By Rubin E. Grant
Hoover senior pole vaulter Collin Pate felt a sense of accomplishment when the 2024 regional winners were announced for the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Program in March.
Pate was selected as the Class 7A, Region 3 Scholar-Athlete.
“I was really excited,” Pate said. “I didn’t know what to expect cause there were so many people nominated. I felt very validated. There are lot of athletes who spend a lot of time at school and at the track, so it’s good to represent both of those.”
Pate was one of four student-athletes from Over the Mountain schools who were chosen as regional winners.
Homewood’s Kayla Warren was the Class 6A, Region 5 Scholar-Athlete recipient; Westminster-Oak Mountain’s Alex Montgomery was tabbed as the Class 2A, Region 4 Scholar-Athlete winner; and Oak Mountain’s Aniyah McCaslin was chosen as the Class 7A, Region 3 Student Achievement recipient.
The Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Program regional winners were selected from school nominations for this year’s scholarship distribution. More than $1 million in scholarships is available this year.
A total of 104 high school senior student-athletes, 52 in the Bryant-Jordan Scholar-Athlete Program and 52 in the Bryant-Jordan Student Achievement Program, have advanced from area nominations. All will be recognized at the 37th annual Bryant-Jordan Awards Banquet on April 15 at the Birmingham-Sheraton Hotel.
Each regional recipient will receive a $3,000 scholarship. From the regional recipients, the Bryant-Jordan Selection Committee will select class winners and the overall recipients of the Larry D. Striplin Jr. Scholar-Athlete state award and the Ken & Betty Joy Blankenship Achievement state award.
The class award recipients will receive an additional $3,500 scholarship, and the two individuals named the state award recipients will receive an additional $4,000 in scholarship funds.
Pate is a multiple-time state pole vault champion, including earlier this year in the AHSAA Indoor Track & Field Championships when he cleared 16 feet, 2 inches to win the Class 7A title. Last spring, he cleared 16-09.00 to win the 2023 Class 7A title in the state outdoor meet. He also won the outdoor title in 2022.
Flipping Toddler
Pate has been competing in the pole vault since the seventh grade.
“My mom said when I was little I used to run around and do flips, acrobatic stuff,” he said. “So, when I got to middle school and they needed someone to do the pole vault, she said you would be good for that. I didn’t want to do it, but she said, ‘You’re doing that.’ And I fell in love with it.”
Once he got to Hoover, he soared to new heights. He credited the coaching he has received.
“My pole vault coach at Hoover, Billy Lamb, gives you a great foundation, not only the techniques, but the mental aspect,” Pate said. “You have to be mentally tough and mentally push through.”
Pate competed in the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston on March 10. He finished 22nd, clearing 14 feet, nine inches.
“I did all right,” he said. “My leg was hurting and I had to push through it. I strained it a little.”
Medical Interests
Pate excels in the classroom as well as he does on the track, taking classes in the Hoover City Schools International Baccalaureate Program. He has a 4.45 grade-point average and scored 32 on the ACT with a demanding class load. He’s taking AP physics and AP calculus BC this year.
“I’m really interested in science and mathematics,” he said.
Pate plans on majoring in nursing in college with designs on becoming a certified nurse anesthetist.
“Since I was little I wanted to do something medical,” Pate said. “I don’t want to be a doctor because some doctors are not as involved with their patients. Nurses are more attentive to their patients’ needs. I want to help people.”
Pate has signed a track scholarship with Tennessee.
“The main reason I’m going to Tennessee is I love the pole vault coach, Kyle Ellis, and the head coach, Duane Ross,” Pate said. “They are really rebuilding the program and they want to build it in a certain direction, and they told me I would be a great fit.”
