PHS senior wins Mercer County pole vault
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
The Princeton High School boys track and field team tried to give Gerhard Gengel options, but there was never any doubt where he would gravitate.
With two older sisters who were pole vaulters for PHS, Gengel didn’t take long to find his way into the high-flying event.
”When I got to high school, I tried it,” said Gengel, now a senior. “They had me do some other things in the winter my freshman year. I tried it in the spring, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Gengel captured his first gold medal at the Mercer County Championships on Monday at the Bennett Center in Toms River. He is the first PHS boy to win a county gold since Thomas Hellstern won the dash three years ago. Four year ago, Gengel’s oldest sister, Natalie, won the girls county pole vault.
”It felt pretty good to get my first big win,” said Gerhard, who tied his personal best with a clearance of 12-feet-6 after finishing second last year at 11-6. “I had the highest personal record going in. I had to do my best and keep going and just do what I know I can do and clear my highest height.
”Last year, I had (Hightstown’s) Pat Gray there, and I would get second or third. He was doing 14-feet, and I never had a shot. Now it seems like I’m the big guy that gets to win now.”
Gerhard’s win was the lone on the day for the Little Tigers, who were the highest Packet-area finisher in fourth overall with 42 points. Notre Dame won with 51 points, and PHS finished just one point behind third-place Ewing and two points behind runner-up Hightstown. PHS juggled its usual lineup because it was preparing for the North Jersey Section 2, Group III meet two days later on Wednesday.
”It wasn’t as intense as we usually are going into the county meet,” said PHS head coach John Woodside. “That might have helped. The guys all performed well. There wasn’t much there that I was disappointed with. Even guys that didn’t place ran well. It was overall a great team performance.”
Said Gengel: “Towards the end, before the 4×4, we were in second. Because we didn’t put everyone in that we would normally, we finished fourth. I didn’t realize how close a shot we had at winning the whole thing.”
Max Reid was second in the 400 meters, Michael Brennan was fourth in the 55 hurdles, Omar Yousef was third and Drew Reifinger was fourth in the shot put, Sean Pradhan was fourth and Will Dobbs-Allsopp was sixth in the 800, and the 4×400 relay was fourth.
”This is a good team,” Woodside said. “We’ve known it all the way. Lately, the last couple meets, I feel like we were not coming up to what our potential is. (Monday) was closer if not right on it. The thing about this team is we are deep, and that has served us well.”
West Windsor-Plainsboro South finished sixth with 32 points after sweeping the two longest distance events. Brian Schoepfer won the 1,600 meters before Sam Macaluso improved the meet record by seven seconds with a 9:17.53 finish. It was the only record set in the meet. Max Margiotta was fourth in the 3,200, Doug Wallack was fourth in the 1,600, A.J. Valdez was fifth in the 400 and the Pirates’ 4×400 was fifth.
”The kids came out and competed well for the most part,” said Pirates head coach Todd Smith before his team prepares to compete in the CJ III sectional. “It was a good way to start off the championship season with the next three weeks being pretty important. We’ll get after it and see what happens Sunday.”
WW-P North was seventh with 24 points. Corey Abernathy won the shot put. Joe Rosa was second and Jon Squeri was third in the 3,200.
The Knight girls were the highest Packet-area finisher overall. They were third with 37 points, just three behind second-place Trenton. Hopewell Valley won for the fifth time in the last six years. Emily Scott won the 1,600 meters and was second in the 800 meters, and Ryan Williams was third in the 55 hurdles, 55 dash and 200 meters. The 4×400 was sixth.
The WW-P South girls tied Hamilton for sixth with 27 points. Caroline Kellner won the 3,200 meters. Emily Mauro was second in the 400 and fourth in the 200. Shelby Miller was sixth in the 3,200. The Pirates’ 4×400 was fourth.
The PHS girls were eighth. Bryell Wheeler was second in the 55 dash and fifth in the 200 meters. Rebekka Vuojolainen was second and Mary Kennedy-Moore was third in the pole vault on a great day for Little Tigers pole vaulters.
For Gengel, it’s just continuing a family legacy that began with Natalie, now a senior at Cornell, and continued with Nicolette, a club swimmer at Penn State. He is looking to live up to the high standards set by his sisters. Natalie, who continues to help coach him when she is home, was indoor and outdoor state champion as a senior.
”As a freshman, I was just starting out,” Gerhard said. “I was trying to beat my own personal record. I didn’t have a shot of placing. Now it’s grown to I’m the guy who goes into it as a favorite. It was able to make it to the Meet of Champions (last winter) with a 12-foot jump. A lot of seniors graduated so I feel like I have a chance. That’s one of my main goals.”
Gengel has put more time into the pole vault each year. He works on it outside of school with the Vertical Assault club, and he practices with the Little Tigers while helping to coach the less experienced vaulters.
”He’s more consistent,” Woodside said. “Early in the season, he looked good but he was missing. When he got to 12-feet, he’d miss something. He was a little inconsistent at the top of his jump. He’s got to 12-6. Now when he gets to 13, he’s not quite precise enough up there. He’s moved up a notch.
”He had a couple good jumps at 13. I think he’ll get those worked out. It was a good tune-up for him. He’s finally got the right pole. He was between poles at the beginning of the year.”
Gengel has the right equipment and the right drive. He’s taking aim at 13-feet, and beyond that is his sister Natalie’s best – 13-3½ set at last May’s Cornell Outdoor Invitational.
”She’s seen me in practice and in the meets,” Gerhard said. “I think she knows it’s coming soon.”