Winder secured his first national title after clearing 16 feet, 11 inches on his third and final try.

The junior entered the competition at 16' 3 1/4" and was one of seven to survive the height after clearing it on his second attempt of the day. Winder needed just one try to clear 16' 7 1/4" before earning the national crown at 16' 11". With the win, Josh Winder and his brother Jake Winder '10 become the first brothers in NCAA Division III history to win the same event at Indoor Nationals as Jake earned titles during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

"It took hard work and faith in general. I had to trust in myself, in my coach and in God," said Winder

"The vaulters every year have an objective to be the best we can be collectively. On and off the track we try and stay as close as possible. We all live together down the street from North Central in a house, we train together and we do the same stuff."

Winder added an outdoor national title to his resume in 2013, clearing 16'4 3/4" to secure the win and earn the fourth straight NCAA outdoor championship in the event for North Central. Older brother Jake also won the outdoor championship in 2010.

Winder led throughout the competition in 2013, passing on the first three heights before clearing his first attempt at 16 feet, 3/4 inch. He sailed over two more bars at 16'2 3/4" and 16'4 3/4" to stay ahead of the field. As the bar was raised to 16'6 3/4", only Winder and Zach Ferrara of the State University of New York at Brockport remained.

"A common theme at North Central is, 'stay in the process,'" Winder said. "Today was a day I truly dove into the process. I really felt like I was in the zone. I tried not to let emotions take control. Whenever I needed a little more fuel, I might have dug into the emotions a little bit, but I never dwelt on them."

Winder and Ferrara both missed on all three attempts at 16'6 3/4", and Winder was declared the champion based on the fewest missed attempts. It was the eighth overall men's pole vault championship for the Cardinals.