University Daily Kansan
Friday, April 18, 1975
9
Vaulter scales meets, aims high
By STEVE BOYCE
Sports Writer
This is the story of an athlete, who at the age of 12 was so slow that he ran with the shotputters in track, yet was too weak to throw the shotpot. He wasn't good at football or basketball and at the age of 14 decided to specialize in the pole vault, an event that demands a combination of speed, strength and agility.
His name is Tad Scales. And from this inausipious beginning, he became the best high school pole vaulter in Kansas history. Last year as a senior Tad set the Kansas outdoor prep record in the vault at 16'2". About 100 college recruited him, including UCL.A., but Scales chose the University of Kansas as his jumping ground.
Once Scales decided he wanted to excel in the pole vault, the rewards were quick in coming. As a ninth grade at Central Junior High in Lawrence, he cleared 11'10"; a record height for the school. The following year, as a junior at LHS, Tom Walter got a glimpse of the young vaulter who was to become very important to L.H.S. during the next few years.
Scales credits much of his success to Waller's coaching. He said Waller knew the fundamentals well and made suggestions that helped him develop.
Waller prescribed a set of drills, which included a lot of running up and down stadium steps, to improve Scales' speed. In 1948 he was called "Y" at the state outdoor and placed fourth.
In his junior year, Scales was a red-卜vaulter. Stadium steps, drills, weight-lifting, film studies and help from former KUvaertner Jan Johnson and coach Waller had turned Scales' average speed and strength into good speed and strength.
As a junior, Scales was selected All-America by "School Coach" magazine. The stage was set for a senior年夜 assault on the national high school record of 167.7
Then Murphy's law went into operation, which states roughly that if anything can penetrate a wall, it can pass through.
"Tad never had any bad luck, really, through his first years in pole vaulting." Waller said, "and it all kind of came to a head and hit him during his senior year."
When Scales was lifting weights during the 1973 Christmas vacation he badly cut his left hand. Waller said this injury kept him from vaulting for about six weeks.
When Scales tried again to get into shape during the last part of February, he pulled a hamstring muscle. This injury delayed training for the state立院 for several weeks.
At the state indoor, Waller said, Scales passed to 15. Then he missed badly on all three attempts to clear that height. Waller said Scales had complained of not feeling quite right at the meet, and the next day was in bed with the flu. Tim Riley, a Wichita senior and Scales' perennial rival, won the indoor event.
Waller said two weeks later Scales was rested and had recovered from the illness. Then Scales vaulted 16'2" at the Shawnee Mission Northwest Relief, a personal best
Scales
and a state record. Waller said he thought that the game was over after that, when came the Kansas Rangers.
"He cleared 16 feet the year before at the Relays," Waller said, "and he was really looking forward to being in front of the home folks and going for all the marbles."
Then, Wednesday afternoon before the Relays Scales' father had a heart attack. Scales had to call the ambulance and get his father to the hospital.
"Tad is really close to his family," Waller said, and this really shook him up. His dad was in intensive care for about two weeks. He was up there in critical condition while trying to jump in the Kansas Relays. It just took away his concentration."
Tim Riley beat Scales at the Relays, and a few weeks later, at the Lawrence High School Relays. Scales broke a pole and bruised his hand.
Don't Get Stuck!
Instead of Waiting Until the Last Minute to Plan Your Move Home, and end up throwing up your hands in despair, rent a trailer or truck to fit your needs. Do it safely, economically: do it right. Reserve now.
1540 W. 6TH
843-3557
843-2060 843-355
LAWRENCE, KANSAS 66044
OPEN HOUSE
OFFICE OPEN DAILY
Monday-Thursday til 8:00
Friday, Saturday & Sunday till 5:00
1603 W. 15th
Lawrence, Ks.
"But never did he use this as an excuse," Waller said. "He would just say he had a bad day. He was having lots of problems and could have used them as excuses but he didn't." Of people don't know the difficulties he had to overcome during his senior year."
