Geneva's Selman, Jefferson's Brand to vie for state glory
May 30—When the Division II girls state pole vault takes place on Saturday morning, two Ashtabula County athletes will look to reach new heights.
Geneva senior Gabbi Selman and Jefferson senior Megan Brand are part of the 18-person field in the pole vault, which is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
The duo earned a chance to vault another week with first and third-place finishes in the Division II regional tournament at Austintown Fitch High School last weekend.
Selman enters state with a personal-record 10-8 effort at the regional.
"I'm very excited about going to state," she said. "Also have a lot of nerves. I have high hopes going into state."
Westfall senior Peyton Proffitt has the top mark at 12-0. The majority of competitors have gone at least 11-0.
"I'm hoping for 11, 11-4," Selman said. "I want to get on the podium [top eight]."
Selman, who signed at Youngstown State University for school and vault next season, qualified to the state tournament last season, and placed 12th at 10-0.
"It's definitely a different atmosphere," she said.
But Selman feels ready.
"I'm going to go down there and do my best," she said.
Selman is counting down to her last Geneva event while remembering the past.
"Most of it was happy and positive," she said. "I'm definitely excited about Youngstown State. All the athletes seem nice."
Meanwhile, Brand is making her first state appearance in the vault.
"I'm excited to see Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. "People have told me just go and have fun and watch the races."
Brand went 9-8 in the Fitch Regional last weekend, tying Perry's Addy Trefzger.
Brand, however, vaulted 9-9 last year.
"My goal is to get 10 feet," she said. "I'm so close."
Brand is a relative newcomer to vaulting.
"I vaulted in seventh and eighth grades, had knee surgery in ninth grade and COVID hit in 10th," she said.
This season, she opted to concentrate more on vaulting. Brand advanced to the regional in the 100 hurdles last year.
"I was having trouble with my shins, calves and ankles," she said. "Running didn't feel good, I just pushed through."
Brand is working on the plant part, inverting and getting upside down mostly leading up to state competition.
"You want to get upside down and turn while you're in the air," she said.
Brand has the support system needed, from family to friends to coaches and even to Selman.
"I'm super-excited," Brand said. "It's so crazy we knew each other [her and Selman] through gymnastics when we were 8 and 10 years later, we're going to state in track.
"I'd like to thank all of my coaches, especially [T.J.], [longtime Edgewood coach] Debbie [Fazenbaker] and David and Rachel Wright."
Brand's next school will be the University of Cincinnati in the fall.
But she sill has unfinished business.
"It's crazy," she said. "School has been over the last two weeks, it also feels like I haven't graduated [Jefferson held its commencement ceremonies on May 20]. I'm excited to represent Ashtabula County."
Geneva has a tradition of pole vaulting in college with the likes of Ally Thompson, Deidra Marrison, Bri Aveni and Lindsey Adams, among others.
It's something Selman looks to continue.
"It's coaching and the school support," she said.
Selman is also looking forward to competing with — and against — Brand.
The duo competed in gymnastics about 10 years ago.
Even though they went into different directions with school, there's always a connection.
"Megan was one of my best friends in gymnastics," Selman said. "It's a friendly rivalry. We're rooting for each other."
