L.C. has an abundance of pole vaulting talent

BY DAVID P. FUNK
Times Correspondent | Tuesday, May 20, 2008

In all of Indiana, only eight high school girls have cleared 11 feet in the pole vault this season.

Four of them are at Lake Central.

And that's just where the story begins.

The girls -- juniors Julia Cook, Ericka Markiewicz and Gianna Mirabelli and sophomore Alyssa Markiewicz -- are good friends who take delight in each other's successes.

"Let's put it this way, there's always a lot of screaming and hugging going on at the pole vault," coach Ron Fredrick said.

Three of the girls have overcome injuries to get where they are. Ericka Markiewicz strained her MCL during the offseason, Alyssa dislocated her shoulder and missed the entire indoor season and Mirabelli has only been jumping again -- on a healed broken back, no less -- for about five months.

But there's a problem.

An Indiana High School Athletic Association rule says that each school can enter a maximum of two athletes per event in the sectional. A third athlete can participate if they've matched the average ninth-place state meet finish over the latest three-year period.

Each of L.C.'s vaulters have reached the mark, currently set at 11 feet, 1 inch.

But there's another part of the rule -- a deadline. This year it came on the Wednesday before the sectional, the day of the Duneland Athletic Conference meet, where Alyssa Markiewicz vaulted 11-1 1/2.

It was seven hours too late.

"This rule has not been kind to us," Fredrick said. "And it hasn't been kind to others in the past."

Four became three, but that number had to become two.

"Everybody's skill is so amazing and everyone worked so hard," Mirabelli said. "It's such a bummer that we can't all go to state."

Decisions, decisions. Who was going to participate in the postseason? Ericka had the highest jump of the season and new school record of 11-7, so she was in.

The coaches suggested a jump-off between Cook and Mirabelli for the final spot. The girls discussed the matter and team captain Cook decided to sacrifice herself for her best friend -- even though Cook qualified for state last year.

"She had a better season than I did. I just thought it was fair," Cook said. "I can work harder and try to come back next year."

Mirabelli jumped in the sectional, clearing 10 feet and finishing second to Ericka Markiewicz (11-2), and will be participating in tonight's Chesterton Regional.

She was awed by Cook's choice.

"I cried," Mirabelli said. "I felt really bad. We both worked our butts off this year. My heart really went out to her."

Fredrick and L.C. plan to try to get the rule changed during the offseason, as all four of the girls are underclassmen and will be returning.

They want the whole state to see what pole vaulters from L.C. can do.

"As a coach, for what these girls have accomplished I am truly humbled," assistant coach Dan McCabe said. "These girls are really amazing."