Joey Lothamer: Lessons from Pole Vaulting About Resilience and Mental Strength

Pole vaulting has a funny way of teaching you about life. You spend hours chasing a bar that keeps getting higher, learning that every attempt — whether it ends in success or a fall — brings you one step closer to your goal. You keep running down the runway anyway, because the moment you finally clear it, all the effort is worth it.

I first learned to pole vault from my high school coach, Kevin Ferguson. Coach Kevin had a saying that became the heartbeat of my journey: “Get over it.”At first, it was just what he said when I missed a jump — a reminder to reset, move on, and try again. But over time, those three words came to mean much more. They became a mindset.

Pole vaulting is a sport built on persistence. You fall over and over again. You knock down bars. You get back up, adjust, and try again. Every attempt — no matter how it ends — is a chance not to quit, a chance to reflect and keep giving your best. Coach Kevin taught me that effort is what truly defines success. Life will always have good days and bad days, but the goal is the same: keep showing up and doing your best.

That message stuck with me through college, where I continued competing while studying in a master’s program for Prosthetics and Orthotics. Balancing academics and athletics wasn’t easy. There were plenty of days I felt overwhelmed or unsure of myself. But the lessons from pole vaulting — patience, persistence, and perspective — helped me push through the hard moments.

The sport has given me so much: incredible teammates, lasting friendships, and the chance to compete in something I love deeply. It’s also given me a way to share that mindset with others. That’s why I wrote my children’s book, GET OVER IT.

The title comes straight from Coach Kevin’s phrase, but it carries a double meaning — both the physical act of getting over the crossbar and the resilience it takes to get over life’s challenges. My hope is that the story inspires young athletes to face setbacks with courage and see failure as a natural part of growth.

Whether you’re an athlete, a coach, or just someone trying to find balance in a tough season, I hope this story reminds you that progress doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from getting up, trying again, and giving your best.

Because in the end, the bar doesn’t define you. What defines you is how many times you’re willing to get over it.