By Rich Gonzalez
Editor, ESPN RISE/DyeStatCal
          (February 12, 2011) -- We've been spoiled.

          There's no other way to put it -- and you can place all the blame on the sturdy sets of shoulders of Nico Weiler, Scott Roth, Michael Woepse and Casey Roche.

          In an era and an event where a 16-foot, 6-inch vaulter is deemed national class and a 17-footer is a revered as an ultra rarity, Weiler, Roth, Woepse and Roche each skied at least 17-05 or higher within an exciting five-year span, the only time in national high school history that such proficiency has taken place in a single state.

          And now?

          The returning state leader is at 16 feet.

          Not 16-10, 16-07, 16-04.

          Just 16-00.

          BUT California is absolutely loaded with passionate and talented vault coaches and there are scores of hard-working teens ready to undertake the challenging rebuilding project.

          Need more? Before you even think about dismissing 2011 as a bust year on the California vaulting scene, consider the following:
          #1: At 16-00.00, Loyola's Evan Barr checks in as the #9 returnee nationally, so EVERY state is rebuilding.
          #2: Newport Harbor's Mark Sakioka cleared a lifetime-best 16-00.00 indoors at the Pole Vault Summit exhibition in Reno, setting a school record while placing third and beating multiple national-class vaulters in the process.
          #3: El Toro's Adam Bragg cleared a lifetime-best 15-10 at the Pole Vault Summit, the fourth-best mark overall.
          #4: Oak Park's Connor Stark cleared a lifetime-best 15-08.00 at the Pole Vault Summit, the #4 mark nationally among any active high school non-senior.
          #5: The Fraley Family name. Lemoore senior Kyle Fraley is the latest standout from the famed vault family. Kyle's great uncle, Bob Fraley, coached a swath of top vaulting talent while the head coach at Fresno State University and second cousin Doug Fraley was a former three-time NCAA pole vault champion. Kyle cleared a lifetime-best 15-04.00 at the recent Pole Vault Summit and should challenge for the Central Section title.

         What's all this mean for Golden State pole vault fans? Well, it might not happen overnight, but get ready to start getting spoiled all over again.

        Evan Barr was second at state in 15-9 and, at 16-1, is the only returnee over 16-0. Adam Bragg also did 15-9 at state to tie for third and won the Southern Section Division I title at 15-6. Andrew Ramay and Ian Rock both cleared 14-9 at state but Ramay had a personal best of 15-6 in finishing second in the Central Section finals.

         Connor Stark and Kyle Fraley both cleared 14-3 at state, but Stark was third in the Southern Section final at 15-6 and was second in the Division III final at 15-0. James Van Wyck no-heighted at state but won the North Coast Section Tri Valley Conference at 15-4 and was second in the section final at 14-9. Philippe Ueng tied for ninth at 14-6 in the Southern Section finals but did not advance to state. One week earlier, he won the Division III title at 15-0. Colin Barber cleared 14-3 in the state prelims but did not advance to the final after finishing second in the North Coast Section final at 14-9. 

FIRST TEAM—LISTED IN ORDER

1. –Evan Barr (Loyola, Los Angeles—SS)
2. –Adam Bragg (El Toro, Lake Forest—SS)
3. –Andrew Ramay (Liberty, Bakersfield—CS)
4. –Ian Rock (Davis—SJS)
5. *Connor Stark (Oak Park—SS)
6. –Kyle Fraley (Lemoore—CS)
7. –James Van  Wyck (DeLaSalle, Concord—NCS)
8. *Philippe Ueng (Temple City—SS)
9. *Colin Barber (San Ramon Valley, Danville—NCS)

SECOND TEAM—LISTED ALPHABETICALLY

-Austin Allen (Burroughs, Burbank—SS)

*Peter Chapman (Murrieta Valley, Murrieta—SS)

-Tanner Greeley (Edison, Huntington Beach—SS)
-Everett Hateley (Loyola, Los Angeles—SS)
-Tevin Limon (Nipomo—SS)
-Julien Okey (Tesoro, Las Flores—SS)
-Keith Rayburn (North Monterey, Castroville—CCS)
-Mark Sakiola (Newport Harbor, Newport Beach—SS)
-Max Van Bergh (Newport Harbor, Newport Beach—SS)

