COLUMBUS – Crosby Schemenauer didn’t even qualify for the regional in the pole vault as a sophomore.
Now, two years later, he’s a state champion in his specialty.
The Eastwood senior cleared 15-3 Friday to win a Division II state track and field championship at Ohio
State University’s Jesse Owens Stadium.
He also earned All-Ohio honors which go to the top eight finishers in each event. Schemenauer was one of
three Eagles to receive all-state honors Friday, joining senior Josh Hoodlebrink, who was second in the
long jump; and junior Justin Welch, who was third in the shot put.
The championship completed back-to-back brilliant seasons for Schemenauer, who finished second in the
state last year at 14-4.
“This a dream come true. It’s been my goal all season,” said Schemenauer, who just missed breaking his
school record of 15-4 set last week when he won the Lexington High School regional.
Schemenauer first started thinking about a state championship as a freshman in 2006 when he watched
teammate Ryan McKibben win a state title.
The next season, Schemenauer was sixth in the district meet, two spots shy of qualifying for the
regional.
“Seeing Ryan do well got me excited, and I wasn’t very happy with the way my sophomore year ended,” he
said. “But I really got focused on what it took to be successful and I’m a lot stronger now.
“I wanted my senior year to be my best. I was doing it for fun as a sophomore and I didn’t work hard.
Now, I’m working hard and its paid off.”
Schemenauer, who has jumped consistently at 15-0 or better late in the season, passed on the first three
heights of 12-6, 13-0 and 13-6.
And once he started vaulting, he didn’t miss until after he had won. All three of his misses came at
15-6. Even after a vaulter wins, they’re allowed to continue to see how high they can do. He cleared
14-0, 14-3, 14-6, 14-9, 15-0 and 15-3 on his first attempt. Vaulters receive three attempts at each
height.
“I had a good day. I had good jumps,” he said.
Ontario junior Jamey Robson was second at 15-0. No other athlete cleared 14-9.,
“He’s consistently good,” said Eastwood associate head coach Brian Sabo, who coaches the team’s pole
vaulters. “He’s one of the most focused competitors I’ve ever been around when it comes to competition.
The last two years, he’s done everything and anything we’ve asked of him and it shows.
“He’s a great kid and a great role model for younger kids and I’m extremely proud of him,” Sabo added.
“He’s worked hard at it and to become a better athlete. He’s drastically increased his speed and that’s
enabled us to get him on the bigger poles he needs to reach these heights.”
Five vaulters were left going to 15-0, with Schemenauer clearing on his first try and Robson doing so on
his second. The other vaulters all missed. Schemenauer then made his first try at 15-3.
“When I made 14-9 on my first try and everyone else missed their first try, I really got pumped up and
excited,” Schemenauer said. “I knew as long as I kept making my first attempt, I had a good chance to
win.”
Schemenauer also advanced to the finals of the 110 hurdles by finishing second in his heat with a
career-best time of 14.76. His previous best was 14.9.
The top four finshers in each heat advanced to the finals. His time is the fourth-fastest of the eight
finalists.
“That was a really good race,” said Schemenauer, whose brother, Jack, was an All-Ohio hurdler in 2006 and
2007. “I got off to a good start and it carried me through to the end.”
Hoodlebrink jumped well, going 22-91?4 in one of his best efforts of the season.
The winner was Delta senior Korbin Smith, who jumped 23-7 to win the state title for the second straight
year.
“I’m pretty happy,” said Hoodlebrink, who was a state qualifier in the event last year but didn’t place.
“I did better than last year. The experience of being here last year helped and I’m just a lot more
confident. I wanted to win, but second is pretty good.”
Welch threw 59-1?2 in the shot, just off his career-best of 61-1.
“I’m pretty excited,” said Welch, who is a heavy favorite today to repeat the discus championship he won
last season.. “I just wanted to place as high as I could and score points for the team since it’s our
goal to win state. Everyone one of us wants to help the team.”
Sandusky Perkins junior Matt Hoty, who set the state record last year, won the event with a throw of
61-31?4 and Kettering Alter senior Chris Borland was second at 61- 3?4.
“I felt good and everything worked out,” said Welch, who had a throw of about 61-0 wiped out by a foul.
“I finished in the top three, so I’m happy. This will keep me in a good mood for the discus.”