Alwine's Risk Rewarded with Top Vault
By
Wes Morgan
Special for MHSAA.com
June 5, 2019
Wyatt Alwine was one more failed attempt away from having a very bad day at last Saturday’s MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 3 Track & Field Finals.
With some of his adrenaline reserve drained from a long rain delay, the Constantine junior — seeded No. 1 entering the meet — described himself as a “mental case” after having missed his first two tries at an opening height of 12 feet, 3 inches, one of which ended in the grass.
After finishing third overall for all-state status a year earlier, Alwine was in danger of not posting a height at all.
“My head just wasn’t there,” he said. “The rain delays didn’t help. I think that was one of the main reasons for a lack of focus.”
A calming influence for Alwine throughout the storms was first-year Constantine pole vault coach Stephanie Teeple — a past three-time Finals champion at Sturgis (1998, 2000, 2001) who went on to do big things at the University of Nebraska and Western Michigan University, including breaking the WMU outdoor record. She always could count on her coach and father, Wes Teeple, who set a school record at Eastern Michigan University and won two league titles, and her mother, Cheryl, who also coached at Sturgis. Oh, and there was older brother Brad to lean on as well. Brad Teeple won a Class B crown in 1999 and went on to compete for Alabama and Nebraska.
Wes and Cheryl Teeple have made it to most Constantine meets this season after Stephanie joined the staff.
“It’s good to have their whole family,” Alwine said. They all come out and support us. It’s a family thing. They definitely know what they’re talking about.”
And when Alwine found himself on the brink of elimination Saturday, he was ready for some encouragement.
“He struggled a little bit on the first two and put it together on the third one,” Stephanie Teeple said of Alwine’s start to the day. “You can either give up or want it, pull through and clear it. Once he got those jitters out, he just improved from there.”
Alwine ended up with a personal-record of 14-3 to win the LPD3 championship, edging Beaverton junior Will Aldrich, who topped out at 14-0 in what ended up being a much more high-flying finals than in 2018. Alwine jumped 13-3 last year for his third-place finish — a height that was not even good enough for a top-eight spot this year.
But even after regaining confidence, Alwine had to trust his coach in crunch time. After clearing 13-9, it was time to take a chance.
Teeple told Alwine to move up to a 15-foot pole that he had never tried. This might not sound difficult to the uninitiated. But for anyone who has had the guts to vault, it’s a rocket ride into the unknown. Added length requires more speed, more strength, a rock-solid plant and nerves of steel. Breaking one out on the biggest stage amplifies the importance of all the above.
“I said, ‘I don’t know about this,’” Alwine recalled. “It’s a big pole. I just listened to her, and it ended up working out.”
“If he wouldn’t have gotten on that bigger pole, I’m not sure he would have gotten over 14-3 to win the meet,” Teeple said. “That’s all it takes, is one kid to get on a bigger pole and it makes all the difference. But that’s what’s good about Wyatt; he is pretty fearless. He has the tools to be a good vaulter, so I’m just glad I get to coach him and do what I know how to do best. I’m really excited for the future to see what he can do.”
Alwine wasn’t able to get over 14-6 cleanly as his leg caught the bar on his descent. After reviewing film of the attempt, Alwine said his body was nearly a foot over the bar.
“I knew I had something special when I got third at state,” Alwine said. “This year, with Miss Teeple coming in, she gave me pointers that really helped me more. It was a lot different. But it kind of clicked a lot better with me. Miss Teeple brought up how the bottom arm is your power. The plant is most important. That and moving up poles got me up to higher heights.
“It kind of got me stoked to do some summer vaulting with her because I know the height is there. It’s exciting (that I won), but I’m already excited to get back to it.”
Wes Morgan has reported for the Kalamazoo Gazette, ESPN and ESPNChicago.com, 247Sports and Blue & Gold Illustrated over the last 12 years and is the publisher of JoeInsider.com. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Constantine’s Wyatt Alwine clears the pole vault bar during the 2018 season. (Middle) Alwine, this spring. (Top photo courtesy of JoeInsider.com; middle courtesy of Wyatt Alwine.)
Emeott Closes Prep Career Helping Vault East Kentwood to Team Title #9
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
May 30, 2026
ROCKFORD – Reece Emeott went from not knowing state history to making it.
The East Kentwood senior said he wasn't aware he could become the first pole vaulter in state history to win three-straight MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals titles until he was informed that was indeed what he accomplished following Saturday's meet at Rockford.
