Dave Gorman Memorial Vault in Gettysburg

[Bubba PV]

So sorry to have missed this event but we have Alan Launder in town. I knew Dave well and what a great spirit and enthusiam he had for life and vaulting. His brother, Steve, is one of my best friends in vaulting ever. He did himself and his brother's memory proud with this event. Bubba

http://www.eveningsun.com/ci_12656573

Lake Heritage provides backdrop for pole vault
By CORY MULL
Posted: 06/21/2009 01:00:00 AM EDT

Pole vault has never been mis taken for a glamour event in track and field. It's a rather arduous event that's painstakingly focused on detail.
Yet on Saturday at the Gettys burg Marine Center at Lake Heri tage, it resembled something completely different.

The marina provided the per fect locale for the Dave Gorman Memorial Vault on the waterfront.

Combined with the soothing electric chords of Depeche Mode, the unusual summer competition resembled an early '80s Miami beachfront, complete with pole vault pit.

"That genre of music is always on when I'm vaulting at Steve Gor man's house," said Lindsey Kopen haver, a 2008 graduate of Hanover High. "It always has been when I've vaulted there the past two years. It

Delone Catholic's Kevin Brady warms up during the pole vaulting competition at the Dave Berman Memorial Pole Vault at Lake Heritage on Saturday. (Evening Sun Photo by Shane Dunlap)gives you a relaxing feel."
Steve Gorman put together the fundraiser in honor of his brother Dave, who died last year in a pool accident.

Dave helped countless athletes from the state prepare for their track and field seasons in his years as a coach, so Steve thought it was only fitting that he give back in this unique setting.

Twenty-nine vaulters from across the state, including Delone Catholic's Caine Morehead and Kevin Brady, Kopenhaver and New Oxford's Jayna Stover, were in attendance.

Each vaulter was charged a fee to enter the competition and the donations were pooled into the fundraiser that Steve deemed ap propriate - profits went to the "On the Edge Foundation," a local non-profit organization that


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offers mentally and physically disabled individuals the opportunity to participate in water sports and other fun activities.
A black-surface runaway was positioned adjacent to the marina's waterfront and boat dock while a blue vault ing pit was placed directly behind the runway.

"This location is really nice," Brady said. "I'd defi nitely like to vault here more often."

A scorekeeper's table was also placed parallel to the runway and an XM radio input was hooked up so that while the vaulters were en trenched in their routine, they would be able to listen to soft alternative rock.

That's something most vaulters rarely have a chance to do - listen to music and compete.

Kopenhaver, who recently completed her freshman year at West Virginia University, where she was a member of the track and field team in pole vault, said that luxury was welcome, even if she didn't know exactly who De peche Mode was.

"I like it," she said. "Today was the first time that I com peted with music on. At other meets it's illegal, so it was pretty cool."

Brady and Morehead were also too young to recognize the soft sounds of Depeche Mode, but Brady was appreci ative, saying "I'll download some of this on my iPod."

The competition was treat ed like a typical pole vault event and each vaulter was given three jumps to success fully clear a height. If they didn't, however, Steve al lowed vaulters to "buy back" into the competition for five dollars.

Kopenhaver remembers training with Dave and she credits him for a big lift in her senior season.

"When I trained with him it wasn't just like 'Let's go and win,'" she said. "It was never about that. He always wanted me to win, and that's always the ultimate goal, but if I didn't he would always help me out. And that's why people were so drawn to him. I think a lot of the people here have worked with him or jumped with him at some point. His personality was so contagious."