Fuzion Athletics, Inc.: Team Fuzion

Team Fuzion Coaching Staff and Athletes

If you would like to be part of our coaching staff please contact us.

Team Fuzion

Team Fuzion is a registered USA Track and Field Club # 30-0425.

Fuzion Athletics provides a number of resources for dedicated pole vaulters such as indoor and outdoor training facility to allow for year-round training. We own every pole available, we compete at local college meets and during the summer we travel all over the USA. These opportunities with Team Fuzion will help vaulters gain experience and exposure beyond the local scene. Fuzion is dedicated to building champions of all ages by providing all the tools, techniques, education, and inspiration required to excel in this highly competitive sport. We have The State of the art equipment need to become the best. We have laser timing system to help you improve your pole speed, the largest pit manufacturer in the US to provide the safest area around to train.

New Vaulters

We are always looking for new vaulters; you don’t need to be the best you just need to have the drive to become better. Before we take on new vaulters you must meet with the coaching staff and some of the other athletes to see if you have what it will take to be part of our team.

Benefits of become a member of our team: First off you will not have to compete “Unattached”, with a new uniform and equipment you will look like you are part of a team. You will get discounted rates on equipment, access to your own pole line, also you can be on the payroll by selling our equipment this is one of the ways we will help you continuing your vaulting career. There in not a club in the US that will give you benefits like us , your earning potential is needless. Since we are a registered USATF club you are insured in case anything would happen during the time you are competing with us.

Athletes that we have help!

We help athletes continue their hopes to reach US and International success with the financial help of Fuzion Athletics, Inc. We have helped many US vaulters such as Daniel Ryland a 19’ plus feet, Paul Litchfield 18’ plus with many of their financial needs. Katelin Rains 14’ plus female jump is one of your own Minnesota jumpers that we have helped, with her website (www.katelinrains.com) to travel costs. All these Vaulter has competes of us in many meets across the US in these past meet USA Nationals, USA Trials, Drake Relays, Pole Vault Summit. They have also utilized our sales department by being a sales rep for us countless times. Shani Marks is USA Triple Jumper that does speed work for local athletes. We give discounted rate to vaulters that use Shani Marks in the off season.

Coaches, Athletes and Staff

Jamie Steffen

Jamie Steffen is founder, owner of Fuzion Athletics, Inc. Prior to developing Fuzion, Steffen vaulted at Flight Deck Athletics for 6 years, coaching and hosting camps for 4 of them. Jamie began coaching pole vault at Greenway High School in 1998, where he coached two state placers. Since then, he has coached at Apple Valley High School (2004) and in 5 years has coached 9 state meet qualifiers which have all taken home medals in the pole vault. He coached Kristin Dare to a State Championship in the vault, along with contributed to 1 MSHSL State Championship and 4 MN True Team State Championships in Track and Field.

Steffen currently hosts one of the Midwest's biggest street vaults at the Dakota County Fair, bringing the best vaulters together for the strongest competition in the area. Star Tribune has recognized Jamie for being "the strongest advocate for pole vaulting in the state, helping in making the sport fun and safe”. Mr. Steffen was a finalist for 2008 Jeff Truman Memorial Pole Vault Summit-Ship coach of the year. He is certified with the Pole Vault Safety Certification Board, and Level 1 USA Track and Field.

Steffen has worked at Apple Valley High School in the special education department with the CIP center based Program for 4 year and now is at Highland Elementary in the DCD Program with 1st graders. Jamie continues to coach Girls’ Track & Field and Cross County along with working with the Football basketball, and gymnastics team there.

Katelin Rains

Katelin attended Spring Lake Park High School in Minnesota and graduated in 2005. Her best jump in High School was 12'0. In 2004 Katelin was the Minnesota State High School runner up in the girl's pole vault. She attended Minnesota State University, Mankato, and competed as a Maverick for four years. Katelin's freshman year at Mankato she jumped a personal best of 12'6 and she improved very rapidly.

