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Craig’s Badertscher uses coaching to rank among state’s elite jumpers

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig's Cy Badertscher soars during the triple jump finals at the Big 8 Track Meet at Monterey.

JANESVILLE — Cy Badertscher was named after Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young.

The Janesville Craig High School senior even owns an authentic Cy Young baseball card that he got for his 12th birthday.

Badertscher, however, quit playing baseball six years ago.

He found another sport that he’s much better at—track and field.

How much better?

Enough to put up his own Hall of Fame-type numbers.

Badertscher is the city and school record-holder in the long jump. He also owns the school record in triple jump and ranks third in the state this season in both events. Badertscher won the long jump in the Big Eight Conference meet here Tuesday night and finished second in the triple jump.

“The four years preparation, along with great coaching, has made this season possible,” Badertscher said. “And I have to give a shout out to (teammate) Calvin Coleman. We really push each other in practice and in meets.

“Everybody dreams about playing college football or college basketball, but I had a reality check. Those weren’t options for me, but I knew this (jumping) might be something I could be good at.”

Badertscher has been better than good lately. He soared 22-10.5 in the long jump at the Hartford Invitational last Friday to set a city and school record. That jump came on the heels of a school-record leap of 45-7 in the triple jump at the Cougar Relays in late April.

The Valparaiso University recruit credits an astute knowledge of the sport and the desire to reach new heights for his continued success. The night before the Big Eight meet, Badertscher stayed up late watching YouTube video of world record-holder Carl Lewis in the long jump.

“I’m not the fastest jumper in the state, so for me, I try to really study the event,” Badertscher said. “I’m always looking at technique and how to perfect each jump. If I’m not the fastest, I have to try and make up for it technique-wise.

“I definitely think I’m a more emotional jumper than most other guys. They say it’s 90 percent mental, so I try to get all 90 out of my jumps.”

Badertscher credits Craig assistant coach Joe Line for helping him perfect his technique. Line made slight changes with Badertscher’s approach and steps, and the results have been staggering. Badertscher, who qualified for state in both events last year, is jumping more than a foot farther this season in long jump, and nearly two feet in the triple jump.

Craig head coach Jeff Deininger said Badertscher’s rise to the top of the state leaderboard is not a surprise.

“First and foremost, Cy’s a very gifted athlete,” Deininger said. “And his speed is deceptive. He might not look that fast, but he has got that burst that all good jumpers have.

“He has worked hard to get where he’s at. And he’s never satisfied with what he does. He keeps pushing himself.”