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Vindy Spring Athletes: Seth Stokes
When players and coaches use the old cliche about it being “a game of inches,” there’s never a better instance of that than in the case of Seth Stokes.
Last year, Stokes thought he got close to a state title as a sophomore when he came in third in the high jump. This year it was even closer. Stokes finished second to Piketon’s Timothy Trawick in the Division III high jump. Stokes cleared 6-foot-8 inches. But Trawick cleared 6-9.
“This year it was better to get up a spot but still disappointing because I didn’t come out with a championship,” Stokes said. “But I’ve still got another year to get it.”
What made the final competition even more nail-biting was the fact that Trawick cleared the final height on his third and final attempt. After that, Stokes had one attempt remaining to pull even, but came up that one inch short.
“I was sitting there and obviously I was hoping he’d miss it but watching him go over [the bar] messes with your head knowing it was his last chance. Then I had one more jump and I was telling myself ‘This is it.’ I just kind of got in my head.”
Next year the goal isn’t just to take the Division III crown — it’s to blow them away.
“Next year I want to get over seven foot and be so far away that state’s not even close,” Stokes said.
He’s already training and there’s no offseason for him.