As we get closer to the start of track season, the athletes that have been in a fall sport will start their bid for a successful track season. Monte Willett, a sophomore from Grapevine has just started back this week. Monte had a great year as a freshman, clearing 14 feet in a hurricane force cross wind. Monte has the potential to jump 15-6 or better as a sophomore. Casey Zack is a senior from Bell High School. He has been conditioning through the fall and working at a rock climbing gym. He also competes in rock climbing. He is very strong in his upper body and very coachable. Look for Casey to also jump 15-6 this year. As the season gets closer, these guys will be ready.

Emily Malone is a freshman at Central High School, and has been vaulting since 7th grade. As a 7th grader she vaulted 7 feet 6 inches. She had a successful season and worked hard during the off season. When she came back in the 8th grade she was way ahead of the game, finishing 1st at every meet and clearing 9-6 at almost every meet. She also had close jumps at 10'. She is a lady, but not a girly girl. She gets down and dirty when competeing in the vault or playing softball. She is also a deer hunter, but has not scored in that area this year. If you are a vaulter or a deer, you had better watch out for Emily this year. She might jump 11 feet or bust a cap if you have antlers and walk in front of her deer stand.
Brook is the younger sister of Emily. She is a 7th grade
cheerleader at Keller Middle School. She started vaulting a couple of summers ago. This past summer she cleared 6 feet. She should jump 7-6 or better this year. She doesn't deer hunt, so the deer can breathe easy. They are the daughters of Kenny and Charla Malone. Good luck to the Malone girls.

Natalie Valenta is a junior at Keller High School and enjoys mud wrestling and pole vaulting. She became interested in vaulting in the 8th grade where they did not have a coach. As a freshman she cleared 8'-6", missing several weeks due to an injury. As a sophomore she cleared 10'. I feel like Natalie has the potential to jump 11-6. She is very determined and works very hard. She also wins the award for "prettiest hair". She wants to vault at Texas A&M where her brother Matt attends. She is the daughter of Richard and Cindy Valenta and has a younger sister, Emily.

Taylor Theodore, sophomore, Keller High School. As a 7th grader, Taylor announced she was NOT going to pole vault. On the first day of track she tried the long jump. When asked how she liked long jump, she replied, "There are too many people long jumping". The next day she tried the high jump. She came home and said, "It is wierd". Her mom and dad said "Just try pole vaulting". "OK, but I am not going to be any good". The next day at practice she jumped 6'-6" and 7' the day after that. At that point she was hooked. Her 7th grade PR was 8'. In the 8th grade she jumped 9'-3", and 10'-6" as a freshman at Central High School in Keller. She is now a sophomore at Keller High and her goal is to jump 12'-6". She thinks that if she clears 12-6, she can get her belly button pierced. FAT CHANCE on the piercing.

I have visited with the owner of a local gymnastics gym and he is willing to give us a real good group rate for the use of his facility one day a week in the month of November. The workout will last about 1 hour and will consist of basic tumbling skills to improve strength, power, balance and control. The day we are looking at is Fridays at 4:00. I know that Fridays are not the first choice, but it is the most available. Interested? Let me know.