Past the
Pinnacle
Westby's Madelyn VonFeldt puts fears of peaking behind. After two seasons stuck at 10'9", the senior cleared 11'7" at Viroqua's Black Hawk Invite on Monday, May 11 — setting a new Westby school record and freeing herself from the ceiling she'd built in her own head.
Madelyn VonFeldt doesn't feel fear when looking down at the ground below after taking an attempt in the pole vault. However, the Westby senior was scared she had reached her pinnacle in the event.
VonFeldt was a state qualifier in the pole vault as a freshman, where she posted a seventh-place finish in Division 3 after clearing 10'0". In her sophomore season, the vaulter set a personal record of 10'9" and vaulted her way to state, where she tied for 13th overall in Division 2 by clearing 10'0".
Last year she made the podium after clearing 10'9" at state to earn a fifth-place finish in the Division 3 competition. The problem was, VonFeldt never set any PRs in 2025. Throughout the season, the then-junior had to settle for reaching 10'9" as the peak of her ability.
"I hadn't PRed since I was a sophomore. I thought that 10'9" was my highest. It's just what I had in my head," VonFeldt said.
Things changed on Friday, May 2 at G-E-T. The senior broke off a vault of 11'0", opening the mental floodgates to new opportunities. "(I) never thought I'd ever do that. I was ecstatic," VonFeldt said.
Suddenly, new goals presented themselves — like that of matching the school record of 11'6". However, the next meet presented a humbling experience. The senior won, but only cleared 10'6". The hope of matching the school record carried over to the Viroqua invite on May 11.
There VonFeldt fended off a push by Richland Center's Danica Pauls — another multi-time state qualifier in the event — by surpassing the 11'0" mark. A jubilant VonFeldt hopped around the runway in celebration after passing the height for just the second time in her career.
Then, the Westby vaulter tempted fate in a big way. VonFeldt went for the school record.
A quick sprint towards the pit and a tug on the pole propelled the senior upside down as she took her first attempt at 11'7". At the apex of the ascent, VonFeldt swung her feet over the bar, pushed the pole away, and fell towards the mat below with a look of astonishment washing over her.
After landing on the mat, VonFeldt popped up, aglow with a look of disbelief. The vaulter then rushed back down the runway, overcome with excitement for reaching the hallowed height.
The reverie lasted for several minutes, ending with exchanges of hugs from teammates and family. Then, even with adrenaline and emotions high, VonFeldt stopped and called it a wrap after becoming Westby's new pole vault queen.
The move to stop, which was motivated by coaches, allows the senior to remain hungry for the next big thing heading into the WIAA postseason.
The graduating vaulter will return to competition at next week's WIAA Division 2 regional at G-E-T after missing last weekend's Coulee Conference championships for a senior dance recital. VonFeldt has no qualms with vacating her Coulee throne, though.
What lies ahead has Westby's VonFeldt no longer fearing a performance peak, but instead, embracing the challenge to push past her perceived limits with renewed fervor.
"Now that I know I can go higher, I think I can do more than I think I can. I really do."
The Cashton Record — Sports, Page B4. Four duotone frames trace the 11'7" clearance: the celebration off the mat, the study before the jump, the inversion at the apex, the surprise on landing. Story — Nate Beier · Photos — GX3 Media