Article on Greg Woepse's Kid

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http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-son ... 350.column

From the Los Angeles Times
ERIC SONDHEIMER

He's relatively strong in pole vault
Mater Dei's free-spirited Woepse carries continues in the family tradition
Eric Sondheimer

March 28, 2008

It's a cloudless, majestic morning in Orange County, and 16-year-old Michael Woepse of Santa Ana Mater Dei is gushing about his activities during spring break.

On Monday morning, he woke at 9:15 a.m., attended pole vault practice for a couple of hours, then headed to Newport Beach to spend the rest of his day surfing.

On Tuesday, it was pole vault practice, then a round of golf. On Wednesday and Thursday, pole vault practice was followed by more surfing.

"It's awesome, it's amazing," he said. "I can do everything I like."

Whether flying through the air on a pole or riding a wave, Woepse is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound sophomore who knows how to have fun.

Last Saturday, he cleared 16 feet 2 inches, the best mark by a high school pole vaulter in Southern California this season.

And he's just getting started.

"I've known I can do this," he said.

For years, he watched his older brother, Greg, and his sister, Elizabeth, who set school records at Mater Dei and are now pole vaulters at UCLA. Greg was a two-time Southern Section Division II champion and Elizabeth was a four-time girls' champion.

His father, Greg Sr., a former San Jose State pole vaulter who cleared 18-5 in 1984, serves as coach for three of his four children. Only Patrick, an eighth-grader who's a top water polo player, hasn't tried pole vaulting.

As for his latest pole vaulting prodigy, Greg said, "I would say he has a burning desire to be as good as them because he's watched them for so long."

Woepse wasn't allowed to pole vault except for once a year since seventh grade because his father didn't want him to suffer from burnout. The strategy seems to have worked.

"I love it now," he said.

Woepse gave up basketball after playing as a freshman. His pole vaulting was limited last season because he had a stress fracture in his right femur and a stress fracture on the left side of his pelvis.

Now healthy, except for the normal cuts, bruises, aches and pains pole vaulters experience after hitting bars or landing awkwardly, Woepse has been soaring and setting career-best marks almost weekly.

Blessed with strength and speed, he has the power and athleticism to excel in an event that requires a fearless attitude and a belief that you can fly after being launched by a fiberglass pole.

"Once you're upside down, you can feel it, and when the pole works, it shoots you off the top, and it's awesome," he said. "The best part is if you make a high bar. Your adrenaline is pumping, everyone is clapping and it's the best feeling in the world."

Pole vaulters have always been considered a different breed of athlete. They show up to meets with lawn chairs and colorful hats, then actually root for each other.

"We're all having fun," Woepse said. "It's not like most sports where the people you compete against you don't like. At the last meet, people I didn't know were rushing the pit and clapping for me."

Woepse is a worthy representative of the pole vaulter's free spirit. He has gone hang gliding, bungee jumping, skimboarding, snowboarding . . .

"Anything fast, anything fun," he said.

His father has stressed commitment in everything his children do.

"Pole vaulting is 100% commitment," Greg Sr. said. "You can't be at the back of the runway hoping you have a good jump. You have to know you're going to have a good jump."

Woepse uses the same attitude when he's paddling in the ocean, searching for a wave.

"When you're surfing, you got to go or you're in big trouble," he said. "In pole vaulting, you got to go or you'll back up into the box. It's mental preparation."

Woepse leaves today to compete Saturday at the St. Francis Invitational in Northern California. In two weeks, he'll be at the Arcadia Invitational.

Mater Dei's school record of 16-7 in the pole vault is held by his brother, and Woepse said, "My brother is starting to get a little worried."

He should be worried, because the sky's the limit for a younger brother who's showing everyone how to have fun.