Students come from across the state to learn pole vaulting from Carl Erickson. Erickson has produced numerous national champions, been an Olympic Coach and sent students to the Olympic Trials. And yet, Erickson has never pole vaulted himself.
He studied pole vaulting after his son was told he was too fat to pole vault. His son later became a state champion, but it was the loss of his right leg in a hunting accident that decided Erickson to go into coaching, a decision he's never regretted.
After a successful career at Baylor and The University of Texas, Erickson retired to Jacksonville where he teaches pole vaulting and is partner with his son in a company that makes vaulting poles. The company is called "Altius", which means "higher" in Greek. It is one of ony four vaulting pole manufacturers in the world.
Joan Hallmark, Reporting. joanhallmark@kltv.com
