De Pere’s Fabry hopes to end season on a high note

Olivia Fabry is in a much better position than she was last year at this time.

The De Pere junior once again finds herself in the top spot on Wisconsin Track Online’s state honor roll for the girls pole vault.

Fabry once again enters the WIAA state track and field meet having won conference, regional and sectional titles.

The big difference is Fabry doesn’t need crutches to get around a few days before competing for a state championship.

“I hope this is my year,” Fabry said. “I’m healthy, so that’s good.”

Fabry’s finish at sectionals last season was anything but good.

After having already won the sectional title, she made an attempt at 12 feet, 6 inches to try and secure the top seed for state.

Fabry landed awkwardly on the attempt with her cleat catching on the mat. It resulted in a torn meniscus in her left knee.

She battled through the pain to reach the podium with a fourth-place finish the following week, but it wasn’t what she had been hoping for, especially after clearing 13-1 earlier in the season to tie for second on the all-time performance list in state history.

Fabry, who became the sixth girl in state history to clear 13 feet, hasn’t reached that mark again in a meet this year. Still, she leads the state honor roll with a vault of 12-8 from March 26 at the Oshkosh Girls Large School Invite.

“I think I’m more consistent,” said Fabry, who cleared 12-6 at sectionals. “Last year, I would go 13 feet, but then go 11-6. This year, I’ve been over 12 mostly all the time. I feel more consistent and mentally there.”

There will once again be a contingent of area girls vaulters in the Division 1 field.

Fabry is joined by junior teammate Grace Kowalkowski and Bay Port senior Olivia Mabry. All three reached the state podium last year to make it five straight years the Green Bay area has had at least two medalists in Division 1 for the event.

This is the fifth consecutive season De Pere has sent at least two individuals to state in the girls pole vault.

Kowalkowski is a two-time state medalist, having finished as the runner-up in 2016 before placing third last year.

Fabry, Kowalkowski and Mabry are seeded 2-3-4 behind Wisconsin Lutheran senior Hailey Orlowski, who cleared 12-7 at the West Allis Central sectional.

The local trio will attempt to bring home another state championship to the Green Bay area, which has won 10 of 17 state titles in Division 1 since the girls pole vault was added to the state meet as an event in 2001.

“I get so nervous that I’m shaking when I get ready to vault,” said Fabry, who will be making her third state appearance. “I probably get way too warm in between vaults because I’m always running and doing handstands. It doesn’t really improve my vault. It’s just so I don’t freak out I guess.”

The WIAA state record for all divisions was set in 2014 when Wrightstown’s Bonnie Draxler cleared 13-3 to win her fourth Division 2 state title.

De Pere’s Kylie Swiekatowski set the WIAA Division 1 state record in 2016 with a vault of 12-7. Fabry advanced to state as an extra qualifier that year and finished ninth.

She’s hoping a state championship of her own will be within reach this year.

“I’m just excited to go back and have a third opportunity,” Fabry said. “Hopefully, it’s better than the last two were. I’m healthy this time, so I really hope I can calm my nerves down and do better this year.”

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