A record-setting performance and dogged determination. That’s what it took for Grapevine’s pole vaulting tandem of David Taylor and Monte Willett to advance to state this season.
The duo’s heavy dose of hard work this spring, as well as the competitive edge the two have developed by pushing each other over the last six years, paid dividends with a berth to the 5A state track and field meet this weekend at the University of Texas in Austin.
The two seniors will represent the Mustangs, joining Colleyville Heritage freshman distance runner Ali Nielson, to complete a trio of Grapevine-Colleyville school district athletes at the state meet.
With Taylor and Willett finishing 1-2 at the regional meet, Grapevine track assistant Cody Koontz, who is the athletes’ pole vaulting coach, said the seniors have a good shot at finishing their high school career with a strong showing at state on Saturday.
"For high school kids, they’ve done so much more than you would think," said Koontz, a product of Grapevine track that went on to pole vault at TCU. "They are real mature and have great work ethic."
The athletes’ diligence revealed itself in full at the 5A Region I meet in Lubbock last month. After competing with each other to break the school’s pole vaulting record, Taylor ended up doing so at the most opportune time. His jump of 16 feet, which broke Koontz’ former school record of 15-9, gave Taylor the new record and also allowed him to finish first at region.
"It was like I won two competitions in one day," said Taylor, who qualified for his first trip to state after coming up a little short at region last year. "It was a really big thrill [to qualify for state] this year because our region got so much tougher this year. Last year, we only had one jumper hit 15-6, and this year there were four jumpers that did that, and I got 16-0."
Willett was one of the jumpers who finished 15-6, but it took a grueling jump-off before the Mustang earned a berth to state for the second consecutive year. Competing against Cameron Manchester from Amarillo with state on the line, both jumpers missed a chance to hit 16-0. The bar was dropped to 15-6. Both missed that initially as well.
Dropping the height to 15-3, both cleared, but another try at 15-6 failed for Willett and Manchester. Another try at 15-3 was won by both, but on the final try at 15-6, Willett came away victorious.
"That’s a true testament to [Willett’s] will and character, that he was able to rise to the occasion and earn a spot at state," said Koontz, mentioning that the jump-off lasted about 30 minutes after the conclusion of the initial competition.
"Monte trains that way," he said. "He takes several jumps after he feels he’s getting tired to make sure he’s ready in competition and has the endurance needed to keep making jumps."
Willett said returning to state was a definite goal after reaching Austin as a junior. He believes that his experience last year will ready him for an even better showing this time around.
"Last year I got fourth [at state] and the three guys that beat me have all graduated and are off to college," Willett said. "That made me feel like I had a great chance to win it this year, since those other athletes were no longer there to challenge me.
"You want to do your best on the biggest stage for the sport in the state," he said. "Austin has so many people there watching, and it’s a great environment."
Both athletes feel confident of their chances at the state meet.
"I think it’s anyone’s game," Taylor said. "I feel I’m fully capable to get over 16-0. Watching film on that jump at region, I had plenty of height on the bar. It’s state, so the winning bar is going to be set really high."
Said Willett: "This year’s group [at state] is ridiculously close. They’re all within six inches of each other. … It’s a lot tighter than it normally is. It’s probably going to come down to the first guy to hit 16-6, and that guy is probably going to win."