Sawyer medals at state
Matt White finishes seventh in long jump
BY DAN PARKER SOUTH JETTY REPORTER

Sky-high at state COURTESY PHOTO BY STEPHANIE SAWYER Port Aransas High School senior Drake Sawyer pole vaults at the state track and field meet at the University of Texas at Austin on Friday, May 9.

Port Aransas High School trackand field stars Drake Sawyer and Matt White may not have entirely liked their performances at the state meet at the University of Texas in Austin on Friday, May 9.

But their jumps were higher and longer than most of us will ever go.

Sawyer took third place in the pole vault event, and White got seventh place in the long jump. They were competing against the state's best field athletes from 1-A high schools like PAHS.

"I know that everybody wants to go to the state meet and set a personal record," said Steve Reaves, track and field coach for PAHS. "But the reality is that not everyone can do that. Both of these boys had that as their goal, which is great, so they were a little disappointed when they didn't.

"I just hope that someday they will be able to look back and appreciate the journey, not just the last jump or vault," said Reaves, who also is athletic director for the Port Aransas Independent School District.

Sawyer earned a bronze medal for a pole-vault jump of 14 feet, 3 inches.

White's best long jump of the day was 21 feet, 8.75 inches.

"I am extremely proud (of) both of these young men and everything they have accomplished this year," Reaves said. "It was nice to see both of them finish their high school careers at the state meet."