All those miles of practice paid off for Marmion’s Andrew Saloga

Andrew Saloga’s dad probably knows every possible route from Sugar Grove to Bloomington, and every mile marker on Route 47.

And it’s all worth it.

Twice a week during the winter, Wednesdays and Sundays, Saloga, who just finished his junior year at Marmion, jumped in the car for the two-hour drive south. His dad drove, and Saloga and his little sister, Libby, would jump for two hours with the Flying Dragons Pole Vault Club.

Inspired by the 18-foot vault by Bloomington’s Zachery Bradford, Saloga started going to the Flying Dragons a little more than a year ago.

“They have a warehouse that they lease, they have two full pole vault pits – it’s an awesome setup,” said Saloga, a Sugar Grove resident. “The Flying Dragons have the best coaching in the area, two jumpers in the top 10 in the NCAA, it’s a good legacy. It’s a lot of fun.”

The fun, it turns out, was just getting started.

Saloga had qualified for state the previous two years, both times in Class 2A, but did not make the finals. He won the pole vault competition at the Illinois Top Times indoor meet in March, and kept pushing the bar.

Finally, at outdoor state in May, Saloga – now jumping in Class 3A – hit the long-awaited number. Saloga cleared 15 feet, going 15 feet, 3 inches, to place second at state behind Lake Park’s Zachary Frye, who also went 15-3.

“It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” Saloga said. “As soon as I began vaulting, 15 feet was the number I wanted to get. That’s what the kids at the Kaneland camp were jumping, and I wanted to be like them. Fifteen was the magic number.”

In doing so, he joined Marmion’s strong legacy, and also became the school’s first medalist in pole vault.

Following in the footsteps of former Marmion star Seth Groom, Saloga is the second straight Cadet to earn the distinction of being the Kane County Chronicle’s Boys Track Athlete of the Year.

Marmion coach Dan Thorpe saluted Saloga for his growth, maturity and poise under pressure.

“I always say, get [to state] as a sophomore, place as a junior, win it as a senior,” Thorpe said. “I said that with Seth in the past, and it’s kind of the same with Andrew. He was really into it.”

Saloga had a strong support system.

Marmion vault coach Dan Barbosa has had a kid qualify for state in the vault for 18 straight years. Vaulting, a Saloga family specialty, is a priority of his parents.

“It’s kind of been the right way to do things,” Thorpe said. “The boy has worked hard, he has the commitment and support of his parents, and he listens to his coaching. He takes what Mr. Barbosa suggests. He’s mentally tough and has matured as an athlete.”

Pole vaulting is most certainly a Saloga family affair.

His grandpa did it in the 1950s at Kaneland, for a short time holding the program record before metal poles were traded in for fiberglass.

Andrew, second youngest of five siblings, was the first in his generation to take to pole vaulting. He got his middle brother to try it and kid sister, Libby – who won a state title in seventh grade at Kaneland Middle School.

Grandpa’s advice is succinct.

“He usually tells me just to run fast,” Saloga said.

Saloga’s PR was 14 feet last year, when he qualified for state, which he pushed to 14-10 earlier this spring. But the 15-foot mark was always the beacon he sought.

“I set goals for myself before the season started. The goal was 15-6, and it still is,” Saloga said. “Jumping 15 feet was the main priority and doing well was a high priority, too. I have been so focused on all those goals all year. The mindset has not changed, but the outcome has changed, and changed for the better.”

Saloga can identify one key mechanical adjustment he made in his move higher.

“A big one. I used to throw my head back when I tried to get upside down,” Saloga said. “I worked on that a lot. It helps your swing to be a lot smoother and helps correct the timing with the pole. That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve fixed.”

He’s not satisfied, either. Saloga, since state, has competed in two meets, one the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he went 14 feet.

“I really want to break 5 meters, 16-5 by the end of next season,” Saloga said. “That will break the Kaneland record. I want to break the Kaneland record.”

Kane County Chronicle boys track and field all-area team

Batavia: Adam Kennedy, jr.; Trevor Tousana, sr.

Burlington Central: Connor Wagner, sr.

Geneva: Lawi Djuma, jr.; Onyi Ukaobasi, jr.

Kaneland: Austin Adams, jr.; Daniel Occhipinti, jr.

Marmion: Andrew Saloga, jr.

St. Charles East: Bob Liking, jr.; Bennett Melone, sr.

St. Charles North: Gilbert Braglia, jr.

St. Francis: Jon Aquino, sr.