Bill's Dream Come True

Here in Nebraska, High School Track and Field begins around the first of March, and continues through most of May. It isn't uncommon for the weather to be cold and windy, or even snowy, as the athletes are preparing for their spring track meets. Runners can run outside in almost any weather, or practice inside in any gym, but outdoor pole vaulting is not safe when the wind is blowing a gale or the heavens produce springtime snow or rain, and indoor vaulting venues are rare in our area. Because of these challenges, pole vaulters don't often get as much practice as they need to excel in the sport.                                              

I don't remember when Bill first started thinking about opening an independent indoor pole vaulting facility, but his initial Pole Vault Passion began years ago, when Meagan started to vault in Junior High, and Bill's passion just grew as Meagan's ability became evident. I know his dream of having an indoor space for vaulting began after Meagan had graduated from high school and college, after she had won the NAIA national championship, and after Bill had started to coach high school pole vault. (Click here to read How Pole Vaulting Saved Bill.) 

Bill looked at existing buildings, but it was nearly impossible to find one that was long enough and tall enough to accommodate serious pole vaulters. So, he started to look for a parcel of land that he might build on, but a small lot, close to town, proved to be just as elusive. Finally, after years of searching for the right building or plot of land, our friend, Stan, told Bill about a forgotten piece of property that looked promising and, as they say, rest is history.

It was a long time coming, but Bill's Pole Vault building is finally complete, and the USATF-sanctioned Gering Pole Vault Club is hosting practice for vaulters from miles around.  

The Pole Vault facility is the building on the left.
The RV storage building on the right helps pay the bills.

A building project that was supposed to take only a few months stretched into more than a year-long operation due to city, county, and state jurisdiction squabbles, a utility company fiasco, weather delays, and construction holdups. Along the way, Bill decided to power both buildings with solar energy, along with generator backups, so that process added to the time needed to complete the buildings. However, Bill would tell you that the solar panels, located on top of the RV building, are working great now, and were certainly worth the extra hassle.

Last weekend, we hosted an Open House. I think Bill was surprised at the number of people who showed up. Excitement was high, with several teens, and even a couple of adults, vaulting that afternoon.

Meagan's whole family came to see the finished building, even though they had all seen it in progress, and were the first to vault there, a couple of months ago. Meagan and her four oldest kids all vault, but Tobin was the only one to vault at the Open House.

  

The vaulter on the left had never even tried to vault before, while the athlete on the right hadn't vaulted in years. 

Both exceeded their expectations.

 

Over the years, both Meagan and Bill have been given old pole vault pits when area schools have replaced them with new ones. In some cases, Bill has been able to purchase used equipment for a reasonable cost. The blue pit, on the left, with its raised runway, is the one that is used for Gering's Oregon Trail Days Street Vault every summer. 

Bill hired our two oldest granddaughters to paint the benches, which were donated.
Here, some eager vaulters wait their turn.

This pit wasn't quite ready for use, but these future vaulters enjoyed crawling all over it.

 

Bill is in his element when he gets a chance to coach a rookie, even at the Open House.

Regular weekly practice began on Monday evening, with 14 vaulters and three coaches, from several area schools, in attendance. Finally, passionate pole vaulters from the Nebraska panhandle have a warm, year-round, place to vault. When track season starts next spring, they will be ready!

Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 

1 Timothy 4:8

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Isaiah 40:31