Vaulters from Bartolina Athletics participated in the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada.
If you’re ever fortunate enough to travel waaay down to southeast Louisiana, deep into Cajun Country, you’ll find one of the most beautiful places on the entire planet to pole vault.
Former Olympian and Coach Erica Bartolina ‘connected’ with heroine Maggie Steele.
Nestled under mossy trees, about 45 miles north of New Orleans and 45 miles east of Baton Rouge, lies the awesome training facility of Bartolina Athletics. Here boys and girls of all ages and abilities can be found on the runway, day and night, launching themselves to greater and greater heights.
Bartolina vaulters can be found on the runway, day and night.
The vaulters at Bartolina Athletics are taking the same flight path as their coach, Erica, who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Her love and knowledge of the event motivates them to achieve their goals and learn positive life lessons along the way.
And, her athletes are also following the same trajectory as the fictional heroine Maggie Steele in Maggie Vaults Over the Moon.
The new teen sports novel by Grant Overstake has been widely endorsed by pole-vaulters for its realistic depiction of the world’s greatest sport; and by others who identify with the heroine’s courageous struggle. Kirkus Reviews calls Maggie Vaults Over the Moon, “A fine novel about perseverance in sports and in life.”
Bartolina’s Courtney Munkres loves ‘Maggie’
Along with sharing her own remarkable story, Coach Bartolina recently used the book’s heroine to help inspire her vaulters. Both Bartolina, in real life, and Steele, as a fictional character, overcame great adversity as they vaulted themselves over the moon. Continue Reading →
