Anthony Trunzo Article (PA)

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http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05125/498882.stm

PG East: Penn-Trafford's Trunzo cracking vault

Thursday, May 05, 2005

By Colin Dunlap, Tri-State Sports & News Service

Penn-Trafford junior Anthony Trunzo loaded up his gear last November for the opening day of whitetail deer hunting season.

He made his way to Potter County, found a cozy spot in the woods and awaited his prize. But something funny happened on the way to bagging a trophy buck.

"I never even saw a deer," Trunzo said. "Nothing all day."

As luck would have it, and in an almost comical example of irony, Trunzo returned home and shot an 8-point buck in his Level Green backyard the next day.

Now, the pole vaulter is hoping the WPIAL Class AAA track and field championships May 19 will resemble more backyard than Potter County, more success than a day of coming up empty.

One of the top pole vaulters in the WPIAL, Trunzo has cleared 13 feet, 6 inches this season and is the third-ranked WPIAL Class AAA vaulter behind Jared Jordon of Laurel Highlands and Ron Walter of Baldwin, who have vaulted over the 14-foot mark.

"One of my main goals is that I would like to do well at WPIALs and then medal at [the PIAA meet]," said Trunzo, whose grandfather, George Kepic, pole vaulted for Donora High School, graduating in 1947.

"I actually expected to be clearing heights a little higher than I am right now. But, I'm working hard to get to where I want to be this year."

And Trunzo's hard work isn't limited to Penn-Trafford's practices.

On Saturdays when the weather permits pole vaulting, Trunzo heads to Norwin High School. Norwin is coached by Trinity Morgan, who is in his first year with the Knights after coaching at Penn-Trafford. Morgan was the one who first introduced Trunzo to the high-flying sport, when Trunzo was a freshman.

"Looking at him, he had great speed, was strong enough physically and has great determination to do well," Morgan said. "I told him to come over and give pole vaulting a try. He really only vaulted for about three weeks when he was a freshman and then last year, he was able to do it the whole year and really started to do well.

"When I moved over to Norwin, Anthony had said that he might quit because I wasn't there anymore and I told him he was foolish and that he better stick with it. Now, he's doing well and if he continues to work hard, he can be right there at the WPIAL championship."

A few dark clouds have rested above the world of WPIAL pole vaulting the past few weeks.

On Apr. 18, Knoch freshman Ryan Adler stalled in mid-jump, fell to the ground and landed on his head and shoulders in the plant box while trying to clear 9 feet at North Allegheny. He immediately fell unconscious and was taken, via ambulance, to Children's Hospital.

Adler remained in a drug-induced coma last week.

Mount Pleasant junior pole vaulter Ian Wirth had his leg broken at the Latrobe Invitational April 15.

Trunzo was just a few feet away from Wirth when he came down awkwardly during an attempt.

Trunzo said the injury was similar to what he remembers seeing when Jason Kendall's ankle was broken July 4, 1999. But this wasn't on television, the injury to Wirth was right in front of Trunzo.

"It was the grossest thing I have ever seen, definitely," Trunzo said.

"I was standing right there and watching him and he went up and then landed on his feet and then I guess his leg just snapped. It was terrible, I didn't want to jump after that, it really got to me."

But to Trunzo, injury such as those sustained by Adler and Wirth is something that is an understood risk when competing in the pole vault.

Trunzo has an easy, straight-to-the-point way of tackling any such thoughts involving accidents.

"I just don't think about it, that's all," he said.

"I just focus, because that's the best thing to do, I just focus on my jumps and what I need to do.

"If you think about [falling] than you are going to just keep thinking about it and thinking about it.

"That's why I just put it totally out of my mind."