TONTOGANY – Cole Gorski has jumped consistently well this season.
The Otsego senior is hoping his consistency – and his hard work – will pay off in a state championship
Friday.
Gorski is one of the favorites to win the pole vault in the Division II state track and field meet at
Ohio State University.
Joining Gorski – also a state qualifier in the 100 and the 200 – in his sport’s showcase event is junior
teammate Brandon Avers.
Avers, an All-Ohio cross country honoree last fall, qualified for the state track meet in the 1,600.
The outdoor state championship has been Gorski’s goal all season after he won the indoor state title in
March.
"It’s a big relief to be going to state," Gorski said. "Once you hit that qualifying jump,
there’s a big relief taken off your shoulders. Once you know you’ve going to state, you can focus on
what you need to do and just not on qualifying.
"Now, I’m focused on jumping the best that I can. Before that, I was really just focused on being in
the top four in districts and then the top four in regionals. I’m just thinking about how I have to
jump, my technique and my form, and my preparation and my training – that preparation and training will
lead to a state title. I’m jumping well right now and I’d jumping with confidence."
The Ohio State recruit won the Dayton regional with a meet-record vault of 15-10, also his career best.

His regional vault was the best of the 16 state qualifiers. Among the other competitors at state will be
Cambridge senior Eric Fox, who was second in the state last season and cleared 15-9 in his regional.
After clearing 15-10 at the regional, Gorski moved the bar to 16-3 for three attempts to break the school
record of 16-2. He just missed on his final two tries.
"He’s been clearing 16-0 consistently in practice and if the bar had been at 16-2 3/4, he’d have
made those last two jumps," Otsego assistant coach Shaun Downey said. "It looked like he made
both of them, but the bar fell at the last second.
Gorski figures he’ll have to go at least 16-0 to win state and perhaps the "mid 16s."
The state and state-meet record is 16-4 set by John Coyne of Medina Buckeye in 1986.
Gorski’s always been a good vaulter, but he’s been even better this season with Downey’s coaching. During
the offseason, Gorski lifted weights, improved his speed and competed during the indoor season.
"We haven’t done a lot differently," Downey said. "But Cole’s just gained a lot of
confidence in his ability. He’s always had the ability. Now, he’s timing things up and putting in the
work to get the most out of it."
Shaun Downey won state titles in 1988 and 1989, and held the school record of 16-1 until his brother,
Travis, broke it. Travis and another brother, Drew, also won state titles. They were coached by their
dad, Tim, who died in 2012.
"He’s shown so much determination this year," Downey said. "He’s really turned it on.
"He’s the hardest-working kid I’ve ever coached. That goes a long way in this event. This isn’t an
event you can perfect in your teenage years. A lot of guys don’t reach their peek until their late 20s,
early 30s.’
Downey competes in the pole vault at 9:30 a.m., and runs in the semifinals of the 100 at 2:25 p.m. and
the 200 at 3:50 p.m.
"A lot of my focus is on the pole vault, but I can focus all of my attention on each event since
they’re at different times," said Gorski, who also ran relays during the season. "It’ll be
nice to have time for each event."
The top two finishers in each heat and the next five fastest times overall advance to Saturday’s finals.

His regional time in the 100 and the 200 was the fifth-fastest of the state qualifiers.
"I’d definitely like to make it to the finals of the 100 and 200," Gorski said.
Avers’ regional time of 4:23.33 is the fifth-fastest of the state qualifiers, but the top five times are
separated by just .27 seconds. The 1,600 is Saturday.
"It’s all about running a good race and competing for a state championship," said Avers, whose
personal best is 4:21. He also was the state indoor champion in the event. "I feel good about the
way I’m running and if I run well at state, I’ll give myself a chance to win."
Avers was 11th in the state cross country meet last fall.
"That’s going to help," Avers said. "I have the experience of running at state and I won’t
be as nervous and I’ll know what to expect."