Rosenbaum to vault for Missouri S&T

Sidney High School senior Lucas Rosenbaum has committed to Missouri S & T University in Rolla, Mo., where he plans to compete with the track and field team and study engineering.

Rosenbaum, a straight-A student and four-sport athlete, will join the Miners primarily as a pole vaulter. He presently shares the Red Raiders record in the event with a vault of 14-1.

At state last season he vaulted 14 feet. Of the 12 top finishers at state, Rosenbaum was the only junior. This season he has set a goal to clear 15-6.

"The coach has seen my film and said he likes what he sees," said Rosenbaum. "He seems excited to have me go there and I'm excited to be a part of their program."

The Miners head track and field coach, Sterling Martin, was likely impressed with Rosenbaum's technique. He's told Rosenbaum he believes he can "jump high" at the college level.

"His form is among the best in the state," said Raiders Assistant Coach Matt McKay.

In addition to track and field, Rosenbaum played on two other successful Red Raiders teams. He was the top receiver on the district champion football team and was a starter on the top 10 ranked boys baskeball team. During the summer he was also a member of the district champion American Legion Post 17 baseball team.

"Lucas is a pretty amazing kid," McKay said. "He's always had a goal of being a vaulter in college. He's a hard worker and always willing to help others to get better."

The biggest attraction at Missouri S & T for Rosenbaum, however, is the school's academic demands. S & T is a very selective school in which about 70 percent of the graduates earn engineering degrees.

Though he has not decided on a specific major, he will eventually focus on one of the engineering disciplines.

"As a freshman we will have the opportunity to learn about all the different kinds of engineering," Rosenbaum said. "I've looked into civil and aerospace engineering, but by the end of my first year I might even completely change the type of engineering I want to focus on."

His interest in building first had Rosenbaum flirting with the idea of architechture.

"But that was a lot of design and I was more interested in the structural part of building," Rosenbaum said.

He will be joining a Miners track program that has been flourishing under 7th year Head Coach Martin. The Miners men won both the indoor and outdoor championships in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2013. The women's team finished third at both conference meets.

This season, four Miners have been selected to represent Missouri S & T at the Division II NCAA Indoor Track Championships. Two of those selected are pole vaulters. Martin has also shown interest in seeing Rosenbaum compete in the decathlon said McKay.

"Lucas not only is a top pole-vaulter in western Nebraska but also runs the open 400 and is key to our success in the 4x100 relay," Sidney head track coach John Ganser added, highlighting Rosenbaum's versatility. "As a scholar athlete Lucas has demonstrated his willingness to subordinate himself to the team effort. He has done this in football, basketball and track and field."

During his visit to the campus, Rosenbaum had an opportunity to meet with several of his future teammates.

"The athletes I met were very nice and enthusiastic about the program," said Rosenbaum.

Another of the attractions to Missouri S & T is its scenic surroundings. The rural campus of Missouri S & T covers 284 acres and sits about 40 miles east of Lake of the Ozarks.

Though Rolla is more than 750 miles from Sidney, the Rosenbaum family has friends in the Kansas City area. Rosenbaum is the son of David and Janet Rosenbaum of Sidney - who are old hands on the Raiders travel circuit. The Rosenbaums, whose daughter Savanna also plays three sports at Sidney High, follow the football, volleyball, track and both basketball teams wherever they go.

"Having friends nearby will give my family an extra reason to come out here and maybe see a couple of meets," said Rosenbaum.