THIRD TEAM—LISTED ALPHABETICALLY

*Jack Galivan (Mater Dei, Santa Ana—SS)
*Scott Greenman (Clovis—CS)
-Alex Hamidzadeh (El Camino Real, Woodland Hills—LAS)
-Connor Hawks (Mater Dei, Santa Ana—SS)
-Brett Huff (San Diego Christian, El Cajon—SDS)
-Richard Leverson (Elsinore, Wildomar—SS)
-Ryan Morrow (Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach—SS)
-Garrett Thompson (Granada, Livermore—NCS)
-Paul Vozzo (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village—SS)

                                             Data Research via EPI Sports.com

BOYS POLE VAULT -- "BY THE NUMBERS"
STATEWIDE TOP 40 RETURNEES

1      16' 0"    Evan Barr    Loyola    SS    Mission Lg Finals
2      15' 9"    Adam Bragg    El Toro    SS    CIF-State Meet
3      15' 6"    Andrew Ramay    Liberty    CE    Golden West Invitational
3      15' 6"    Connor Stark    Oak Park    SS    CIF-SS Masters Meet
3      15' 6"    Ian Rock    Davis    SJ    Woody Wilson Inv
6      15' 4"    James Van Wyck    DeLaSalle    NC    NCS-Tri Valley Area Meet
7      15' 3"    Kyle Fraley    Lemoore    CE    CIF-State Meet
8      15' 2"    Keith Rayburn    North Monterey    CC    Alisal Invitational
9      15' 1"    Mark Sakioka    Newport Harbor    SS    Sunset League Finals
10    15' 0"    Philippe Ueng    Temple City    SS    CIF-SS Divisional Champi...
10    15' 0"    Tanner Greeley    Edison-HB    SS    Mt. SAC Relays
12    14' 7"    Everett Hateley    Loyola    SS    Mission Lg Finals
12    14' 7"    Scott Greenman    Clovis    CE    West Coast Relays
14    14' 6"    Colin Barber    San Ramon Vlly    NC    NCS Meet of Champions Fi...
14    14' 6"    Max Van Bergh    Newport Harbor    SS    CIF-SS Divisional Champi...
14    14' 6"    Austin Allen    Burroughs(Bur)    SS    Mt. Carmel Invitational
17    14' 5"    Julien Okey    Tesoro    SS    South Coast League Finals
18    14' 4"    Tevin Limon    Nipomo    SS    Pac 7 League Finals
19    14' 3"    Garrett Thompson    Granada    NC    NCS Meet of Champions Fi...
19    14' 3"    Jack Gallivan    Mater Dei    SS    Arcadia Invitational
19    14' 3"    Ian Davis    Damien    SS    Weekly Duals, 3/21/10
19    14' 3"    Ryan Hsin    Mt. Carmel    SD    Weekly Duals, 3/14/10
23    14' 2"    Ryan Morrow    Mira Costa    SS    Bay League Finals
24    14' 1"    Alex Hamidzadeh    El Camino Real    LA    West Valley Lg Finals
25    14' 0"    Will Bartsch    Coronado    SD    CIF San Diego Masters Meet
25    14' 0"    Brett Huff    Christian    SD    CIF San Diego Masters Meet
25    14' 0"    Paul Vozzo    Oaks Christian    SS    CIF-SS Divisional Champi...
25    14' 0"    Richard Leverson    Elsinore    SS    CIF-SS Divisional Champi...
25    14' 0"    Peter Chapman    Murrieta Vally    SS    CIF-SS Division 1 Prelims
25    14' 0"    Connor Hawks    Mater Dei    SS    CIF-SS Division 2 Prelims
25    14' 0"    Robert Ruiz    Valhalla    SD    Grossmont Hills League F...
25    14' 0"    Kyser Anderson    Clovis West    CE    North Area Championships
25    14' 0"    Philip Hanley    Thousand Oaks    SS    Ventura County Champions...
25    14' 0"    Austin Gill    Oak Park    SS    Ventura County Champions...
25    14' 0"    Timmy Shutt    Alta Loma    SS    Inland Empire County Cha...
25    14' 0"    Jared Manke    South Hills    SS    Covina Invitational
25    14' 0"    Connor McNichols    Mission Viejo    SS    Trabuco Hills Invitational