Hard Work, Family Coaching Launch Desiree Freier to National HS Indoor Record!
FORT WORTH, Texas -- They may call this The Lone Star State, but the sky above Fort Worth dazzles with many superstars from TexasPoleVault Club at EliteSportz.
The club's brightest star is Desiree Freier, the new girls' national high school indoor record holder.
Freier soared 14'02.75" last weekend at New Balance Nationals Indoor 2014 at the Armory in New York City. The performance capped a stellar indoor season for the high-flying Freier. The senior at Northwest High School in Justin, Texas, also won her division at the Millrose Games with a vault of 14 feet. In fact, she set a record in every meet this indoor season!
Freier's sky-high trajectory is the product of lots of hard work and great coaching from her father, George Rodriguez, and his son, Devin Rodriguez. They've been coaching her at TexasPoleVault since she picked up a pole in the 8th grade, and promptly soared to 10'09"!Over the past four years, Desi, as she is known, has skyrocketed to become the top prep vaulter in the nation.
"Desi is a fierce competitor, though you’ll never see it in her demeanor," her father said. "She is quiet and goes about her business. She works hard every day to be a better person, a better student and a better vaulter.
"Her accomplishments speak to her consistency and work ethic," he added. "I love to watch her compete. She'll have a great vault and she makes it look so easy. She is a champion, but I really don't think she understands how good she is."
Freier's progression in the sport has been dizzying: As a freshman, she was Texas UIL District Champion, Regional Champion, and the 5A State Silver Medalist with a PR [personal record] for the year of 12’3”. As as sophomore, she was Texas UIL District Champion, Regional Silver Medalist, and 5A State Gold Medalist with a PR of 13 feet.Last season, as a junior, she was Texas UIL District Champion, Regional Champion, and 5A State Gold Medalist (and state record-setter) with a PR of 13’9”. Last summer, she was a member of the USA Youth National Team, placing 9th at the World Games in Donetsk, Ukraine.
In addition to Freier, TexasPoleVault also has launched Lakan Taylor, last year's state 4A champion (13'10" PR), now vaulting for the University of Alabama; Zoe McKinley (13'3" PR) a junior at Grapevine High School who vaulted with Freier on the USA Youth National Team; and Sara Hall, (12'9" PR) a senior at Azle High School, who was District and Regional Champ and 3rd at State last year.
Obviously, the coaching staff at TexasPoleVault is very serious about helping vaulters of all skill levels jump higher. In fact, the Rodriguez family has a collective family PR of 65’5”! George vaulted 16’6.0”; Devin 17’0.0”; Jeffrey 17’ 8.25”; and Desiree 14’ 2.75”.
TexasPoleVault was established in the late 1990’s when Devin started vaulting in the 7th grade. The foundation for the club was established in part by Coach Mike Lawryk of Vertical Assault in Pennsylvania, who spent a few months at the fledgling club. Lawryk shared his view and methodology of the vault with George, who has applied it to all phases of the club.
In 2004 George was honored to be invited as a clinician to the Girls Junior Olympic Elite Development Camp at the United State Olympic Center in Chula Vista, CA. Today, TexasPoleVault at EliteSportz has trained more State Qualifiers than any other club in Texas!
Vaulting is truly a passion for the entire Rodriguez family. Desi's mom and George's husband, Rachel, operates the sport's premier online apparel and accessory site, PoleVaultStuff.com.
MAGGIE AUDIOBOOK CAMPAIGN SPONSOR
TexasPoleVault at EliteSportz is a major sponsor of the ongoing crowdfunding campaign to help audiobook narrator Tavia Gilbert perform and produce the acclaimed pole-vault novel, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon.
The club is offering 3-Day Summer Vault Camps, valued at $325, for a $300 pledge. The camps include food and lodging, with six start dates from June 9th to Aug. 15th, 2014, in Fort Worth.
You can provide a camp scholarship for someone you know and admire, or Coach George Rodriguez will award your scholarship to a youth in his club who has demonstrated the tenacity and grit to overcome difficult circumstances both on and off the runway.
"This is a great offer for a great cause," Coach George Rodriguez said, adding, "I encourage you to take action today."ABOUT ELITESPORTZ
TexasPoleVault at EliteSportz strives to be an environment where pole vaulters of all skill levels can come and learn how to "Run Faster, Jump Higher and Safer." For more information, contact George Rodriguez at 817-999-5492 or email txpvcoach@elitesportz.com. Visit TexasPoleVault at EliteSportz website.
