Throughout the years this area has been known for some great pole vaulters. From Sam Fairchild to Kurt Dunn the region has had state champions in the event in the past.

“A lot of people when I go around and vault, they know that Towanda had those two state champions and all the schools around here have good pole vaulters,” Canton’s Tim Layng said.

These days Layng is one of a new group of vaulters who are establishing this area as one of the best around in the event. After all, it’s not every area that can claim three returning state qualifiers in the same event.

A year ago Layng brought home a bronze medal at the PIAA meet.

For Canton’s star pole vaulter things have changed from last year, for one thing the Warriors now have their own track facility to compete at.

“It’s an awesome start to the year, especially with the new facility,” Layng said. “It’s a great place to practice and to have competitions. It’s a really cool feeling having a track here. Before we didn’t know what to do, we had to figure it out wherever we went, now you know where your steps are, it’s a really cool experience.”

While Layng now has a facility to call home the crowds have turned out every time the state medalist gets ready to pole vault.

“It’s definitely cool to have all the attention, but it can get overwhelming,” he said. “Last year I was kind of the underdog, now everyone knows who I am, the whole town wants to see me.”

That’s one of the things that comes with returning as a state medalist and holding the school record in the event at 14-feet, 9-inches.

“It’s definitely going to be different this year, people are gunning for me instead of me gunning for them,” Layng said.

While there will be new challenges this year Layng is confident in the way he is vaulting and he has some pretty big goals for this season.

“A state title is probably the number one goal and number two is the district record, which is 14-feet, 7-inches,” Layng said. “Last year I set my sights on that and this year I think I can do it and that would place me real well for states.”

After claiming a state medal last year Layng knows that one of his career goals has already been accomplished. It’s definitely a good experience to get down there and have that goal checked off your list,” he said. “Now, if I go back I will have already been down there and I will be more comfortable.”

Another comfort for Layng is having teammates like Garth Watson, who was also a state medalist last year.

“It’s a lot more fun, sharing the prestige with the team,” Layng said. “It’s nice when the whole team is doing good like this. It’s good having someone else that has a shot at going down to states with you. When that happens you have more fun, you can talk with the other athlete.”

To get ready for this year’s postseason Layng has been putting in plenty of time, competing during the winter and making trips to places like the Penn Relays this past weekend. “That experience is invaluable,” Layng said. “In indoor there is no AA and AAA, there is just the state of Pennsylvania and you go up against teams that have indoor facilities in their back yard. Going down to the Penn Relays that is an international event, it’s great experience.”

No matter what happens this postseason Layng’s plans for the future are now set.

“I’m going to Moravian College in Bethlehem,” Layng said. “There coach is an awesome coach, he is actually the coach of Vertical Assault, so I already know him. I think I can go there and continue to get better. It’s a small school atmosphere which is something I wanted and they have a great reputation and an amazing facility.”

With his college choice made Layng can now just focus on trying to win a state title.

“I’m glad to get that over with first,” he said. “If I had gone to a bigger school, a D-1 school they would want to have me doing different things, but now I can just pole vault and have fun and that’s what pole vaulting is all about for me, having fun.”