Despite his discouraging season, Scales' 162" state record made him the second ranking high school pole vaulter in the nation and the brother of former KU vaulter Jan Johnson, vaulted higher than Scales. When Scales, Tim Johnson and seven other top valters competed at the International Prep Internationals, Scales won the meet with a vault of 164".
Gary Pepin, KU assistant track coach,
said the University was recruiting Jeff
Williams, a Chanute senior pole vaulter,
to complement Scales. Pepin said that
he had been a star in tennis but that
that he was a fine all-round athlete, a
fine student, and a sure bat to improve.
At LH.J. Wallel said Scales was the only good vaulet. At the University, Scales is the only vaulet, period. Ralph Haney, a highly tuted freshman from Arizona, was a few months ago to compete in the warmer airport of Arizona State University.
Pepin said Scales had all of the physical qualities necessary for a 17' vault. But, he said, Scales must learn a new style of vaulting to be a great vaulter.
"All the great vaulters are swung vaulters." Pepin said. "They plant, hang, and wait on the pole, making the pole work." He added that the vaults are swung vaults and not let the pole work for him.
Scales said his ultimate goal was to go to the Olympic Games.
Pepin said Scales currently wanted to work on his strengths more than his weaknesses. He works hard on weight training, although he needs more work in the area of agility. He said the problem was "something hell overcome as he becomes more mature."
"You can say you've won every other meet in the world," he said, "but when you've won the Games, then people know that you're the best."
But before he goes to any Olympic Games, Scales has got his work cut out for him at home. The KU indoor record is 177''. He played in the U.S.A. Memorial Stadium record is 175'.
With one 16" vault this spring in a meet between KU, Nebraska and Southern Illinois, Scales established a personal best. He will be the first freshman in the freshman indoor record, and placed first.
At an Alabama meet, Scales placed second with a 16'4" vault which earned him the KU freshman outdoor record and marked him as the best freshman vaulter in KU history. He tied for third place in the Big Eight Indoor Championships with a 16'4" vault and placed fifth in the NCAA Indoor Championships with a 16'4" vault.
But Scales isn't letting any field house dust accumulate on his fiberglass pole while he marvels at records to be broken. He works out six days a week, lifting weights, working on techniques, drilling, watching films of himself and other vaulters, and hoping that someday, he will be the best pole vaulter the University has ever had.
ASK ABOUT OUR
WARDROBE STORAGE SERVICE
Go Jayhawks!
Let ACME CLEANERS handle your summer storage problems
For only $3.95 you'll receive
- one large boxed stored (20-30 garments)
- 300 insurance coverage
- free moth proofing
(clothing costs not include)
(cleaning costs not included)
ACME DRY CLEANERS AND LAUNDERERS
DOWNTOWN
1111 Massachusetts
MALLS
311 W. 23rd
HILLCREST 925 Iowa
SPRING SPECIALS
MASSACHUSETTS ST.
"The Original Thick Crust Pizza From New York"
Present This Coupon
$1.00
Off
ANY LARGE PIZZA
Dining In
Carry Out
Delivery
Expires April 30-1975
The Bull & Boar 50°
11 W. 9th
Open Faced HOT BEEF SANDWICH
Off with this form
Served with thin sliced roast beef, home-made mashed potatoes and marinated in dark brown cream. Relishes included.
Coupon
Reg. Price $1.75
Expires April 30-1975
DISTRIBUATED BY SCHUMM FOODS
MASS. STREET DELI/NEW YORKER/BULL & BOAR/SCHUMM CATERING
1015 W.23rd 841-5110 Open 9-9 Daily----9-6 Sun.
Offers good till April 20,1975
Welcome to the 50th Anniversary of the K.U. RELAYS
Coppertone Suntan Lotion
$109
4 oz.
Coke
32 oz.
29¢
Limit 2
Non Returnable
$100 off
on any Polaroid or Foster-Grant Sunglasses
Planter Peanuts
Dry Roasted
59¢
8 oz. Limit 2
Lawn Chairs
$399
by Keeler
Foam
Cooler
88¢
30 qt.
Prescriptions
Come in and compare..
You'll see you save!