Valencia becoming latest standout for Bloodhounds

Over the years, St. Joseph Academy has produced a number of standout pole vaulters, including Tom Rusteburg and Jonathan Gulley, who each cleared 16 feet or better and won a TAPPS state title during the past decade.

SJA sophomore Luis Valencia, who won the pole vault with a clearance of 13-6 at last weekend’s TAPPS state meet in Waco, appears to be well on his way to becoming the next standout in the event for the Bloodhounds.

"I’m glad that Luis came out for the pole vault," said Teddy Lopez, SJA’s recently named athletic director and pole vault coach since 1993. "I’ve known what he can do since junior high. He’s another one (along with girls state pole vault champion Carys Matar) who has a strong background in gymnastics, so that’s helped him out a lot.

"When I look at someone like Luis and see his potential, I can’t help but think about the (SJA) athletes who have come before him (like Rusteberg and Gulley) who have literally risen to very great heights," Lopez said. "It’s exciting to have another vaulter like him who can possibly hit the record books.

"I’ve taken on a new role this school year (as athletic director), and coaching the pole vault is something I want to continue doing because I love it, and I love seeing athletes like Luis succeed," Lopez added. "I like to see the bar continually being raised."

For a time, Valencia’s chances of even reaching state this season looked questionable because last month he stepped on a nail and it limited him in workouts. But he qualified for state at a recent regional meet in San Antonio, and once he got to Waco, he performed at top form by setting a personal best in winning his event in TAPPS’ highest division of competition.

"Going into the state meet, I was a little nervous, but I already had it in my mind that I was going to get first place, so that helped me," said Valencia, a 5-foot-10, 149-pounder who went to state as a freshman and finished out of the top three after clearing only 12 feet. "My teammates also really helped me by cheering me on. Coming out of the meet, I was really happy, especially because I had never cleared 13-6 before. The best I had done previously was 13 feet. On my first try (at 13-6), I cleared it with a clean vault."

Valencia began his pole vaulting career as an eighth-grader and immediately showed promise in the event by clearing 10-3.

"Coach Lopez had talked to me about trying the pole vault because I had taken seven years of gymnastics before," said Valencia, who has also competed in swimming and cross country for the Bloodhounds. "Gymnastics has really helped me.

"I like everything about the pole vault," he added. "I wouldn’t ever really want to do running or the hurdles or anything like that. I just like going up and clearing the bar."

Winning state is a motivation to do even better in the coming years, Valencia said. He now has an ultimate goal in his event just like the SJA standouts who came before him.

"Competing in the state meet was a fun experience for me, and it’s something I really want to do again next year," he said. "What I would really like to do is clear 16 feet. I know that’s a really high goal for me, but that’s what I want to do by my senior year."

Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him via e-mail at rhess@brownsvilleherald.com.