Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(written by Emily Zadny, Student Sports Information Assistant)

May 23, 2016 - Rick Harper, the boys' track and field coach at Davis (California) High School knew that one of his athletes had what it took to be a great pole vaulter. This young man was fast, using his talents in relay events and hurdles, and had a strong upper body.

But six years later, it's hard to believe that North Central College men's track and field athlete Spencer LaHaye did not enjoy the first time he picked up a pole.

"I couldn't stand how awkward it was, so I said, 'to heck with that,'" said LaHaye. "One day, my friend and I decided to go pole vault since we had nothing to do after practice and when I picked it up, I fell in love with it, and that's all she wrote. I love to be challenged and work hard and pole vault certainly has all that."

Having played other sports such as golf, baseball and football, and even earning a black belt in karate, Lahaye has a solid athletic foundation and discovered his passion for pole vault as a sophomore in high school. The challenges the sport presents each time he steps on the runway has played a significant role in his life.
 
"When people try to describe pole-vaulting to me, they say it's 'that thing where you run and then pull yourself up over the bar.' Ironically, that's how I tried it for the first time," he said. "But really, you're not pulling yourself up; instead, you are swinging off the ground to align yourself with the pole so when it unwinds, all your energy is directed upwards, and the pole is doing the work.

"Pole vault is an extremely technical sport, with many variables, and is never as simple as it seems. We [pole vaulters] are a unique breed."

Being a part of that unique breed at North Central was what drew LaHaye to Naperville. Former Davis High teammate Derek Nelson '14, who was on the Cardinals' roster, planted the seed in LaHaye's head that North Central would be a place where he could foster his athletic talent with the help of the Cardinals' renowned pole vault coach, North Central Athletic Hall of Famer Tim Winder.

His adventurous nature led him to take the chance and move halfway across the country to begin his college career. And while he doesn't miss many of the stereotypical things that most people think Californians would miss, coming to Naperville was definitely a big step.

"My parents are two of my best friends and even though I ventured off on my own, nothing beats home," he said. "I certainly don't take living in California for granted, but I don't miss things like most people expect. I moved around quite a bit growing up, so I learned to appreciate new things each new place I live, and Naperville is no exception. As Coach Winder would say, 'Midwest winters will toughen you up,' and that they have!"

LaHaye has been fortunate to have the support of his parents, teammates, and coaches during his athletic career. He attributes a lot of his growth and success to his coaches in both high school and at North Central who believed in him and gave him a chance to develop his talents, as well as become a better person.

"I have been blessed with two amazing coaches, Rick Harper in high school, and now Tim Winder," said LaHaye. "Those are two special people in my life who, if I can be half the man they are, I will be very thankful. Both have taught me a lot about pole vaulting, but the life lessons they have taught me have been most important and shaped me mentally, physically and spiritually."

For someone with a 14-foot personal best coming out of high school, the growth he has experienced since his first practice as a Cardinal and with one year still to go has been tremendous. As a sophomore, he qualified to compete at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships where he placed 17th overall. This past season, he set new personal bests indoors (15'9") and outdoors (16'0 3/4"). He also placed second at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Indoor Championship and fourth at the CCIW Outdoor Championship.

LaHaye will cap off his outdoor season this weekend when he returns to the national championships, one of three North Central athletes to make the 20-man field in the pole vault.

"I am grateful for another opportunity to share a special time with [the team]," he said. "It was great to have two other North Central [vaulters] competing, upholding the tradition we have of vaulting at a high level. I look forward to the day when we have even more red and white on that runway."

LaHaye has reached new heights both athletically and academically the last three years. An interactive media studies major, he has put his talents to good use as the graphic designer for the North Central Sports Information Department, creating all of the promotional graphics for the College's athletics-based social media channels and running the @NCC_Athletics Twitter account during football games.

His experience with the athletic department has sparked his interest in working as an in-house designer or creative content director for Division I schools or professional sports teams.
 
"I have always been on the creative side," he said. "I would enter coloring contests for our grocery store when I was a little kid. I took every art class offered in middle and high school. I'm not that great at drawing or painting though, so when I took a graphic design class in high school, I knew I found something!

"During my senior year, I had to decide between studying exercise science, which I considered the safe route, or follow graphic design and do something I love, while not knowing the outcome. I went with graphic design because I do love an adventure!"

The time and effort LaHaye has put into his academics and athletics has paid off, despite not living what he would call a stereotypical college life. At this year's Honors Day celebration, he was inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society (NCAHS) and has been an Academic All-CCIW selection the last three years. As a sophomore, he was honored by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as an All-Academic honoree.

With keeping a busy schedule and the dedication his sport requires, LaHaye has become skilled at not only his craft, but also managing his time. While he admits it can be a challenge and that often times, sacrifices have to be made, he is glad he loves what he does and has the opportunities to grow in his sport and major at North Central.

"I am a huge nerd on the inside," said LaHaye. "I love video games, but between practice, school, work and what little social life I have after getting nine hours of sleep every night, that has been put on hold in college. While it has not been easy, I have chosen my priorities and learned to manage my time very well. I like to be efficient in everything I do; yet another thing I owe to Coach Winder.  However, I am extremely passionate about my job and pole vault, so if anyone asked me what my hobbies were, that's what I'd say!"

This year's Division III Outdoor Championships will be held this weekend in Waverly, Iowa on the campus of Wartburg College. LaHaye and teammates Luke Winder and Dylan Kuipers will compete in the pole vault on Thursday, beginning at noon.