Michael Vanesko ’25 is a senior pole vaulter on Middlebury Track and Field. Originally from Dallas, he is an Architectural Studies major at Middlebury College. His personal record for pole vaulting is 4.15 meters, but his impact on the team extends far beyond the runway and bar. In this iteration of Seven Questions, Vanesko discusses his journey to pole vaulting and reflects on his time at Middlebury.
Brooke Friberg: When did you first pole vault and how has your relationship with the sport changed over your time at Middlebury?
Michael Vanesko: I started pole vaulting during my sophomore year of high school because all of my friends were doing track, and I wanted to be part of the team. Originally, I started out as a distance runner, but I soon realized that I didn’t like running at all. So I picked a random field event that didn't require as much running, and I ended up on pole vault.
Over time, my relationship with vaulting definitely changed as I got better. Soon, vaulting became something I was truly interested in and excited about, rather than just a way to hang out with my friends that didn't require too much running.
BF: What made you choose Middlebury? Is there anything about your experience that you wish you could change, or have done differently?
MV: I chose Middlebury for a variety of reasons, including the campus’s access to nature, small class sizes, four-season climate and the opportunity to be on the track team. I am very satisfied with my college experience at Middlebury, but if I were to do it all again, I think that I would spend more time meeting with professors about non-class related stuff to get to know them on a more personal level and trying to branch out and take a wider variety of classes. Although I was able to take some classes outside of my major, I wish I was able to try more outside of environmental studies, architecture and italian.
BF: What’s your favorite thing about your teammates?
MV: My favorite thing about my teammates is their dedication to the team and supportive nature. Every day, when I see them in the [Athletics Complex], they always greet me with a smile and ask me about my day. I love having fun with the team, and it's always nice to team members around campus.
BF: Do you have any pre-meet rituals, either individually or with your teammates?
MV: I don’t have much in the way of pre-meet rituals besides my typical warm-up. Usually, I will wear the same blue cargo pants and white Middlebury T&F shirt, but as far as rituals go, not much.
BF: What has been the most memorable moment in your Middlebury pole vaulting career?
MV: The most memorable moment in my career so far was at a home meet during my sophomore year. During the meet, I was able to set a new personal record (PR), but what made that particular meet so memorable was that all of my off-the-team friends were able to come see me jump. For most of them, it was their first time ever seeing me or anyone else pole vault, so having them there to cheer me on and support meant a lot, and it is still a special day to me.
BF: What’s your favorite dining hall on campus, and what’s your favorite Middlebury meal?
MV: My favorite dining hall is hard to say. I definitely like Proctor the best for breakfast since it’s been close to my dorm since freshman year, and the Atwater ambiance is great for team dinners. My favorite dining hall meal is either Indian food, General Tso’s chicken or chicken stir fry.
BF: What’s your place to study on campus and why?
MV: I like to study in my room a lot because it is the best place for me to block out distractions, and it’s where my Windows desktop is, which I need to use for a lot of the architecture software that only supports Windows systems. Outside of my room, I like to go to the Virtue Field House timing room before practice. I like that spot a lot because it is close to the indoor track, there are usually other team members there before practice, and it has a lot of big windows that let me look at the various activities going on at the track while I do my homework.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Brooke Friberg '26 (she/her) is a Sports Editor.
Brooke is a senior majoring in Political Science and Spanish.