Emeott shook off some unexpected setbacks to win this time with a vault of 16 feet, 6 inches. After becoming the first sophomore ever to win the Division 1 pole vault two years ago, then repeating the feat last spring, Emeott said he prefers not to live in the past.
"I try to focus on the now," said Emeott, whose finish sparked the Falcons to their Finals team title since 2019. "I don't think about the past or winning other state titles. I just take it day-by-day, but that is crazy, to win three state titles."
East Kentwood narrowly won the team prize, finishing with 63 points to 62 for runner-up Detroit Catholic Central.
Emeott's title featured a couple of strange turns, including a pass at the15-feet, 9-inch mark, then a miss at 16 feet. At one point late in the event, he ranked just fifth.
"It wasn't how I planned it at all," said Emeott, who will compete at Michigan next season. "I had a sprained foot, and I was kind of nervous about it. I couldn't do everything I wanted. There's pressure, but only because I need to score points to help the team. It would have been bad luck not to win."
Falcons coach Dave Emeott, whose teams have now won nine Finals titles, said the latest championship comes on the heels of a book he wrote last December, "Beyond The Finish Line." The book stresses the importance of relationships, positive parental involvement, the role of winning and being process oriented. Emeott admits the program may have drifted from those factors since winning three straight Division 1 titles from 2017-19.
"We had kind of a drought, and I looked at myself and the team and tried to figure out what we were doing," he said. "I thought, 'Hey, maybe we should be doing those things again. It was a magical year. I thought we could be in the conversation (for a title), but then again, there were days I would have said I don't know."
East Kentwood's other first place came from the 800 relay (1:26.76).
Among the other championships were a pair by Detroit Catholic Central's Zacchaeus Brocks, who captured the 300 hurdles (36.33) and 110 hurdles (13.40). The 300 time is the fourth-best in the country. He was seeded first in both events.
"I got out hard and set the tone," said Brocks, whose 2025 season was prematurely ended by a stress fracture in his toe. "I knew it was in me. I was anxious, but never defeated. I knew I had the confidence and grit to go out and get it. It's a great legacy to leave."
Rodney Endsley of Walled Lake Western was also a double winner, taking the 200 (21.14) and 400 (47.11), with the 16th and 17th-best times, respectively, in state history in those two events.
"I'm not a cocky guy, but when I feel I can win, I do," he said.
Wendell Childs Jr. of Clarkston successfully defended his 2025 title by winning the 800 (1:50.81), less than two seconds ahead of runner-up Greg Myers of Ypsilanti Lincoln. Childs Jr. won last year's title with a 1:51.49.
"Greg is a tough competitor, and I worked and worked to get to the point where I didn't think anybody could beat me," he said. "Last year was big for me, but I knew this was going to be tough."
Luka Hammond of Grand Haven also repeated by winning the 1,600 (4:09.53). Hammond said he learned a valuable lesson about health after what he called "limping" through last fall's cross country season.
"My body got beat up, and I learned my lesson," he said. "I learned that missing a couple days doesn't need to affect you. The most important thing is to be healthy, and I didn't have any problems this spring.
"There was definitely more pressure because I wasn't even supposed to be here last year. I'd be lying if I said I could be here. But you can't let that get the best of you."
Vernall Lee of Detroit Martin Luther King won the 100 (10.76), barely inching past runner-up Peyton Trammer of Belleville (10.77).
"It's a good feeling," said Lee, who was slowed by a pulled hamstring and broken ankle suffered six months ago. "It's mental. I knew it was going to be a tough challenge when I couldn't even walk. I'm still not completely healthy (with the hamstring), maybe 75-80 percent. But the ankle is completely healed."
Among the other champs were Detroit Catholic Central’s Paxton Heitsch in the shot (58-6) and Malachi Clayton in the long jump (24-5). Jase Behmlander of Saginaw Heritage won the high jump (6-10), Cameron Gramzow of New Baltimore Anchor Bay won the discus (172-1) and Brandon Cloud of Northville won the 3,200 (9:02.40).
Detroit Renaissance won the 1,600 relay (3:17.14), Detroit Catholic Central the 400 (41.50) and Ann Arbor Pioneer the 3,200 (7:40.02).
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North’s Cooper Shain (100, 200, 400) and South Lyon’s Owen Moerdyke (shot put) finished first in adaptive events.
PHOTOS (Top) East Kentwood's Reece Emeott clears the bar during a pole vault Saturday. (Middle) Detroit Catholic Central's Zacchaeus Brocks, center, sprints toward the finish in the 110 hurdles. (Click for more from John Brabbs, Carter Sherline and Jamie McNinch/RunMichigan.com.)