 2015 and was building the program behind the scenes, as well as making a major impact on the high school scene at Poway when in 2019 he became the first high school coach to have three girls (Camryn Thompson, Mia Cervantes and Katerina Adamiec) clear 13-feet in the same season from the same high school.
Although he has coached both boys and girls, he has most enjoyed his success with the girls where of the 17 in section history who have soared 13 feet or more since 2015, 12 were in his club program at some point, led by section record-holder Ashley Callahan of Rancho Bernardo (14-6).
The list also includes defending 2023 state champion Iliana Downing of La Costa Canyon, who cleared 14-feet a year ago as a junior.
Wagenveld and the club had their biggest impact during the COVID pandemic, which shut down virtually every opportunity for all athletes from 2020 and 2021, including the California state meet both years.
Because the NVC practiced on private property, Wagenveld was able to offer the sport for practice and an occasional competition.
“COVID caused a lot of damage to kids because there was no school or ability to interact with your peers,” said Wagenveld. “I feel we offered that opportunity because we stayed open and didn’t have any problems.”
“Safety is paramount in the program,” said Wagenveld, keenly aware the pole vault has a higher possibility for something to go wrong than, say distance running or jumping. “We view safety first, then the ability to go high. We’ve had very few injuries and never a catastrophic one. I’m not shy about calling out someone or something that looks dangerous.
Wagenveld is asked what he looks for when someone comes to the club, whose range from 10 years old to Masters.
“For girls, you look for speed and some height,” he said. “For the boys, speed trumps height.
“Both need to be fearless, which is why girls who have participated in gymnastics at a young age do so well. We say they come ‘pre-flown,’ because they have body awareness and core strength. They are definitely fearless.
“Not as many boys have a gymnastics background but since speed is so important, sprinters often do well.”
But just when Wagenveld thought he’d figured out the perfect pole vaulter type, along came his daughter, Sara, who in 2016 qualified for state in both the vault and the discus.
“The pole vaulters have their own group of fans and it’s a show,” said Wagenveld, who one year had half of the 12 pole vaulters who made the state finals. “I believe pole vaulting is one of the top 10 hardest things to do in sports, but it’s very rewarding, too.”
For the coach and the athlete.
Info box
San Diego Section pole vaulters who have competed with the North County Pole Vault Club at some point since 2015:
GIRLS (13-feet or higher)
14-6 Ashley Callahan, Rancho Bernardo 2021**
14-0 Iliana Downing, La Costa Canyon 2023*
14-0 Allison Leigh, Del Norte 2021
14-0 Lexi Evans, Scripps Ranch 2022
13-3 Camryn Thompson, Poway 2019
13-3 Maya Grudman, Sage Creek 2021
13-3 Evangeline Thompson, Poway 2022
13-3 Avery Hilliard, Poway 2023
13-0 Nicole Loy, Del Norte 2021
13-0 Mia Cervantes, Poway 2019
13-0 Katerina Adamiec, Poway 2019
13-0 Rose Wagner, Fallbrook 2022
**(State champion 2019) *(State champion 2023)
BOYS (16-feet or higher)
16-0 ¼ Jacob Emerson, Sage Creek 2023
16-0 Joey Weisman, Torrey Pines 2023
16-0 Evan Dudley, Poway 2020***
*** (Dudley cleared 16-feet before COVID shut down the season)
