Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Gunner Aageson, Havre High Track

Havre High senior Gunnar Aageson sets the bar high in the pole vault

Gunnar Aageson has had one heck of a senior year when it comes to athletics. And even though he has already had his moments in the spotlight during both football and wrestling, Aageson is also a standout in track and field, which gives him the opportunity to make an already memorable senior year even better.

Aageson, who stars in the pole vault for the Havre High track team, was also a three-year letter winner in football and a key contributor for the Blue Ponies 2015 Class A state wrestling championship team.

Aageson, who wrestled at 145 pounds this season, put together one of the more iconic performances in the state meet as he wrestled his way to a second-place finish, losing to only fellow teammate Parker Filius in the championship round.

Yet, that was not the only great moment of the senior’s final year of high school athletics. He was a starting linebacker for the Ponies and played a key role for a team that made the state playoffs before losing in overtime to Miles City 48-47 in the opening round. However, the best individual moment of the year on the gridiron for Aageson came on senior night against Browning, when he scored two touchdowns as a running back in his final home game.

But as good as the football and wrestling seasons went for Aageson, track is where he could shine his brightest, especially as he comes off a strong 2014 campaign in which he placed second at the Central A divisional meet in the pole vault and tied for ninth at state.

While the pole vault has become his signature event over the past four years, which he proved again in the opening meet of the season when he took home first place at the Lewistown Invitational March 28, he also has plans to compete on the relay teams, where he can help his team rack up even more points.

With three consecutive top-five finishes at divisionals in the pole vault, a fourth consecutive appearance at the state meet is almost a certainty. And even though Aageson hasn’t placed at state in his previous attempts, doesn’t mean he won’t in his swan song for the Ponies.

But the big meets — the ones that matter most like divisionals and state are still a ways down the road. In the meantime, Aageson and the rest of the Ponies are doing their best to get back to mid-season form and will resume their quest to do just that today at the Cal Wearley Invitational in Havre.

The meet will be held at the Havre Middle School track, but before the Ponies completed their final preparation for the meet Tuesday, Aageson sat down with the Havre Daily News for five questions.

HDN: What sport is your favorite football, track or wrestling?

Aageson: “I would say track. My freshmen year I had no intention of doing track. But, the seniors that I had then pushed me to get into it and I loved it and just realized it was just a fun place to be, and I really enjoy it. I really enjoyed wrestling and that would come in as a close second. But, I didn’t really love football, so track is where it’s at for me.”

HDN: What is it that you like about the pole vault?

Aageson: “It’s different from any other thing that I have ever done. It’s technical but it’s kind of one of the freest things you can do, it just feels good.”

HDN: What’s been your favorite moment as an athlete at HHS?

Aageson: “As of right now I keep looking back on two moments so far — the Miles City game, which was kind of bummer, but it was still a fun time and I will always remember that. And then there is state wrestling, which is unbelievable. Looking back on it, it’s like it never happened or couldn’t have happened, but it did.”

HDN: What is your plan after graduation?

Aageson: I’ve actually signed to go to (Pacific Lutheran University) out in Tacoma, Washington. I got an academic scholarship and am going to walk on in track. So I’m excited for that.”

HDN: What do you want to achieve this year in the pole vault?

Aageson: “I think 14 feet is the goal for every senior. I feel like that’s an achievable goal for me, too, so that’s where I want to be by the end of the year.”