Ms Rains sophomore year at Mankato her personal best went from 12'6 to 14'0. Ms Rains is a three time NCAA Division II Indoor National Champion and currently the Division II National record holder with a jump of 14'5¾ indoors and a jump of 13'11½ outdoors.

In 2008 She won the Drake Relays. During her senior year she won both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Division II National Championships. Katelin is a 4 time NCAA National Champion and a 10 time All- American. Katelin's coaching career consist of coaching at Matt Kolb's Elevation by Determination Pole Vault Camp for the last three years. This is Katelin's second year coaching at Fuzion Athletics. Katelin is still working towards her teacher's licensure in Elementary Education and aspire to be a college or high school pole vault coach someday. Ms Katelin Rain will be competing and training with Fuzion Athletics "Team Fuzion" this summer all over the county.

Stats on Katelin Rains

Event: Pole Vault
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 130
PR: 14' 5" 3/5
High School: Spring Lake Park MN '05
College: Minnesota State University, Mankato
Club: Fuzion Athletics
Agent: Self

Paul Litchfield

Paul is competing for Fuzion Athletics this year at The National Pole Vault Summit in the showcase event. We are proud that we can help a USA emerging elite vaulter. He will be representing anyone that has worked with Fuzion Athletics; by attending camps, buying or renting poles, pits and clothing.

All time best: 5.60m = 18’4” 1/2

Pole vault history and titles:

Paul is best known for his tuxedo spandex in a wide variety of colors. In the 2008 Olympic Team Trials, held in Eugene, Oregon, Paul not only competed but also qualified for the finals. He is a five time Big Sky Conference Champion and currently holds the Big Sky Conference indoor record with a vault of 5.50m. He also holds the Idaho State University indoor and outdoor school records at 5.50m and 5.46m. In the 2005 USA Indoor Track and Field National Championships placed 3rd and in the Outdoor Championships 9th.

Kristin Dare

Kristin Dare- Apple Valley High School 2008 Minnesota State Champion, she is the first vaulter in Minnesota to win a state title on ESSX vaulting poles.

Kristin attend summer pole vaulting camp for four years and the indoor camp this past winter. Essx Xlogic Sports and Fuzion Athletics wants to congratulate her on her work.. What are you doing to become better?

Chase Madison

Click Chase's Picture to read PDF information.

Paul Grabow

Paul Grabow is assistant head coach at Fuzion Athletics, Inc. and has been pole vaulting for over 20 years. Grabow set Cleveland HS's school record set in 1991 which remains unbroken, competed at Minnesota State University for the Mavericks, and has vaulted at Flight Deck Athletics for the last 6 years. In 9 years of coaching pole vault, Grabow has led Farmington High School's first vaulter to the award stand and qualified a vaulter to the state meet every year for the last 4 years from Lakeville North HS. His efforts have also led to 2 MSHSL Championships for Lakeville North and new Boys and Girls records currently at 14'7" and 11'6". In addition to coaching at Lakeville North, Grabow has coached for St Olaf College to help build their program.

Grabow is employed at Rottlund Home and is building manager for David Bernard Home branch in St Paul. Paul is engaged to Beth Cimmerer planning to get married this Fall.

John Pollack

John Pollack started vaulting during his freshman year at Irondale Senior High School. Through his strong work ethic and constant refinement of his technique he progressed rapidly from a novice to an experienced and knowledgeable vaulter.

For the last two years John has been the Head Pole Vault Coach at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, and has already produced all-state, and all-section athletes. He is an active member of the pole vault community, and helps coach multiple summer programs.

Now entering into his eighth year vaulting, John has a personal record of 15' 6" and shows no signs of slowing his upward progress any time soon. Outside of Pole Vaulting, John works for the City of Arden Hills. He leads summer camps and also coaches elementary school sports camps. Pollack attends the University of Minnesota and is majoring in English and Secondary Education.

