Thornton Academy’s Travis Snyder set a state record in the pole vault this year and finished third in the national meet. (Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald)

SACO — Thornton Academy pole vault coach Erik Ryder describes senior All-American Travis Snyder as a “rare breed with extreme athletic gifts.” 

So, when Snyder broke former Brunswick student-athlete David Slovenski’s 2008 state record in the pole vault, clearing 16 feet 9 ¼ inches at the Class A championship meet, it came as no surprise. Snyder also won the 110 hurdles (15.15 seconds) and the 300 hurdles (40.70) at states to earn him the Journal Tribune Most Valuable Player of the 2019 boys’ outdoor track season. 

Travis Snyder clears 15 feet at the Southwestern Championships. (DEREK VEILLEUX/Maine Milesplit)

“(Snyder’s) one of those athletes who wants to know all the details,” said Ryder, who joined Thornton last fall and started coaching Snyder in the winter. “He wants to know all the facets of the pole vault … He’s highly coachable, which is really good.” 

A week after the Class A title, at the New England championships on his home track at Thornton Hill stadium, Snyder won the pole vault for the second straight year, clearing 16 feet.

He wasn’t done quite just yet. 

Then at the New Balance Outdoor National Meet in Greensboro, North Carolina, Snyder capped his high school career with a third-place finish, clearing 16-05 ¼, to earn All-America honors. 

Despite setting records and winning titles, Snyder felt he could have achieved even more this season.

“I thought I had a decent year,” said Snyder. “I wish I had cleared 17 feet, but I’m OK with it.”

Clearing 17 feet, Ryder said, was something that likely would’ve happened for Snyder had he’d been able to compete in optimal weather all season. However, competing in Maine, rarely gives athletes that opportunity, especially at the beginning of the season. So, when it came time to prepare for spring, Snyder took trips to Boston to train at the Harvard outdoor track facility. If he wants to get additional training, Snyder also has a pole vault mat in his yard in Saco. 

“We don’t have the conditions that people in the south have, so it’s a challenge,” said Ryder. “I’m confident Travis would’ve cleared 17 feet consistently if the conditions were good.”

Snyder said he did more running than the usual before the spring. Much of the running focused on high-intensity reps around the track with low volume. Part of why he added more distance-oriented training this season was to prepare for his favorite event, the decathlon. He plans on competing in the event at the collegiate level at the University of Connecticut. 

“I think he really strives to be as strong as he can in other areas,” said Ryder. “He doesn’t just want to settle with being a really good pole vaulter. He wants to be a really good hurdler and distance runner. He feeds off that. The decathlon is perfect for him.”

Having two of his close friends, Matt Brady, a shot putter from Biddeford, and Sam Rusak, a pole vaulter from Scarborough, already at UConn was a deciding factor in Snyder becoming a Huskie.

Ryder’s most fond memory of the All-American came when Snyder hit an indoor best of 16-07 at the Class A championship meet in February at the University of Maine. Snyder, who is usually quiet and serious, let out a laugh after clearing the bar, then came over to embrace his coach.

“It was great seeing that level of excitement because it was a long time coming,” Ryder said. “He put a lot of pressure on himself …The weight he took off his shoulders and the pure happiness that he had was extremely rewarding as a coach.” 

MEET THE 2019 ALL-STAR TEAM 

MVP: Travis Snyder, Thornton Academy: The senior won the pole vault in a state record and personal best of 16 feet, 9 ¼ inches and 300 hurdles (40.70) at the Class A championship meet. A week later, he won the pole vault at the New England championships (16-00), before taking third at New Balance Outdoor Nationals (16-05 ¼). 

ROY: Chris Walton, Biddeford: Walton won the 800 (2:04.86) at the York County Championships. He also ran 4:45.42 in the 1,600, which was the fifth fastest time among freshmen across the state.

Ben Drummey, Biddeford: Drummey was the runner-up to Snyder in the pole vault at the Class A championship meet, clearing a personal-best of 14 feet, 6 inches. He followed that up with a third-place finish at the New England championships (14-03).

Ethan Eickmann, Kennebunk: A junior, Eickmann finished fourth in the 1,600 (4:30.65) and 10th in the 3,200 (10:06.00) at the Class A championship meet. At the New England championships, Eickmann ran a personal-best of 4:28.91 in the 1,600 to finish 19th.

Landon Heidrich, Thornton Academy: The senior finished fourth in the 800 meters in a personal-best of 1:59.64.

Sam Mills, Biddeford: The senior finished fifth in the 3,200 in a personal-best time of 9:48.55. A week prior, he won the event at the Southwestern championships in 9:56.29.

Jason Montano, Thornton Academy: The senior won the shot put (62-00 ¼) at the Class A championships, before finishing second at New England’s in a personal-best of 63 feet, 2 ½ inches. Montano capped his brilliant career with a third-place finish at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, throwing 62-08 ½ feet. 

Jared Pierce, Biddeford: The senior finished third in the discus at the Class A championships (141-09 feet), before tossing a personal-best throw of 142 feet, 11 inches to finish 13th at the New England championships. He also finished eighth in the shot put at the state meet (45-09 ½).

Ethan Shain, Sanford: The junior ran a personal-best of 11.12 in the 100 meters, which was the fifth fastest time in the state this season. 

Max Spaulding, Thornton Academy: The senior was the runner-up in the 300 hurdles (40.88) and third in the 200 (23.20) at the Class A championships. He ran a personal-best of 40.26 in the 300 at the New England championships, which was the second fastest time in the state this season.