The Quiet Work
Pole vault is a dance between chaos and control. It’s a sport where the laws of physics meet the will of an athlete. It’s not just about clearing a bar, it’s about convincing your nervous system that hurling yourself toward the sky, inverted with a fiberglass pole is somehow the act of a sane person. Nicho, thankfully, never seemed burdened by what limits most of us.
I’ve worked with Nicho through the quiet months. The ones no one posts about. The mental reps. The vulnerable conversations about fear, relief, frustration, expectation, internal dialogue, pressure, and identity. Vaulting isn’t just physical. It’s psychological warfare disguised as sport.
Heading into the State meet, he was dialed. Not just physically, he was mentally, spiritually, and rhythmically aligned. Confidence wasn’t a vibe. It was part of him. We’d talked about carrying his confidence, welcoming the nerves, being present in the moment, and knowing who he is.
And then, fate handed us its finest satire. An awkward crash into the vault box that left his ankle screaming. Just like that, the narrative flipped.
He limped off, scanned for what to do next, and with grit decided he wasn’t done.
In my experience with him, that’s Nicho. He’s not the cliched quote on the locker room version of tough. His is more authentic. His mental capacity has been created through repetition, discomfort, and the unglamorous work of going deep within himself to discover whats there. With his ankle wrapped, fueled by adrenaline, he took a few more attempts to see what he had that day. This is the mindset we love to see. One that steps up to the challenge with purpose ready to allow the outcome to be what it will be.
He walked away with silver, but also with something less visible and far more valuable that people often overlook. He stepped fully into the beauty of the pursuit without guarantee.
As he moves into what’s next, he will meet the challenge of the bar again and it won’t just be physical. It might have a tinge of philosophical flare to it. His vaults in the future will carry the echo of all the ones he’s attempted. Not as a shadow but as a continuation of the story he is still writing.