Angelo hopes to continue to jump high in 2018

AHS Junior Leah Angelo accidentally leaped into high jump in eighth grade and has not looked back since. Angelo joined the Harmon Middle School track team because she wanted to do a school sport and all of her friends were on the team. Due to her height, Angelo was automatically assigned to high jump. Since then, she has set records, won many meets, and gone to the OHSAA State Championships.

Angelo’s freshman season was a year for her to improve and practice. She tried the hurdles once, however she injured her hips and she has focused on high jump ever since. Angelo was able to perfect her craft after working hard all fall and winter. Heading into her sophomore year, Angelo had high hopes.

After a regular season filled with success, Angelo’s hopes of making it to states would come down to one jump. She had a jump-off with another competitor to go to states. “My best moment in competition was easily clearing 5’4 to go to states. All my hard work finally paid off!” said Angelo.

Angelo would go on to place tenth in the state. For making it to states, a memory off the track was made, “The funniest moment last year was easily when Ricky Buonocore, my coach, got a flying pig tattoo since I qualified for states.”

Angelo accredits much of her success to her coaches, Cody Jones and Lenny Karpinski as well as her biggest influence in the sport, Chaunte Lowe. Lowe is an Olympic medalist and one of the best high jumpers in the history of the United States.

For her junior year, Angelo has two main goals, “My goals this year are to jump 5’6 and to make it on the podium at states.”

Angelo enjoys high jump for multiple reasons. First, “I enjoy high jump because you don’t have to rely on anyone, it’s you against the bar.” She enjoys spending time by herself at the track jumping to clear new heights and to clear her mind.

Leah also hopes the Greenmen have a strong season as a team as they return multiple letter winners.