My name is Chris Zoeller, I started Pole Vault STL in 2012 when I saw the need for my High School Vaulters to continue developing after the regular season had ended right as they were making the most progress. I have now been coaching PV since 2005 at 2 local St Louis High Schools, St. John Vianney and Cor Jesu Academy, simultaneously and run PVSTL during the summer and now Indoors since 2017. I have moved to Lindbergh HS in 2022. We had over 80 vaulters work with us over 6 weeks in the summer of 2018, and over 90 have worked with us from September 2018 through February 2019. Summer of 2023 had 125 Vaulters over 7 weeks.
I have been fortunate to assemble a quality staff of coaches to assist me in providing the training needed to keep our vaulters safe and develop them to their highest potential. As a Club, my staff has produced multiple school record holders, conference champions, district champions, sectional champions, and State Qualifiers. Our 1st State State Champion, Mason DeRousse, won Class 4 in 2018 with a mark of 15-3. He broke the DeSoto school record previously held by Coach Rieffer since 1984. Sullivan Gleason has now topped that mark by hitting 16’0″ in 2021 and was State Champion Class 5 in 2021 as a Junior. This was the highest PV mark in St Louis history in the past 20 years.
Staff:
Chris Zoeller: (Current) Coaches for Cor Jesu Academy and Vianney HS since 2005, Coached D2 at Maryville University from 2018-2021. Multiple State Qualifiers and Champions. Started PVSTL in 2012. FiberSport Dealer, Team Pacer Club.
Kurt Bliggenstorfer: (Current) Coaches for St. Charles West (since 2005) and has produced multiple State Qualifiers and Champions. Central to indoor training and video review.
Russ Braudrick: (Current) Over 34 years of PV coaching experience. Coached at multiple local HS and Colleges. NSCA Strength and Conditioning Certified. Instrumental with Approach work on the Runway.
Casie Cullinane: PV Coach at Liberty HS Wentzville. Assistant coach at Cor Jesu Academy 2021. Vaulted at Pacific HS Class of 2019. Started with PVSTL as a freshman. Went on to set Pacific School Record at 11-3, holds Maryville Univ Indoor School Record at 3.40 (11’2″). Current PR at 11’10”. Will be an assistant working with our younger Vaulters starting Summer of 2018. Continues to take on bigger role as coach and traveling to out of town meets to take the coaching lead with some top area vaulters.
Mayson DeRousse : In training!