GOING UP The state’s top pole vaulter and Liberty High School student Brooke Bull soars up toward the bar at the New York City Armory. Photo courtesy of Brooke Bull
Liberty pole vaulter rises to the top in NY
High schooler’s ‘wild ride’ over the bar
By Eva Wells | Manor Ink
How does it feel to be 12 feet up in the air? Brooke Bull knows exactly that feeling! Brooke is a senior at Liberty Central School and is currently the No. 1 pole vaulter in New York State. Amazingly, Brooke has only been vaulting for 18 months, but nevertheless has topped all vaulters in the state this season.
Pole vaulting is a very technical sport, requiring understanding of science and diligent training to lift the body high without a motor or wings. Does she get scared? “I don’t think about it, you’re concentrating on your technique and hoping the pole doesn’t fall on you,” Brooke said.
Brooke had been a gymnast and hurdler early on while attending Roscoe High School, but after transferring to Liberty, Coach Rich Feeney suggested she switch to vaulting. Brooke undertook training at Hudson Valley Flying Circus, a pole vaulting school in Warwick, where she was told to “strap on a helmet and buckle up, as it’s going to be a wild ride.”
Bull’s funniest moment came in a meet where on her first two passes (you get three at each level as the bar is raised after a successful vault), her pole wasn’t placed correctly in the metal launch box, causing her to fall. She realized she had started at the wrong starting line for her run-up, so moved back on her third (and successful) attempt. When she told her coach what happened, he teased her saying, “That’s Brooke math.” That was the meet she went on to clear 12 feet.
Brooke’s favorite athlete is, of course, Katie Moon, the American pole vaulter who won the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics and the ’22 and ’23 World Championships
Bull has a couple meets still to go this season, including one at the prestigious Divisional Finals at the New York City Armory in March. She hopes to continue her vaulting in college, where she expects to major in criminal justice.
FUTURE ALL-AMERICANS Reporter Skyelar Roberts and his teammates pose for a picture in the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. Provided photo
A trip to Dallas to play on NFL turf
By Skyelar Roberts | Manor Ink
Over the winter break, I went down to Dallas, TX, to play football in AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. I play in a travel football league called Dream All-American. I’m also a defensive end on the Rockland Central School team in the fall, but in Texas I was a linebacker.
The idea behind the league is to help aspiring players get into major college sports programs. Statistics from the games we play, e.g., tackles, interceptions, running yards and receptions, are sent to college recruiters.
We flew out of LaGuardia Airport and, after landing, were transported to a really nice hotel in Dallas. In addition to the game, we spent a couple of days in Texas and a day at Six Flags, which was really exciting.
We had three days of practices and then a ring ceremony, during which the teams picked their captains. On game day, the temperature was in the single digits, and we had to wait at least a half hour to get into the stadium, which was beautiful in the bright morning sunshine. I played on the kicking teams and starting defense. I was able to record six solo tackles and a couple of assisted tackles, despite hurting my wrist and thumb early on.
By the time the game ended, I was sweating bullets. But I felt fortunate to be able to play with so many kids from throughout the US. And we got to tour the Cowboys’ locker room and snap photos in front of the lockers of some great players afterwards. I was especially impressed how clean their locker room was, compared to the ones I’m used to!
Lady Bulldogs best Wolves to take tourney
By Manor Ink Staff
GAME ON Rockland and Sullivan West face off at the start of the tournament’s championship game. Provided photo
Livingston Manor, NY – Rockland Central School recently hosted the annual Audra Sipple-Spath Memorial Scholarship Basketball Tournament on Jan. 23 and 24. The tournament is held annually in honor of beloved long-time elementary teacher Sipple-Spath who was known for her dedication, kindness and love for her students.
Teams at play were varsity girls from Rockland, Sullivan West, Fallsburg and Tri-Valley. Sullivan West emerged as first place champions of the tournament followed by second place team Rockland, and Tri-Valley won the consolation spot after facing off with Fallsburg.
Members of the Audra Sipple-Spath All Tournament Team were Meghan Kelly, SW Bulldogs; Gia Ibarra, Rockland Wolves; Addison Dymond, TV Bears; and Joslyn Smith, Fallsburg Comets.
All varsity players and coaches are to be commended for their time, commitment and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
Thanks to the generosity of the community, over $1,400 was collected in contributions during the two-day event. Those proceeds will be awarded to two Rockland seniors who will pursue a career in education, each receiving $500 at their graduation ceremony in June.
The Scholarship Committee wishes to thank all those who braved the cold temperatures to support the memorial basketball tournament in one form or another. Once again, the Sullivan County community has pulled together to show outstanding support for a worthy cause.