Evergreen pole vaulter Ailish Ocasek soars to success
EVERGREEN, Colo. — At 16 years old, Ailish Ocasek is already learning to master a key life lesson that many multi-tasking adults strive to remember in thick of stressful situations: 鈥淭he best piece of advice I have ever received was to take things one step at a time,鈥� says the Evergreen High School pole vaulter.
鈥淪lowing the movement down really helps [my] mind take its time and the sport becomes so much easier. First plant. Then bend the pole. Toes to the top. Bend your arm. Turn over the bar — and release! Processing these steps as I am going helps me not rush through the jump and get as high as possible, [but] I think this also applies to life. Taking one step at a time for just about anything slows time down and reduces stress, ultimately making the outcome better.鈥�
After injuring her ACL while pole vaulting during her freshman year, Ocasek spent nearly a full year recovering and was cautious when she re-entered the sport at the beginning of her sophomore season.
鈥淭he first few meets of the season, I wasn’t doing a good job clearing new heights or even opening height at all,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淭his really got to me, because my entire goal for the season was to make it to the state championships and not [being able to clear] opening height wasn鈥檛 getting me anywhere.鈥�
Frustrated by her lack of progress, Ocasek realized that the only way to overcome her fear and improve her performance was to slow the process down, give it her all and stop getting into her head.
鈥淥nce I figured that out, something clicked and I was myself again,鈥� she shares. 鈥淚 put my all into practice every single day. I got there ready to pole vault my heart out and push myself to the limits. Sometimes I was the only one practicing, and even when I wasn鈥檛 practicing, I was in the gym working out the muscles that would make me better.鈥�
Ocasek often finds herself going straight from pole vaulting practice to gymnastics or diving practice every day, and even coaching gymnastics at Wulf Recreation Center on the side. She credits her teammates and her pole vaulting coach, Kertt Jodie, for creating a fun and supportive environment that motivates her to keep giving it her all.
鈥淸My teammate] Julia Kammerer taught me that practice doesn’t have to be serious all the time,鈥� Ocasek says. 鈥淪he brings the 鈥榯ea to the table鈥� every day, always ready to share and make people laugh. It really loosens up the team dynamic and [. . .] helps me get out of my head and stay in a positive mood the entire practice. I know every single practice will be full of fun and excitement.鈥�
That combination of staying in the process, practicing hard and having fun helped Ocasek meet her goal of competing in the state championships this past year, where she ended up earning 13th place and clearing 9 feet 8 inches overall 鈥� but her proudest moment of the season, she says, was actually during the second-to-last meet of the season.
鈥淚 needed to clear 9 feet to make it into the top 18 to go to state. I had been trying to make 9 feet for three meets before that one, and it was hit or miss in practice. At this meet, my coach decided to put the bar at 9 feet 2 inches and not just 9 feet. It made me aggravated, because it was the last qualifying meet and [I thought] there was no way I could clear it,鈥� Ocasek recalls. 鈥淏ut then I made it! That was such a proud moment for me, because I had finally cleared the height I鈥檇 been trying to clear for three weeks and it meant that I had met my goal for the season, which was going to state.鈥�
In addition to slowing things down to reduce stress and stay focused, Ocasek has learned another lesson early on that helps boost her confidence as she navigates sports and life, and that is the power of dressing for success.
鈥淚 believe that in order to perform your best, you have to look your best,鈥� she concludes. 鈥淪o before every meet, I always put two braids into a ponytail and add blue and gold ribbons!鈥�
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