Westmoreland athletes of the week: Belle Vernon’s Sienna Steeber, Norwin’s Nicholas Puskar

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | 5:24 PM

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Sienna Steeber

Class: Senior

School: Belle Vernon

Sport: Track & field

Claim to fame: Steeber soared to a school record, breaking her own mark, in the pole vault at the Mid Mon Valley championship, clearing 11 feet to win a title.

Steeber, who is Belle Vernon’s first and only pole vaulter and back after an ankle injury sidelined her last season, broke the record again when she took sixth at the Baldwin Invitational at 11-2.

A Bucknell commit who is ranked No. 2 in her class of 193, she recently was honored as a Westmoreland County Scholar-Athlete.

Steeber is a Level 9 gymnast.

What was it like breaking the school record?

I was excited to reset the record higher my senior year.

Did you know what it was going into the meet?

I was attempting to break my own record set two years earlier at 9-6.

How long have you been pole vaulting, and how did you get started?

I was a gymnast from age 1 to 17, and a few of my friends at the gym were pole vaulters. When I decided to do track in middle school, I was intrigued by other schools’ vaulters. I practiced a little bit in middle school, but I mainly still focused on gymnastics. I had my first meet in the winter of freshman year with a pole that my parents bought.

How much has gymnastics helped you?

Gymnastics has given me the spacial awareness and coordination that you need for pole vault.

What is your next goal?

My next goal is to vault 11-6 at WPIALs.

What made Bucknell stand out to you?

Bucknell caught my eyes because it has one of the best biomedical engineering programs, a beautiful campus and track facilities and a tremendous track and field team atmosphere.

What are some other highlights for you from this season?

I medaled at the TSTCA and WCCA meets. Overall, I am just grateful and excited to be competing again after being injured all last track season with a broken ankle.

What was your best vault during the indoor season?

I vaulted 10-7 at an indoor meet at Akron. I felt fast on that runway and blew through all my usual poles.

Are there any good athletes in your family?

My dad played football at Lafayette College, which is in the Patriot League (with Bucknell). My parents have always instilled the importance of trying my best athletically and academically to become the best version of myself.

Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I have always been into cooking and baking food to share with my family.

Do you have a pre-vault routine?

Before I vault I try to get in the right mindset to stay calm and ready for competition. I have to keep in mind that all I can do is give my all every day.

Have you been through any adversity in your life?

Belle Vernon has no pole vault equipment or track to practice on. For my entire vaulting career, I have had to drive 30 minutes to 1.5 hours to practices multiple times a week. It has also been hard not having pole vault teammates from my school, but I have made many friends from other schools at practices and meets and cherish the friendships we have created through our shared interests and experiences together.

A good pole vaulter must _______.

Trust their coaches.

What is your favorite subject in school?

Anatomy — when we don’t have a test.

What is the best place to eat in or around Belle Vernon?

Starbucks and Sunrise Perks, always.

What kind of music do you like?

Taylor Swift and 2000s throwbacks.

What makes you happy?

Watching coach Tim Tray jump up and down in anticipation in the background of my vaulting videos.

What makes you sad?

Track tan lines.

My friends would say I ______.

Am passionate about everything I do.

Nicholas Puskar

Class: Junior

School: Norwin

Sport: Track & field

Claim to fame: Puskar had a big week for the Knights. He captured first place in the pole vault at the 50th Annual Baldwin Invitational on May 3, 2024. He jumped 14 feet, 4 inches and just missed clearing a school-record 15-2. He also helped the Knights clinch a section title, advance to the WPIAL Class 3A team finals and win the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association meet where he won the pole vault with a jump of 14-0. He tied the school record of 15-1 on April 23 at Penn-Trafford. He also wrestles.

Describe the feeling of clearing the bar in the pole vault.

It’s the best feeling. You want to get off, and I run to coach (Tim) Tray after I clear it. It’s amazing.

Talk about the disappointment of just missing 15-2?

It’s going to come. I missed it twice. I had a bad jump at 15-1, but if I work on my technique, I think I’ll get it.

What did you tie?

Mike Steffenino. He set the record in 2008.

What are your goals in track?

I want the school record. I’d also like to clear 15-6 and get on the podium at states.

What do you think it will take to achieve those goals?

I’ve been doing a lot of speed training at practices this year and doing a lot of calisthenics to get better inverts because I think that will help a lot.

The wind didn’t help you at Baldwin. What’s the best wind to have when jumping?

A tail wind is the best. The head wind was bad for all of us. It was a tough day.

What’s your biggest memory in high school?

Probably when I PR’d (personal record) 12-3 as a freshman and went to WPIALS. I placed eighth. I was really proud of myself, and that’s what convinced me to stay with it. It made me want to continue to pole vault because I was thinking about not jumping as a sophomore.

How did you get started in pole vault?

I played baseball all my life, but I quit. I came to practice, and I was fooling around with the hurdles and 400 but the throwing coach said we needed pole vaulters and wrestlers make good vaulters because of their upper body strength. At the first practice I cleared nine feet, and I stuck with it.

What do you like most about vaulting?

I like the adrenaline rush of once you get high in the air and how cool it is.

You compete well in two sports, what will you do in college?

My goal is to pole vault in college. I’m going to wrestle my senior season and see if anything comes of that.

What do you think about the new wrestling scoring rules?

I like it. The three-point takedown is going to be different. It’s going to create a lot of upsets. It’s going to be fun.

What are your goals in wrestling?

I want to get on the podium at WPIAL. It would be awesome to qualify for states.

What’s different about Norwin wrestling since coach Kyle Martin has taken over?

Our condition is so crazy. We really push on conditioning, and he’s a good coach technique wise. Every practice is so hard. We’re going to have a really good team.

Do you have a favorite athlete?

I like Sam Kendricks, Olympic pole vaulter.

What was the last movie you watched?

“Hunger Games” on Netflix.

What type of movies do you like?

I like romance movies actually.

Who would play you in a movie?

Nicholas Cage, and it would be action movie.

Do you have a favorite vacation spot?

I like the Turks and Caicos.

Do you have a dream vacation spot on your bucket list?

Hawaii.

Where do you go for a snack after a game or practice?

We go to Primanti’s, and I get a hot sausage sandwich.

If your dad was making you your favorite dinner, what would it be?

My dad makes a pretty good steak on the grill. I like it medium.

What type of music do you listen to?

I like alternative music: Green Day and Creed.

When you are pole vaulting, do you do anything special before you jump?

I wear the same type of socks (Nike) and a tension band on my leg.

What sport do you follow?

I follow college wrestling.

MMA or Pro Wrestling?

WWE. The Undertaker is my favorite.

Do you have a dream car you’d like to own?

Audi R8.

If you were to have lunch or dinner with someone famous, who would it be and what would you talk about?

I’d pick my great grandpa because I never met him.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon