Margaretta's Bouy clears 6-6 to win high jump title

COLUMBUS — Jake Bouy considered not jumping this year. The Margaretta senior said it wasn't even on his mind. He came around, though, and decided to do it for his last year of track. Good call. Bouy cleared 6 feet, 6 inches, winning the Division IV high jump state championship at the state track and field meet Thursday at Jesse Owens Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University. Bouy said his mom — former Ohio State jumper Barb Bouy — had an influence on his decision. "My coach talked me into it and my mom talked me into it," said Bouy, who noted his mom "knows a thing or two" about jumping. "Being able to make it to state, I was beyond thrilled. With the outcome from today, I don't even know what to think. I'm super happy for my mom. "I know my mom really cared really hard. She coached me all year in the cold, wet and hot weather. It means the world to her that I was able to be successful today." The path for Bouy was tough. He entered tied for second of the best seed marks at 6-5. Coldwater freshman Jonah Gruss had a 6-6 to his name, but Bouy got the better of the young pup Thursday. Bouy cleared 6-6 to win the title with Brookfield's Brody Smith second at 6-5. Gruss finished third at 6-4. "I know there had to be a little bit of magic today," Bouy said. "There were six or seven jumpers just from our region on the podium. I jumped with those guys, so I knew how difficult it was going to be. It clearly was." Bouy said it was a tough start for the all of the competitors on a sunny, 80-plus degree day on the campus of OSU. Once things got rolling, everyone did well, making the win even more enjoyable for Bouy. "It seemed like we were missing at heights that we usually clear," he said. "For the most part, we all got it together. We got higher heights and higher heights." The championship wraps up a tremendous high school career for Bouy, who was on the Margaretta football team that won the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division title and the Polar Bears' boys basketball team that took home the SBC Bay Division championship and won a district title. "It feels like a perfect ending," Bouy said. "It really does." Well, except for one thing. Bouy will play college football next season at Capital University with his brother, Zack, but there could be more winning on the horizon for the Bouy household Friday. "Hopefully he can win gold tomorrow in his 4x1 or 4x2," Jake said. "That would be like a fairytale."