De Pere’s Fabry soars to the top at state
LA CROSSE – Olivia Fabry took a moment to exhale Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse.
The De Pere junior was at the top of the podium at the WIAA state track and field meet and soaking up the view.
“It just feels like a whole world is being lifted off of my shoulders,” said Fabry, who won the Division 1 girls state title in the pole vault. “I really wanted it, so I’m happy right now.”
Fabry won the state championship with a vault of 12 feet, 6 inches to top Wisconsin Lutheran senior Hailey Orlowski.
Fabry was joined on the state podium by junior teammate Grace Kowalkowski (third place) and Bay Port senior Olivia Mabry (fifth place).
It’s the second straight year all three local competitors were on the state podium together. Fabry’s title marks the third time in five years a De Pere girl has won the D1 state title in the pole vault.
Fabry made three attempts at 12-8 to try and break De Pere alumna Kylie Swiekatowski’s D1 state record of 12-7.
That record will have to wait until next year for Fabry, who was especially nervous Friday as she set her sights on a state title in her third state appearance.
“He was just telling me to calm down,” Fabry said about her dad, Ryan, who is De Pere’s pole vault coach.
Fabry continued to do her special handshake with her dad before her attempts. It appropriately ends with them both making a No. 1 sign.
Fabry, who led the state honor roll for a second straight year, cleared 12-8 earlier this season, which she dedicated to a childhood friend that passed away.
She wore a black bracelet on her right ankle in remembrance of him.
“I wore it every time I vaulted this year,” Fabry said.
Kowalkowski earned a top three spot on the podium for a third time Friday.
The De Pere junior finished as the runner-up in 2016 and placed third for a second straight year.
“It definitely feels good to make it in the top three again,” said Kowalkowski, who cleared 12 feet “I just had to put everything together and swing quick and do what I normally do.”
Mabry enjoyed her final meet of her high school career.
After reaching the state podium for a second straight year, Mabry will continue to vault at Grand Valley State.
The trio continued the Green Bay area’s dominance in the D1 girls pole vault. Their collective performance Friday marked the sixth straight year at least two local competitors medaled in the event.
“I’m really happy that I could spend my last meet with Grace and Fabry because they’ve really just been there for me throughout,” said Mabry, who cleared 11-6.