Kaminski living the dream as Buckeyes high jumper

A year ago, Sean Kaminski wouldn't have believed this. The Huron graduate was having a good, not great, senior season as a Tigers high jumper. He was bound for Ohio State for school, not sport. Then he rattled off a run of PRs, won a surprise state championship, jumped even higher at a national meet and earned himself a walk-on spot with the Buckeyes. And so 12 months after Kaminski's high jump career looked to be in its closing stages, he's just getting started as an NCAA Division I athlete at OSU. "I peaked at the right time," Kaminski said. "Looking back at those earlier meets, I was just having fun with my teammates and enjoying track for what it was in high school. I think part of that allowed me to become what I am today, not having that pressure of making it to this level but just going out and competing." Kaminski has already put up a pair of top-10 finishes in his first two collegiate meets — fourth in Gainesville, Florida (1.99 meters) and then ninth back home in Columbus at the Jesse Owens Classic (1.94m). The whole endeavor is still a bit in the pinch-himself stages for Kaminski. "It felt like everything was meant to be," he said. "The right place, the right time. I owe that all to God. It's His plan. I didn't know where track and field would take me." To reach this stage, Kaminski first had to clear 6-4 for the first time at last season's SBC Championships, then 6-6 at district, regional and state. He went over 6-8 at New Balance Nationals. After that state title, Kaminski stood on the grass at Jesse Owens Stadium and started to hope it wouldn't be his last time jumping there. That meant he kept training during the summer — with Huron classmate Brad Holbrook (Cornerstone University) and Vermilion grad Ayden Bath (Kent State) under the tutelage of Bath's high school jumps coach, Hannah Bartlome. "I knew they were both going to compete at the next level," Kaminski said. "That helped give me some confidence." Kaminski still had to find a spot on Ohio State's roster. With the program's director, Rosalind Joseph, also in her first year, it was a bit bumpy to figure out how Kaminski could fit. But with the help of OSU's jumps coach, Victor Houston, Kaminski was made an official walk-on. "I've learned a lot," Kaminski said. "(Houston) was a high jumper at Auburn and was an Olympian for Barbados. He knows what he's talking about. He's been able to help a lot with technique and form. Seeing it from his perspective brings a whole new light on things." It hasn't been perfectly smooth sailing since. The new, heightened level of training forced Kaminski to deal with a stress fracture in his right leg. But by early March, he was fully cleared, in time to ramp up for his first collegiate season. "The trainers down here have been wonderful," he said. "They write the plans. They go over the workouts, the exercises. They make sure that the process of getting back is as easy as possible." Kaminski made his debut at the Tom Jones Memorial meet hosted by the University of Florida. His 1.99m clearance (a bit over 6 feet, 6 inches) gave him fourth place. "That was amazing to be down there," Kaminski said. "That was a perfect collegiate debut. The competition was great… The atmosphere there was great, the weather was beautiful. It was the perfect setup for a debut. I was really happy with my results as well." Then he was back in Columbus, where a colder day left him in a tie for ninth at about 6-4. "That was special to be back here less than 12 months after winning state," Kaminski said. "It brought back a lot of memories being here with my teammates. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as nice as Florida or state. Low 50s. It kind of felt like a welcome back to outdoor track." Kaminski isn't sure exactly what heights he can reach this season. It's all a bit truncated without having the winter to train in full. He's hoping to be at his best by mid-May, when the Big Ten Championships are held at Indiana University. "The ultimate goal this year is to compete at the Big Ten Championships and score points for my team and do well there," Kaminski said. "That'll be a wonderful experience as well." The bigger goals for Kaminski will come later, after he's fully acclimated to the college environment and has a chance to prepare throughout a calendar year to be at his best. But the most important thing is this: Kaminski has a spot. He has coaches and teammates that believe in him. And now that he feels like he belongs, he'll get a few more years to keep raising the bar. "Now that I look back, you're living the best dream that you could have imagined," Kaminski said, "and the dream so many people have for themselves. I owe it all to God."