This year Revere welcomes a new pole vaulting coach for the men’s and women’s varsity track and field team for the upcoming 2017 season.

Revere family and consumer science teacher Jessica Mackey helps with the Stronger Teen program as well. This is Mackey’s first year coaching pole vaulting for the men’s and women’s teams, but while she was in college she gained experience by coaching volleyball for Green High School.

While in high school Mackey participated in track and was a sprinter and a high jumper. She explains what made her want to coach pole vaulting.

“Obviously I love teaching and working with adolescents. Coaching is awesome because you get to see the students in a different light. Teaching them a sport and techniques, pushing them to get better, and watching them compete and succeed doing something that they love is an awesome experience,” Mackey said.

Mackey coaches under the women’s team head coach Kory Rorabaugh, who explained what having Mackey on the team means.

“We are very excited to have Mackey on our staff this season. She brings track experience from her high school days as an athlete for Green High School. She is a tremendous asset because she works with the high school students on a daily basis with her teaching at the high school. She has a wonderful rapport with the kids and the athletes respond to her coaching style. She jumped at the opportunity and has been certified to officially coach and run the pole vault. She is such a positive role model for our team and we are so happy to have her on our staff,” Rorabaugh said.

Every coach has his or her own style or method for coaching. Mackey talked about what she will hope to implement into her team for the upcoming season.

“I would say that I am pretty laid back when it comes to coaching but I do have expectations that all of the vaulters need to achieve. Athletes need to accomplish certain skills and techniques before they can just jump right in. Fortunately, all of the athletes that I work with come to practice ready to work hard and do whatever they can to be better than they were the day before. It is amazing to see how many kids want to stay late just so they can soak up anything and everything they can to learn the sport. They accept the challenge and are not intimidated by the hard work that it takes to achieve,” Mackey said.

Current sophomore Laney Harner has pole vaulted for two years now. She described what she thinks Mackey can bring to the program and how she can help improve her skills as well.

“I think that Ms. Mackey will be a great addition to our pole vault program. We are all pretty new to everything so we will help each other out. It is also really good to have a different opinion on things we should and should not be doing. I do feel like she could improve my pole vaulting skills because I have only ever had one coach. It is always nice to have a second opinion and see the way she teaches in comparison to the previous pole vault coach,” Harner said.

Mackey’s expectations for this year’s pole-vaulters are to come to practice ready to learn, and to not be afraid to fail. With a strong group of upperclassmen she expects good leadership. The regular season ended Tuesday, May 2. The team is going to the Dwight Schaar Invitational on May 5 at Norwayne High School.