Rick Suhr
Encyclopedia
Rick Suhr is an Olympic level pole vault
ing coach in |Rochester]], New York
. In the last 6 years Suhr's athletes have won an un-paralleled 15 National Championships and set 16 National Records in the pole vault at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. His most notable athlete, Jennifer Stuczynski
has set the American Pole Vault Record 7 times and won the US National Championships 10 different times and is the only American woman ever to clear 16 feet. She also took first in the U.S. Olympic Trials during which she raised her own American Record in the process. Other athletes include HS National Champions Dan Tierney, Tiffany Maskilinski, and Mary Saxer.
Suhr’s contribution to American pole vaulting has had tremendous impact at the grass roots and professional levels. He has improved pole vault safety and technique through clinics, public speaking, and his consultation service at the youth level. Suhr has been a big advocate in helping push professional pole vaulting back into the American Track and Field circuit. He has committed time and money at his own expense into the success of recent American pole vaulting.
Suhr’s success over the last 6 year period took the National pole vault scene by surprise. This drew incredible interest and criticism. Suhr is not particularly liked by his competitors, they consider him to be isolated and secluded, almost withdrawn. However, they do identify him to be at the highest expert level in what he does (pole vault technique). Suhr was quoted responding to criticism, "Success breeds incredible jealousy, first people say you are lucky, then they criticize your technique, then when they can no longer do that, they attack you personally and simply say “we don’t like his coaching style or philosophy”. Suhr taught for several years with a degree in education.
Suhr is the youngest of four brothers who have had celebrated wrestling careers. Suhr’s background included: a State Championship in wrestling, All-American status and inductions into The Wrestling Hall of Fame and Spencerport Athletic Hall of Fame. He and his brother John remain one of the few brother combinations to both win the New York State Wrestling Championships.
He founded Suhr Conditioning Systems in 1993 and built an indoor pole vault training facility behind his home in 1997. The business later became known as Suhr Sports. There he trained athletes from numerous disciplines including football, wrestling, and track and field.
Record Timeline
2004
Coached High School National Champion (Tiffany Maskilinski)and Runner-Up. (Jen O'Neil)
Coached Indoor High School National Champion. (Dan Tierney)
Coached NAIA National Champion. (Renee Evans)
2005
Coached the 1st and 2nd High School Girls ever to ever the 14’ barrier, High School National Champion Mary Saxer and Runner- - Up Tiffany Maskilinski.
Shocked the Track World by coaching Jennifer Stuczynski from beginner to US Nat. Champ in just 10 months.
2006
Coached Jenn Stuczynski to 5 consecutive indoor jumps over the 15’ barrier earning a contract with adidas.
Suhr concludes other coaching to exclusively coach the pole vault.
Coached US Outdoor National Champion.
2007
Coached the first American woman, Jennifer Suhr, to jump the 16’ barrier. The second woman
worldwide ever to do so.
Coaching included winning both the Indoor and Outdoor American Titles.
2008
Coached at the U.S. Olympic trials setting an American Record of 4.92m (16'1¾").
Coached Silver Medalist Jennifer Suhr at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
2009
Coaching included winning both Indoor and Outdoor American Titles.
Coaching included breaking the American Indoor Record twice.
2010
Vaulter jumped the highest jump in the world for 2010.
Coaching included winning US Outdoor Title.
2011
Coached US Indoor Champion to break the American Indoor Record and win the prestigious Visa Championship.
Since 2006, Suhr has exclusively coached Jennifer Stuczynski to 10 consecutive US Titles, 7 American pole vault records, Olympic Trials Record, and two World Medals (Olympic Silver). She remains the all-time highest American vaulter. On January 3, 2010, Stuczynski married Suhr changing her name officially to Jennifer Lynn Suhr. They reside in Suhr's hometown of Rochester NY.
