Kenny Greaves Article (TX)

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Coppell vaulter Greaves has dealt with string of bad breaks
11:49 PM CST on Wednesday, February 22, 2006
By BRANDON GEORGE / The Dallas Morning News
COPPELL – Pole vaulter Kenny Greaves advanced to the state meet for the first time last season but has since faced bad break after bad break.
Greaves, now a junior at Coppell, finished in a three-way tie for fourth at the Class 5A state meet by clearing 15 feet. Along the way, he broke one of his poles.
Little did he know, the break would be a sign of what was ahead.

Last summer, he broke three poles during competition before breaking bones once football practice started.
Greaves began the season as Coppell's starting quarterback. In a scrimmage, an opposing player accidentally punched Greaves through his face mask and broke his nose.
He returned for Coppell's second game and broke a bone in his right leg. Out again, it appeared as if Greaves' first varsity football season was over. However, Greaves worked his way back to health in time for Coppell's game against Irving MacArthur. And, again, Greaves was injured. This time, he broke his left collarbone after being tackled.
Determined and not deterred by frequent doctor visits, Greaves didn't quit. He returned for Coppell's season finale and played some at wide receiver.
"I kind of had a streak of breaking bones and breaking poles this past year," Greaves said. "This has really been the first year in any sport to have those kinds of injury problems. I guess I was due. I just figure I'm getting them all out of the way so I won't have any next year."
The way luck has gone for Greaves this season, one would believe he'd think twice before launching his body 16 feet in the air feet-first.
That's just not Greaves' nature. He's a go-getter.
"His main asset is that he's probably the hardest worker there ever was," said Don Kemp, Coppell's boys pole vault and high jump coach. "He's very dedicated, and he's a tough kid. Maybe he's got all of the breaks out of his way. I'm looking for him to have a great year."
Greaves started pole vaulting as a seventh-grader but came into his own as a sophomore. Early last season, Greaves continually cleared 13 feet, 6 inches but struggled to get over 14 feet.
Since he started vaulting, Greaves wore a helmet for safety. But he forgot his helmet for a regular-season meet last year. Without the helmet, he cleared 14 feet for the first time.
"I haven't worn the helmet since," Greaves said. "It's a superstitious thing."
Not long after, Greaves cleared a career-best 15-7 while competing unattached at a meet before making his run toward the state meet.
Greaves said his size (6-5, 180) helps him vault, and he credits his personnel coaches – Carl and Jeff Erickson – for his ability to continually improve his marks each year.
Carl Erickson and his son, Jeff, run a pole vaulting camp each summer at Jeff's home in Jacksonville, Texas. Greaves said he has attended the camp every summer since seventh grade and has made the trip to East Texas at least 50 times on weekends for more tutoring.
The Ericksons have an extensive pole vaulting background. Carl is a former pole vault coach at Texas and Baylor, and Jeff is a former Texas state champion and record holder in the pole vault from Dawson High School who went on to clear a personal-best 17-10 at the University of New Mexico.
The Ericksons say Greaves has a chance to win a state championship this season.
"I knew he had talent the first time I saw him, but he just didn't know how to pole vault," Jeff Erickson said. "He's tall, and height makes a big difference in pole vaulting. With his angle of attack, he can grip the pole higher than other people because he's taller. He can use longer poles and it makes it easier for him.
"He's come a long ways – and now he's the real deal."
E-mail bgeorge@dallasnews.com