Rozalski sisters earn medals in the pole vault at NJSIAA state meet
By Jim Hague
The pole vault has almost become a rite of passage in the Rozalski household in Kearny.
First, Ziggy and Ann’s eldest daughter, Stephanie, took a liking to the sport a few years ago and eventually became a high school state sectional champion at Queen of Peace during her senior year.
Stephanie Rozalski, who still competes in the pole vault, is finishing up her undergraduate studies at Seton Hall before hoping to head off to law school.
Younger sister Michelle watched what Stephanie accomplished in the pole vault and decided that’s what she wanted to do as well.
“She was always talking about it and I saw how much fun she had doing it,” Michelle Rozalski said. “I just liked fooling around with it, but as I practiced more, I progressed. I wasn’t afraid at all, because I had been involved with gymnastics all my life.”
So when Michelle Rozalski enrolled at Queen of Peace two years ago, she decided to join her older sister in training in the pole vault.
“Stephanie taught me everything,” Michelle Rozalski said. “She taught me drills and worked with me.”
The sisters also traveled to Apex Vaulting in Oakland to work with respected instructor Branko Miric.
“It was hard at first,” Michelle Rozalski said. “In the beginning, it was very frustrating, because I would see everyone jumping over the bar, see everyone clearing and I was barely getting onto the mat.”
But Michelle was determined to becoming successful in the pole vault.
“I set my goal and I knew it was what I wanted to do,” Michelle Rozalski said. “Once it clicked in, it became a lot easier.”
In her first-ever varsity meet for Queen of Peace, Michelle Rozalski cleared 8-feet, 6-inches and won a gold medal.
“That’s when I said, `Hey, I can do this,’” Michelle Rozalski said.
Enter the youngest of the Rozalski sisters, Catherine, who prefers to go by the name of “Kas,” or “Kasia.” Kas Rozalski enrolled at QP last September as a freshman.
Considering the fact that both of her older sisters were deeply involved with the pole vault, Kas Rozalski figured that she had to join in.
“It was like a family thing that I had to do,” said Kas Rozalski, who is still an active gymnast with the Sunburst Gymnastic Club of Union. “I wanted to do it like my sisters.”
“I pulled her in,” Michelle laughed.
The youngest Rozalski sister didn’t know if she could handle the pole vault.
“At first, I looked up at the bars and saw that I had to go upside down,” Kas Rozalski said. “I thought I was going to die. But once you do it, it’s not so bad.”
However, there was the idea of being the third in a family lineage.
“Sure, there was pressure,” Kas Rozalski said. “What if I was terrible at it? I didn’t want to be the schmuck of the family.”
However, Kas also found instant success. In her very first meet this indoor season, Kas cleared 8-feet, 6-inches, just like her older sister did in her debut two years ago.
There was only one other obstacle that the Rozalski sisters had to overcome during the indoor track season. Queen of Peace doesn’t have a team. The team right now consists of just the two pole vaulting Rozalski sisters.
“We’re like Team Rozalski,” Michelle said.
Queen of Peace athletic director John Ahmuty was able to enter the sisters in a handful of meets. They combined to win the Bergen County Relays championship in the pole vault.
On Feb. 17, the two sisters traveled to the NJSIAA Non-Public B state sectional championships at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
At the meet, junior Michelle finished second overall and younger sister Kas finished fifth. They both earned medals and earned berths to compete at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, which took place Saturday, also at the Bennett Center.
At the M of C, the sisters fittingly ended up in a tie for 15th place overall, both clearing the bar at 10 feet even. It was a personal best for Kas, with Michelle, battling a shoulder injury, not getting able to clear her prior best at 10-6.
“I’m really happy that we both did well,” Michelle said. “I wasn’t in my best form, but Kas was jacked. I was happy for her.”
“I really didn’t understand it was such a big meet,” Kas said. “But I guess it was, especially when everyone made a big deal about it.”
And the two Rozalski sisters, comprising the entire indoor track and field team at Queen of Peace, were able to share the moment together, tied for 15th overall in the entire state.
So is there any competition between the two sisters?
“I expect her to do well,” Michelle said. “I want her to do well.”
“I just don’t want her to get mad at me if I get better,” Kas said. “But it really doesn’t matter. I don’t think there’s any competition between us.”
But both younger sisters want to someday be better than the trendsetting older sister.
“Yeah, that’s the goal,” Michelle said about someday being better than Stephanie. “My goal is to be as good as her. If I can be better, that’s great.”
Stephanie Rozalski, who has cleared 12-9 in recent open invitational meets, said that her sisters are a driving force for her.
“I really think they motivate me to be better,” Stephanie Rozalski said. “I don’t want them to pass me, but eventually, they will. It’s fun practicing and working with them. It gives us all something to do together.”
And it’s just the start. After all, outdoor season will begin shortly, soon after Michelle Rozalski competes in the Eastern States Invitational this week at the 168th Street Armory in New York.
“It should be good,” Michelle Rozalski said. “I see how hard Stephanie works and tries and it motivates me.”
As for the youngest?
“I just want to try to keep getting better,” Kas Rozalski said.
One sister raised the bar – literally – and it’s up to the other two to get over that bar.
