Melissa Cousin Article (FL)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://carrollwood.tbo.com/carrollwood/MGBDJQFVA7E.html

TBT Senior Finds Way To Clear Obstacles

By BILL WARD wward@tampatrib.com
Published: Apr 9, 2005












TAMPA - Melissa Cousin knows she would probably benefit from a full- time coach in the pole vault. But since the event is so technical in nature, experts in the vault are a rarity in high school.

So, Cousin and her longtime Tampa Bay Tech teammate, Raquel Vazquez, do the best they can with what they have: a handful of lessons they received as underclassmen from former Wharton coach and University of Florida pole vaulter Dave Watson, the occasional vault camp they have attended and their own natural talent in the event.

Up until now, that formula has worked for these two seniors, particularly for Cousin. While Vazquez is among the top girls in the county with a personal best of 8 feet, 6 inches, Cousin is one of the best in the state with her mark of 11-0.

Cousin's parents recently purchased a new, stiffer pole for her birthday and she's hoping to use it to improve on her seventh-place finish in last year's Class 3A state finals. Cousin, who has won the Bob Hayes Invitational in Jacksonville and Tampa's Charles Johnson Invitational, also is tied for the county's second-best high jump at 5-0, a mark that could earn her a spot in the state meet in that event.

Most days, however, the vault is Cousin's primary focus. And most days, the coaching she gets from that event is from Vazquez.

``Raquel is my coach, and I'm hers,'' Cousin said. ``It's a little frustrating sometimes when I wonder what kind of vaulter I could be with a full-time coach in the event, but we're pretty much used to the situation.''

Indeed, like Cousin and Vazquez, many of the county's best vaulters drift around the area and congregate at one school, where they can help each other and sometimes receive pointers from any coach or volunteer who has spent time studying the intricacies of the pole vault.

``Usually, it's just us saying to each other `Uh, that didn't look right, maybe try it this way on your next attempt,' '' Vazquez said with a laugh. ``Basically, we're just winging it out there.''

Cousin spent part of her freshman year training at Jefferson, then drove across town several times to Wharton for sessions with Watson and his top vaulter last season, Natalie Moser, who is now competing for the University of Florida. Cousin, who credits nine years of gymnastics for part of her success in the vault, also has competed in summer track with Coach Mike Zelazo and his Seffner Track Club.

This spring, Cousin has spent much of her training time at Riverview High, which is closer to her home. She also attended a preseason vault camp at USF.

``It takes a lot of dedication on Melissa's part because if she needs help in the vault, she goes out and finds it or we'll help her find it,'' said TBT coach April Winternheimer. ``She's very good at assessing whatever problem she's having and saying `Oh, I'll ask this person' or go to camps during the offseason.''

Cousin would be competing for Riverview had she not opted to attend TBT for classes in its health academy. Cousin has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was 5, she said, and she plans to attend the University of South Florida this fall to continue her medical studies and her vaulting.

``I get excited when I think about college and having my own vault coach and those facilities every day,'' Cousin said. ``I've been jumping on one pole - you see all these girls come to the big meets with like 50 million poles and I'm standing there with just one - and training pretty much on my own. I think I have plenty of room for improvement.''

[Scott Go Pre]

That's my girl!! Yeah, Melissa!

[TAMPAKINGPV]

hey yall. first post on this forum...looks like a cool place for stats and learning


i live in tampa, and my school(king high), is only like...2 minutes away from hers(TBT). i read that article a few days ago...

just had a meet with her last night at our home. She made first in the ladies(9'6" or 10'....forgot)...i made first in boys(12').

She had a little trouble because she just got a new rocket, with cant penetrate with it cuz the head wind was CRAZY...so she was forced to jump on her old CATAPOLE, which it taking height away from her. We all have bad days or bad conditions. GOOD LUCK MELISSA

i tied my PR and she didnt do so good. we talked for a good while acutually for the first time cuz we were waiting for the lower heights to come in. shes a good gal. definately in the same situation as me with that article. We have no coach for PV like them, we are both coachin ourselves and lacking funding for equipment...My brother had a coach for us 2 years ago and he visited 2 sessions of Dave Watsons camp his soph. summer...he got good and make 14 foot in practice. 13'6" in meet...im going watsons camp hopefully this summer is he holds it, which i talked to him and think he is.

But yeh, just wanted to drop a lil heads up. She says the only person she is lookin out for is a Girl at St Thomas Aquinas who is jumpin higher than her.

comment back

geoff. King High Sr, Tampa Pole Vault program