Broncos fare well at State, By LAUREL BEAGER, Editor

Defending champ Gelo misses first place by inches

Defending champion Falls High senior Raphy Gelo took second Friday in the boys pole vault at the Class A State Track and Field Championships at Hamline University in St. Paul.
Gelo took second with a jump of 14 feet, 6 inches. First place went to Erick Romsdahl, of St. James, with a jump of 15 feet.
Senior Eric Solo took ninth in the boys discus throw Saturday with a throw of 145 feet, 5 inches and Bronco freshman Alicia Hendrickson took 14th place in the girls pole vault with a jump of 8 feet, 6 inches.
Coach Paul Hjelle said Gelo and Romsdahl were obviously more talented than the rest of the field.
“It came down to a battle between the best two vaulters in the state,” said Hjelle. “I though Raphy was going to clear 15 feet on his last attempt, but he just hit the bar hard enough with his arm and it was over. He gave it his best shot, but it just wasn’t good enough today.”
Hjelle complimented Romsdahl on his skills.
“He was just a little better than Raphy today,” Hjelle said Friday. “Raphy’s had a great run at state the last three years. He finished third as a sophomore, was the State champion last year and second this year — that’s pretty good.”
Solo was a bit tight starting off Saturday, which is to be expected at state competition, said Hjelle.
“That set him back a bit,” said Hjelle. “If he could have popped a good one right away, it would have released him and I think he would have thrown into the 160s.”
Hjelle said Solo’s performance was good. “His goal was to get up on that podium and he accomplished that,” said Hjelle. “He’ll remember that moment for the rest of his life.”
After the competition, Solo said he’d miss the Bronco track and field program.
“It was hard to accept ninth when I know I could have done better,” Solo said. “But I went down there with one of my goals as getting a medal and I did.”
“I had a blast down there throwing with the best in Minnesota, and the entire all around. Lots of great memories. I’m gonna miss it.”
Falls High was ranked 30th in the final team rankings among 71 schools participating.
The boys vaulted indoors on Friday, due to the weather. Rain cleared on Saturday and the mats were placed outside for the girls competition.
Coach Jen Erickson said vaulting outside was definitely a benefit for Hendrickson, because she didn’t have the large crowd pressing in around the vaulting area, like competitors in the indoor event did.
Hendrickson said she became anxious as she watched other girls perform before her, but hopes to again compete at the state competition in the future.
“When I got there and saw how high the other girls were jumping, it made me a little nervous. But after I warmed up, my nervousness settled down a bit,” she said. “I’m happy I cleared 8 feet, 6 inches, which is my best jump so far this season. It was an awesome experience and hopefully, with enough work and practice, I will get another opportunity to make it back in the future.”
Erickson said she was pleased with the freshman’s first appearance at state competition.
“Alicia vaulted very well, considering she is only a freshman and it was her first time competition at the state level,” said Erickson. “She was pretty nervous Thursday night when we practiced at Hamline’s facility with some of the other girl vaulters, but by Saturday she had settled down and was ready to compete.”
Hendrickson said the state-level of competition puts pressure on the competitors, but Hendrickson handled it well.
“You see too many girls choke when they get to the state competition, especially if it is their first time there, but Alicia had some great jumps and ended up clearing the height she came into the meet with.”
Erickson said she looks forward to watching Hendrickson’s skill improve.
“She has a lot of potential and now that she has competed at the state level, I know she will be ready to put whatever amount of time and work it takes into practice to make sure she gets another shot to compete at Hamline in the future,” Erickson said.