- 10th US Title
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
ing coach in |Rochester]], New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In the last 6 years Suhr's athletes have won an un-paralleled 15 National Championships and set 16 National Records in the pole vault at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. His most notable athlete, Jennifer Stuczynski
Jennifer Stuczynski
Jennifer "Jenn" Suhr is the number one ranked American pole vaulter since 2006. She has won a total of 9 US National Championships. She holds the American women's pole vault record both indoors and outdoors. In 2008 she won the U.S. Olympic trials setting an American Record of and won a silver...
has set the American Pole Vault Record 7 times and won the US National Championships 10 different times and is the only American woman ever to clear 16 feet. She also took first in the U.S. Olympic Trials during which she raised her own American Record in the process. Other athletes include HS National Champions Dan Tierney, Tiffany Maskilinski, and Mary Saxer.
Suhr’s contribution to American pole vaulting has had tremendous impact at the grass roots and professional levels. He has improved pole vault safety and technique through clinics, public speaking, and his consultation service at the youth level. Suhr has been a big advocate in helping push professional pole vaulting back into the American Track and Field circuit. He has committed time and money at his own expense into the success of recent American pole vaulting.
Suhr’s success over the last 6 year period took the National pole vault scene by surprise. This drew incredible interest and criticism. Suhr is not particularly liked by his competitors, they consider him to be isolated and secluded, almost withdrawn. However, they do identify him to be at the highest expert level in what he does (pole vault technique). Suhr was quoted responding to criticism, "Success breeds incredible jealousy, first people say you are lucky, then they criticize your technique, then when they can no longer do that, they attack you personally and simply say “we don’t like his coaching style or philosophy”. Suhr taught for several years with a degree in education.
Suhr is the youngest of four brothers who have had celebrated wrestling careers. Suhr’s background included: a State Championship in wrestling, All-American status and inductions into The Wrestling Hall of Fame and Spencerport Athletic Hall of Fame. He and his brother John remain one of the few brother combinations to both win the New York State Wrestling Championships.
He founded Suhr Conditioning Systems in 1993 and built an indoor pole vault training facility behind his home in 1997. The business later became known as Suhr Sports. There he trained athletes from numerous disciplines including football, wrestling, and track and field.
Record Timeline
2004
Coached High School National Champion (Tiffany Maskilinski)and Runner-Up. (Jen O'Neil)
Coached Indoor High School National Champion. (Dan Tierney)
Coached NAIA National Champion. (Renee Evans)
2005
Coached the 1st and 2nd High School Girls ever to ever the 14’ barrier, High School National Champion Mary Saxer and Runner- - Up Tiffany Maskilinski.
Shocked the Track World by coaching Jennifer Stuczynski from beginner to US Nat. Champ in just 10 months.
2006
Coached Jenn Stuczynski to 5 consecutive indoor jumps over the 15’ barrier earning a contract with adidas.
Suhr concludes other coaching to exclusively coach the pole vault.
Coached US Outdoor National Champion.
2007
Coached the first American woman, Jennifer Suhr, to jump the 16’ barrier. The second woman
worldwide ever to do so.
Coaching included winning both the Indoor and Outdoor American Titles.
2008
Coached at the U.S. Olympic trials setting an American Record of 4.92m (16'1¾").
Coached Silver Medalist Jennifer Suhr at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
2009
Coaching included winning both Indoor and Outdoor American Titles.
Coaching included breaking the American Indoor Record twice.
2010
Vaulter jumped the highest jump in the world for 2010.
Coaching included winning US Outdoor Title.
2011
Coached US Indoor Champion to break the American Indoor Record and win the prestigious Visa Championship.
Since 2006, Suhr has exclusively coached Jennifer Stuczynski to 10 consecutive US Titles, 7 American pole vault records, Olympic Trials Record, and two World Medals (Olympic Silver). She remains the all-time highest American vaulter. On January 3, 2010, Stuczynski married Suhr changing her name officially to Jennifer Lynn Suhr. They reside in Suhr's hometown of Rochester NY.
External links
- Beyond the Vault: Suhr impacts life of ailing teen - Rick Suhr
- Jenn Suhr wins her 10th U.S. pole vault title
- 10th US Title