State Champion spotlight: Matt Arsenault York HS
Arsenault a senior from York was the surprise Class B state champion in the triple jump, he scored 3rd place in the 55m hurdles to help lead the Wildcats to the team title. We caught up with him to ask about his preparations, winning the triple jump as the underdog, & winning the team title.
What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?
After looking at the seeds with my coaches the week before states, we agreed that it was really important for me to put more focus on my triple jump than any other event. Although I was upset to have been taken out of the 400, I knew running that would really impact my jumping that day. It was the best move for the team, so I completely agreed with the decision. We knew we'd be fighting for points, and an upseed in my triple jump was incredibly possible. I did a lot of short approaches, focusing mainly on my second phase and really getting my form right during that middle jump. That's been holding me back all season, so I knew that's what I needed to do in order to get my jumps just that much farther. I'm beyond lucky enough to have multiple coaches who put so much time into me and my teammates, helping all of us get to where we are today.
How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?
I've competed in every state meet since my freshman year, and I still always walk into the facility feeling the same emotions. I've learned throughout the years that, really, I just have to do my absolute best. My team will still be behind me no matter what the end result is, and knowing that always put me in the state of mind I need to be in order to compete at that level.
You were the 3rd seed in the triple jump but ended out pulling out the win with a personal best. Talk about your winning jump of 40-3 3/4, and what it meant to win the event when you weren't expected too.
As my coach has always said to me for the past four years, it only takes one jump to win a state competition, and you have six tries. Making that jump in the prelims and going into finals leading the rankings, I was on top of the world. That jump gave me so much more confidence to just continue doing everything I've been taught, and I thankfully ended up staying on top in the end. Of course winning a state title was phenomenal, but the even better feeling was all my team members and coaches congratulating me on my achievement. Their support is something I wouldn't trade for the world.
Coming into the season what were your goals and did you achieve them?
This being my senior season, I just wanted to be the best captain and role model I could be. I was beyond blessed to constantly have such amazing role models as captains when I was an underclassmen; I just wanted to have the same kind of impact on my team that they did on me. My biggest goal from day one was to help give every member of my team the same experience that I had every year running for York. Thanks to all the lessons I took from my past captains when they took me under their wings, I honestly do think I achieved this, and I can't wait to see the great things I know next years captains are going to do.
Your win in the triple jump locked up the team win, coming into the meet what was the team focus? And did you think you would be able to repeat as champions?
In the small pep talk I gave our team right after our warm-up, I thought it was important to just remind them of something our coaches tell us every year. Anything can happen at a state meet, both good and bad. Even though we came into the meet not seeded very well, I knew everyone on my team had such amazing potential to surpass those they were competing against. Our focus was to come into this meet the same way we do every meet and just give it our all. I knew everyone was capable of doing amazing things that day, and not a single one of them let me down on that. Every person on this team made a notable contribution to our win, and I'm beyond proud of each and every one of them. Coming into this meet, I knew we'd have to work for this state title, but I also knew we had the capability to bring home another gold. I couldn't possibly think of a better way to close out my high school indoor track career, and none of it would have been possible without so many amazing teammates and coaches.
Arsenault's Triple Jump Progression
| INDOOR | Graph |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 40-3.75 |
| 2015 | 39-3 |
| 2014 | 37-5.75 |