Brunswick makes leap

FORT RECOVERY - Holly Brunswick very nearly got to experience the state meet during her freshman season.

She cleared the bar at the same height as eight other high jumpers, all battling for the final two state-qualifying spots at the regional meet. But Emily Amburgey of Camden and Ariel Edwards of Ansonia had fewer misses than Brunswick and the other competitors, earning them the trips to Columbus.

Two years later, the Fort Recovery High School junior has made the leap from regional contender to state qualifier. She will compete in the high jump at the Division III OHSAA Track and Field State Finals at The Ohio State University Friday at 3 p.m.

"I didn't really think about it at first," said Brunswick, noting that congratulations from her father brought everything into perspective. "It's weird that I'm actually at state finals. It still just kind of seems like a regular meet. I'm trying to keep the pressure off."

Handling pressure Friday could be a key to earning a top-eight finish and a state medal for Brunswick and many other athletes in the Division III high jump competition.

The competition will start at 5 feet even, with the bar then being raised to 5 feet, 2 inches and 5 feet, 4 inches. One-inch increments will follow.

Jordan Moxley of Maplewood is the favorite in the event, having turned in a jump of 5 feet, 6 inches in the regional. Seven other athletes cleared the bar at 5 feet, 4 inches or better in regional competition.

Brunswick, who finished fourth at the Troy regional at 5 feet, 2 inches, sits in a four-way tie for the No. 11 seed. But her career-best is 5 feet, 4 inches at this season's Mercer County meet, a performance she hopes to repeat at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

"I want to jump like I did at our county meet," said Brunswick. "If I can get 5-4, I'll be right there, I'll place probably."

Brunswick, who finished seventh in the regional as a sophomore, has had a standout season for the Indians, having won county and Midwest Athletic Conference titles in the high jump. She was also third at the district meet.

The junior also won the MAC championship in the long jump, and was a regional qualifier in the long jump and 100-meter hurdles.

"The reason she's excelled this year is just her work ethic," said FRHS coach Chris Summers. "She's jumping in the summer. She has an off-season program that she uses. ... She comes out here and will jump and jump and jump until we actually kick her out at night. It's completely, 100 percent her and her work ethic that have gotten her to this point."

Brunswick has also been getting help from Jackie Briscoe, who still owns Fort Recovery's high jump record at 5 feet, 4 ¾ inches and went on to excel in track at Ohio Northern University.

Briscoe was a Division III All-American for the Polar Bears in 2001 (indoor) and 2002 (outdoor). She won five Ohio Athletic Conference titles in the high jump, taking the indoor and outdoor crowns in both 2001 and '02, and was the 2002 pole vault champion.

She served as a volunteer coach in 2003, helping Tyler Niekamp to a third-place finish in the state in the high jump.

"I think my form is getting better, and the way I attack it," said Brunswick. "I used to have a weird lead arm ... And my confidence has definitely gone up.

"I feel more comfortable going into it since it's my third year in high school doing it. I'm familiar with it."

Brunswick said she expects to be a little nervous when she first arrives at Ohio State Friday, but hopes to be in top form once the competition starts. She said perhaps the atmosphere of the meet will bring with it an adrenaline rush to help her make a run at a state medal.

The last FRHS athletes to compete in the state finals in track were Matt Vagedes and Holly Stein in 2007. Vagedes finished third in the pole vault, and Stein was seventh in the discus.

"This is a big deal," said Summers. "We're a small school. We don't get athletes who go to state every year. ... It's a great opportunity for the track team."[[In-content Ad]]