Seymour’s Mattson sets the bar high
Logan Mattson looked more like a prize fighter than a pole vaulter May 2 at the Seymour Invite.
The Seymour sophomore achieved a personal-best mark of 13 feet to win the event and was making attempts at the school record of 13-7 while bouncing between attempts as one of the finalists in the high jump.
Mattson was also attempting to stop the bridge of his nose from bleeding after he busted open a wound he originally sustained on his trampoline.
“I’ve jumped on it as far back as I can remember,” said Mattson, who ranks in the top five in the Green Bay area this year for his marks in the pole vault and high jump.
The tricks and jumps Mattson grew up perfecting on his trampoline no doubt helped him become an ascending track and field standout.
More importantly, though, his trampoline may have saved his life.
Mattson sports a scar across his hairline that is the result of two brain surgeries he underwent almost two years ago to remove fluid in his cranium.
It was discovered after Mattson was accidentally kneed in the head by his cousin while jumping on his trampoline.
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“I was just getting super dizzy and wasn’t really feeling the greatest,” Mattson said. “We went to the hospital and they said it was more than a concussion, and I had to go to Milwaukee to get it checked out.
“I had a brain surgery that night. Then five days later, we thought I was on the road to recovery and I ended up having a seizure that night. As I was in the seizure, they put me in the MRI tube again and they found that I had more fluid on my brain.
“I had mega headaches and light hurt my eyes. I was up to 104 or 105 (degree) fevers. They said the fluid smelled so bad, so they knew it had been brewing in there for a while.”
It was obviously a scary time for Mattson and his family. He’s thankful the fluid was discovered, and he’s been able to recover fully to participate in sports again.
“Originally, what they told me when I was recovering was to not get my hopes up because there might not be a chance where I’d be able to play sports,” Mattson said.
Mattson not only recovered to compete in track & field as a freshman, but he showed a great deal of potential in advancing to WIAA sectionals in the high jump in addition to clearing 11 feet in the pole vault.
After sitting out a season, Mattson returned to playing football last fall.
The three-sport athlete is hoping to end his sophomore year on a high note as well by advancing to the WIAA state track and field meet.
Last Monday, Mattson won the Bay Conference title in the high jump by clearing 6-4.
He is aiming to clear 6-6 in the high jump by the end of the season. The school record of 6-10 was set by Alex Bloom, who went to compete at the University of Cincinnati.
Mattson would love to have the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level one day. However, just being able to compete at all right now is enough for him.
“I’m super blessed,” Mattson said. “I’m just so thankful that God guided me through the procedure and allowed me to continue to play sports and to keep going forward in life.”