Dale Stelting became one of the state’s most respected pole vault coaches over the past three decades.
During his 29 years with the Columbus North boys and girls track and field program, Stelting guided Bull Dog vaulters to 30 state finals appearances, most recently as this spring. Fourteen of those were regional champions.
Stelting died Friday at the age of 65. North athletics director Jeff Hester said Stelting had suffered a heart attack.
“Dale was a pillar of our track program,” Hester said. “He was excellent at what he did and was well known across the state for being an excellent pole vault coach. He always got the most out of his kids. That’s for sure.”
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Two of the girls that Stelting coached became Indiana All-Stars. Charli Reed finished third in the state in 2003, and Katrina May equaled that state finish in 2016.
“He really created a legacy at North with pole vaulters,” May said. “Almost every year he was at North, he had someone go to state. He really put a lot of time into his pole vaulters, as well. He was just a really great guy.”
May grew up in gymnastics and helped lead the Bull Dogs to the state gymnastics title in 2016. But she also became a pole vaulter in high school and pole vaulted for 2 1/2 years at Purdue before giving up the sport last winter because of back issues.
“I came into track with a mindset that it was kind of a fun side sport from gymnastics, and coach Stelting taught me right away that I could do more with pole vaulting that I thought I could,” May said. “He was a great teacher. He always was a huge supporter of gymnastics, and it really translated well to pole vaulting. He had a great capability of working with beginners all the way up through vaulters who were going to college.
“He was also a mentor for me, even after I graduated from high school,” she added. “He would come up to my meets (at Purdue) and watch me.”
Stelting was a retired art teacher from Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.
“He was an awesome guy,” said May’s mother Angie. “He was an advocate and supporter of all the kids. He came watched them after they graduated. He even helped kids who weren’t on North’s team. He was just a really good guy.”
Funeral arrangements and visitation are pending.
