BROOKSVILLE - Kurt Lee wasn't always the All-American boy.
Former Central coach Vic Cervizzi remembers a skinny freshman who struggled with his grades, was a bit of a discipline problem and seemed to lack direction.
Then, Lee discovered pole vaulting.
"When he found out he could be successful in it, he found he could be successful in anything he tried," Cervizzi said.
In the past three years, Lee dedicated himself to his event, brought up his grades, dropped his attitude and became a team leader. And, ultimately, a state champion.
The Central senior was the first individual in school history to win a state track title after he claimed the Class 3A championship with a vault of 15 feet, reaching the goal he set for himself before the season.
After hearing the news, few people were happier than Lee's former coach.
"He became an All-American kid," Cervizzi said. "He's one that other kids need to model themselves after or look up to."
Lee started the season with a personal best of 13-0, the same height at which he was eliminated from last year's state meet.
But he quickly gained ground, clearing 14-0 in the Florida Relays, then 14-6 in the Kiwanis Invitational.
Lee again soared above 14-6 in winning a regional title, setting the stage for his record-breaking performance at the state meet, where he cleared each height on his first attempt.
"I didn't want to miss a jump the entire meet," Lee said.
Lee's ascent was a difficult one.
His mother, Gail, was diagnosed with cancer the day he was born and died nine years later.
His father, William, was a record-setting powerlifter before his career was ended by a car accident that left him with herniated discs in his neck and lower back.
Friend and former Hernando runner Zak Lukas died in a watercraft accident in the Gulf of Mexico in December.
Ex-Central coach Richard Ortiz was suspended four months later after the school district learned of private workouts at which police say Ortiz met separately with two female team members and touched them inappropriately.
Lee dedicated his championship to Lukas and Ortiz, who helped to improve his running and stamina. Lee's father attended the meet, and the athlete said his mother watched from above.
"I know she would be happy if she was here," Lee said.
Ultimately, pole vaulting represented more than an escape for Lee. It gave him direction.
In the fall, he will continue his career at the University of Florida, which he will attend on an academic scholarship.
After everything he has accomplished, it is hard to imagine him as the troubled freshman his former coach remembers.
"Now, people have to look up to him as a model of achievement," Cervizzi said.
- Frank Pastor can be reached at 800 333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to pastor@sptimes.com
ALL CITRUS/HERNANDO TRACK TEAM
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Kurt Lee, Sr., Central - The Florida-bound Lee won the Class 3A pole vault with a school and county record of 15 feet.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Tom Darby, Citrus. MATT BAUM, SR., CITRUS: Won a region title in the 800. At the Class 2A state meet, he was fifth in the 800 and ran on the sixth-place 4x800 relay squad.
MICHAEL BROWN, CITRUS: Captured a region championship and finished fourth in the state high jump. CHRIS BUNCH, JR., CRYSTAL RIVER: Was 2A state runner-up in the 400 and ran on state-qualifying 4x400 relay. Also was a region runner-up in the 400.
D.J. CARELLA, SO., CITRUS: In the 2A state meet, finished 13th in the 1,600 and ran for sixth-place 4x800 relay team.
JONATHAN DAVILA, CITRUS: Won a region title in the pole vault and finished ninth at state. KYLE KEENE, CENTRAL: Was 10th in the high jump and 14th in the triple jump at the Class 3A state meet.
JAMES LOPICCOLO, SR., CITRUS: Was 14th in the 3,200 and ran on the sixth-place 4x800 relay at state. DAMIAN LYONS, SR., SEVEN RIVERS CHRISTIAN: Finished 12th in the 400 and ran on 4x400 relay in the Class A state meet.
TONY LYONS, SR., CITRUS: At the 2A state meet, he finished fifth in the 1,600 and eighth in the 3,200 and was on the sixth-place 4x800 squad.
DAVID MAZZOLI, JR., CITRUS: Finished ninth in the state shot put. JOHN MCKETHAN, JR., CRYSTAL RIVER: Region runner-up was 10th in the 800 at state and ran on 4x400 relay.
CHRIS ROTH, SR., SEVEN RIVERS CHRISTIAN: Finished third in the 200, ninth in the 100 and was on 4x400 state relay. CHIANTA SMITH, JR., CRYSTAL RIVER: Was region runner-up and 10th in the shot put and 10th in the high jump at state. JOE WALKER, SR., CENTRAL: Was 14th in the pole vault at the 3A state meet.
HONORABLE MENTION
CENTRAL: Kyle Smith, Robert Fleming. CITRUS: Israel Burton, Jacob Holm, Jeffrey Moore, Matt Steelfox. CRYSTAL RIVER: Spencer Blue, Clayton Bristol, Shain Martin, Ryan McNally, Billy Milian, Christopher Wimms. HERNANDO: Cameron Wittman, Jonathan Gerthe, Brian Brooks, Robbie Jernigan. LECANTO: Trey Brunner, Nick Burns, Jon Edge, Nick Norton. SEVEN RIVERS CHRISTIAN: Richard Capra, Daniel Woods. SPRINGSTEAD: Quinden Floyd, Mike King, Chris Sibilia.