John Heinz

John Heinz attended Wittenberg High School in Wisconsin and was a state champion in 2001 with a jump of 14’. He went onto become a collegiate vaulter at the University of LaCrosse Wisconsin. There he was a three time All America and he finished up his senior year with a 2nd place finish at DIII nationals with personal best jump of 16’7 ¾”.

He coached at UWL and worked the “Learn by Doing” camp they hosted for the last 4 years. He has also coached at LaCrosse High School. He is currently attending school at Northwestern Minneapolis School for Chiropractics and has been training with Fuzion Athletics for the past year under the guidance of Coach Steffen.

John Heinz – Coach /Athlete

Event: Pole Vault
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
PR: 16’ 7 ¾”
H.S PR: 14’0”
H.S: Wittenberg, WI
College: University of LaCrosse WI ‘08
Coach: Jamie Steffen
Club: Fuzion Atheltics

Tony Banks

Tony Banks graduated from Apple Valley High School in 2007. During high school he merely entertained a casual interest in the pole vault, only jumping in 5 meets his entire HS career. Tony graduated with a personal record of 12'3". After working hard all summer at Flight Deck Athletics camps with Coach Steffen, Banks found a new love and appreciation for the event. He traveled the country and vaulted in about 15 meets over the summer and improved from a 12' 3" vaulter to a 15' vaulter after just 3 months of Coach Steffen's training. Banks received some scholarship offers which he says have been life changing for him. He is now attending Arkansas State in Jonesboro, AR where he is working with Bell Athletics and Arkansas State Vault Club and competing unattached for the college.

Banks has a bright future in pole vault and truly is a great vaulter to watch jump, we are very excited to have him jumping for us this summer.

Alex Tapplin

Mr. Tapplin will be training full time and competing for Team Fuzion, he will be assisting us in coaching during the pre-season training sessions everyday we are open and coaching at the 3 day camp this winter. Alex started pole vaulting in high school in Park Falls, Wisconsin. He captured a state championship as a junior in 2002 and was a runner up in 2003. He went on to pole vault for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. At La Crosse he captured 3 NCAA DIII All American awards and achieved a PR of 16' 9”. He has been exposed to multiple world class coaches including Don Hood, Earl Bell and Doug Geiwitz. He is currently attending chiropractic school in Bloomington, MN at Northwestern Health Sciences University. He is also working towards his CSCS Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification.

Daniel Ryland

Height: 6-1
Weight: 175
PR: 5.81 m / 19' 0.75"
Born: August 6, 1979
High School: Buckeye HS, Deville, LA
College: Arkansas State University '02

Highlights:

2-time Jr. National Decathlon Champion, 2004 Olympic Trials Finalist, 2008 Olympic Trials Quaifer Improved 30" in two seasons (16'4"-18'10"), and Ranked 5 in the World 2007.

Team Fuzion was developed to give back to pole vaulters and the pole vaulting community by providing an opportunity to practice the skills learned during camps and compete at a competitive level outside of the regular season. Team Fuzion is our 'Traveling Team' within Fuzion Athletics which consists of all ages and levels. Team Fuzion travels during the summer and competes in some of the biggest street and beach pole vaulting meets in the county. Some of the meets include Hot Springs Arkansas, Champaign, Illinois, Grand Haven, Michigan, Fort Wayne Indiana, Seattle Washington, Pueblo Colorado, Reno Nevada and Vancouver Canada just to mention a few. We are very excited to have some new vaulters along with us this summer.

The car with our poles

Coaching Staff

At Fuzion Athletics we do our best to bring in all kinds of different coaches and coaching styles. Some of our coaches consist of University, College, High School Coaches even College and Elite Athletes. We know that our campers and athletes need to be coached by different coaches time by time to get to the next level. Every Coach we bring in to our program we are proud to have on our staff.

**If you would like to learn more about our traveling team or about being on our staff please contact us.