INDIANAPOLIS, IN. - LaVille junior Lincoln Hulsey continues to soar. In 2022, Hulsey was a bit of a mystery in the world of high school pole vaulters. As a sophomore, he worked his way from the regular season to the Penn Sectional pole vault championship all the way to a spot on the podium at the state finals. Hulsey ultimately cleared 14 feet, 6 inches and a seventh place finish at the Indiana High School Athletic Association meet in Bloomington, Indiana. The field events are scheduled to start at 3 p.m., with running events off around 4:15 p.m. For Hulsey, the summer of 2022 was crucial to his improvement. He found his way up to Bethel University and a pole vault club."Over the summer, I got into a club," said Hulsey. "It's called the Sky Chasers. I've been working out up at Bethel University and they have been helping me out. My form has gotten so much better."When asked how they helped him, he went on to explain."When you plant you want to be tall," explained Hulsey. "And last year I wasn't. This year I'm taller and instead of muscling my way up, it's more in my core and hip swing. More form than muscle." That off-season work has helped Hulsey improve, but due to an injury set Hulsey back to start the 2023 season. "I hurt my knee," said Hulsey. "I got tendonitis and had to sit out to start the season. But I went to the doctor and got it cleared." A versatile performer for the LaVille track and field team, track is Hulsey's only sport. With that, he was brought back slowly to allow the tendonitis to clear up.Since his return, Hulsey continues to excel at his craft. During the Lancer Relays, just his second meet back from injury, he set a new LaVille school record of 14' 7" on April 28. Then, he won the Hoosier North Athletic Conference pole vault championship with a vault of 14 feet. At the Warsaw Regional, he cleared 14' 8" to set a new standard and is looking to clear 15 feet."I knew that I could get this to get to where I wanted to be seeded for the state meet," said Hulsey, referring to the regional performance. "Last year I was pretty much on the bottom (at the state meet)." "With the injury to start the season, it's really taken a lot of practice to figure out some things to get where I am at now. When I first got started again after the injury, I would work on those things. I'd get that figured out and then go on to the next thing and just keep working on it." That work and perseverance has helped Hulsey improve his seed for the 2023 IHSAA State Track and Field Championships. He goes into the state meet seeded eighth."This week I'm still working on technique," Hulsey said. "When I am up there, I'm working on my high end form. That'll get me over 15 feet. I run off competition. When I have good competition I perform so much better. I think I can get in the top five." To make things interesting, Hulsey mentioned he's using a different pole. "I got a new pole," concluded Hulsey. "We will see how that does. It is stiffer and it will shoot me up. It will get me up faster in the air." Hulsey is hoping the new pole will help him continue to soar.