A GRADUAL LEAP CEREMONY COMES FIRST FOR STEBEN.Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer Andrew Steben will march onto the stage Saturday, ``Pomp and Circumstance'' playing in the background, and receive his high school diploma A high school diploma is a diploma awarded for the completion of high school. In the United States and Canada, it is considered the minimum education required for government jobs and higher education. An equivalent is the GED. from St.Francis of La Canada Flintridge. He hopes it is his second-best feat of the day. If everything goes as planned today at the state track and field prelims, Steben will head straight from graduation to Cerritos College Cerritos College is a public comprehensive community college founded in 1955 located in Norwalk, California. It was named after Rancho Los Cerritos, a ranch that served prominently in the region in the 19th century. , shedding his cap and gown gown n. A robe or smock worn in operating rooms and other parts of hospitals as a guard against contamination. gown, n for a uniform and pole. ``I'm just glad the state meet is here this year rather than Sacramento, or I'd have to miss it all together,'' said Steben, the top pole vaulter in the area. ``If I had to choose, I'd do the pole vault pole vault Track-and-field event consisting of a vault for height over a crossbar with the aid of a long pole. It became a competitive sport in the mid-19th century and was included in the first modern Olympic Games. . My dad actually missed his graduation from Occidental College History The Birth of Occidental College Occidental College (commonly referred to as Oxy) was founded on April 20, 1887, by a group of Presbyterian clergy and laymen. because he was vaulting vaulting Gymnastics exercise in which the athlete leaps over a form that was originally intended to mimic a horse. At one time, the pommel horse was used in the vaulting exercise, with the pommels (handles) removed. .'' To say that Steben grew up on the event is an understatement. He used to play around in the sand pits as a child while watching his father, Andy, coach pole vaulters at Occidental oc·ci·den·tal or Oc·ci·den·tal adj. Of or relating to the countries of the Occident or their peoples or cultures; western. n. A native or inhabitant of an Occidental country; a westerner. Noun 1. . Andy Steben once ranked among the top 20 pole vaulters in the world. He tried out for the 1968 Olympics, finishing eighth in the nation. Andrew Steben never vaulted himself until the summer before ninth grade, but all of the watching gave him an interest in the sport. He idolized i·dol·ize tr.v. i·dol·ized, i·dol·iz·ing, i·dol·iz·es 1. To regard with blind admiration or devotion. See Synonyms at revere1. 2. To worship as an idol. the best vaulters on the team his father coached. Heading into high school, he asked his father for instruction. Once Steben made the team, Andy volunteered to coach the event at St. Francis. Steben proved to have the pole vault gene passed down to him. He cleared 11 feet as a freshman, improved to 12-9 as a sophomore, hit 14-11 as a junior and this year has a best of 15-6. ``I was surprised how quickly he came along,'' Andy Steben said. ``I throw goals at him that at the time seem kind of lofty, and then he meets them. He has some real talent. More than I did.'' Steben made it to the state prelims last season, becoming only the fourth St. Francis athlete and first since 1992 to do so, but he failed to clear the opening height of 14-4 in a disappointing day. ``Last year, I was just a total headcase on the runway runway: see airport. ,'' Steben said. ``I think I only jumped like three or four times. I ran through on most of my attempts. Right after I no-heighted, I said, `I'm not going to do that again next year.' I'm ready I'm Ready is the double platinum second release from R&B singer Tevin Campbell. I'm Ready yielded the biggest R&B hit of his career the #1 R&B smash "Can We Talk", and produce 3 more successful hits in "I'm Ready", "Always In My Heart" and "Don't Say Goodbye Girl". for it. I've been for a while now.'' Steben ranks ninth in the state heading into the meet. His goal all season has been to hit 16 feet, and he thinks he will be able to do that with a new, bigger pole that he began using only last week. Andy said he wouldn't be shocked to see his son break his old personal best of 16-8 this weekend. That would put him in contention for the state title. ``Pole vault is one of the most unpredictable events An Unpredictable Event is an event in which the predictability cannot be measured. An unpredictable event is usually an unfavorable event, because people tend not to plan an unfavorable event. Its result, most likely, affects many lives. ,'' St. Francis coach Eric Gleason said. ``Anything can happen. If he goes up a foot and everyone else doesn't do as well as they could do, he has a chance to win it all.'' Steben admits that his mind will be elsewhere at graduation. He figures he needs to leave by 1 p.m. in order to have plenty of time to make it to Cerritos before his 4 p.m. deadline. The state finals are what he has been thinking about all year. Some non-track fans might think he doesn't have his priorities straight. However, the track meet might have more of an impact on his future. An impressive performance could open up some doors. As of now, he is planning to attend Cal State Fullerton next year. Clearing 16 feet could get him some late offers from other universities. ``If one doesn't, I'd be pretty happy at Fullerton,'' Steben said. ``But I hope some other schools take notice of me.'' matthew.kredell(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) St. Francis High pole vaulter Andrew Steben is the fourth athlete in school history to make it to the state track and field meet. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer Box: STATE TRACK MEET |
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