Marysville’s Brynn Rychlik prepares to clear the pole vault bar during a meet earlier in the 2021 season. Rychlik will compete on Saturday during the Division I state meet. Competition will be held at Hilliard Darby High School. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Lady Monarch senior Brynn Rychlik will take an impressive number into Saturday morning’s Division I girls state pole vault competition.
The event will begin at Hilliard Darby High School, 10 a.m.
Rychlik, who captured both the district and regional championships this season, will take a seed height of 12-8 into the state meet.
That’s four inches higher than the next best state qualifier.
Rychlik holds the Marysville High School girls vault record of 13-3.
“This is very exciting,” she said. “I’ve never been to the outdoor state track meet.”
The vaulter, who will continue her craft at the University of Akron, said she never dreamed she’d end up among the state’s D-I elite.
She made the regional as a freshman after clearing the bar at what is now for her a mere 9-6. She placed 14th in that meet.
Rychlik’s only goal at the start of her career was to eventually break the school record of 10-6, which she did with ease at one point.
There was no post-season competition during her sophomore season.
“That was the year of the knee braces,” joked Marysville head coach Luke Sundermeier.
Rychlik’s progress is nothing short of amazing considering the injuries she has incurred.
“I broke my back twice in gymnastics,” she smiled. “The first time was after falling from the parallel bars.”
Having recovered, Rychlik put her time to good use during the coronavirus-canceled season of 2020.
“We made a pole vault pit at home and I did a lot of running,” she said.
“Brynn kept being productive when our 2020 season was canceled,” said Sundermeier. “She’s put in a lot of hard work since she began vaulting in the eighth grade.”
Those efforts have paid huge dividends.
Rychlik set the school record earlier in the season and also captured the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division title, along with her district and regional accolades.
The Monarch vaulter knows she will be competing against an intense field on Saturday.
Other vaulters who will participate (and their seed heights) are as follows:
-Grace Conway, Greenville, 11-4;
-Cassidy Brown, Wooster, 11-8;
– Taylor Hill, Olentangy Orange, 11-4;
– Sarah Masuoka, Copley, 11-4;
-Emily Eterovich, Macedonia Nordonia, 11-4;
-Sara Borton, Olentangy Orange, 12-4;
-Kendal Fisher, Massillon Perry, 12-0;
-Diana Burban, North Royalton, 11-8;
-Jazz Haas, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame, 11-4;
-Ellie Ford, Upper Arlington, 11-8;
-Allison Taylor, Fremont Ross, 11-4;
-Victoria Harvey, Watkins Memorial, 12-0;
-Ellie Spiewak, Centerville, 11-4;
-Megan Rybitski, Huber Heights Wayne, 12-0;
-Finley Devins, Berea-Midpark, 11-8;
-Veronica Waugaman, North Ridgeville, 12-4;
-Abby Knouff, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, 12-0.
Rychlik’s top challengers appear to be Borton (who finished second to the MHS vaulter during last week’s regional), Knouff and Fisher.
“I’m going to be competing against the best,” said Rychlik. “It’s going to be absolutely insane.
“However, I thrive on competition.”