Pole vaulting runs in the veins of Winders

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CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Despite their obvious physical differences - one has long, shoulder-length hair and the other a tighter, more military looking 'do' - the comparisons between the Winder brothers persist.

One was a state champion pole vaulter during his heyday at Plainfield South High School. The other is on a pace that could lead to him matching that feat at district rival Plainfield Central. And, at this juncture, the questions regularly thrown their way can't even be called repetitive.

Ridiculous is the word.

"Yeah, people always comparing us," Jake Winder said as he stood in the field house during one of the six weather delays Friday at the IHSA state track and field meet. "Every time I say, yeah, like Josh jumped 16-1 this weekend. They're like, 'How high did you jump your junior year?' It's not even like, 'Oh, Josh, did a good job.' It's, 'How high did you jump?' "

The thing to know is neither one of the two young men dwells much on the inevitable. Rather, each remains focused on a competition that is defined by a measurement of the bar, say nothing of a measurement of their own speed, strength and willpower. They work together and push each other to new heights all the time, on the track and off.

Jake, after graduating from Plainfield South, spent a year in the Division I ranks at Alabama. He quickly discovered the glare of the SEC spotlight was not all that it was cut out to be, was not for him.

"I hated it down in Alabama," he said. "It wasn't me. I was really not doing things that I normally would do. I felt a lot of pressure to go to a Division I school and to do this and do that. I gave in to that pressure. And I fell away from myself, away from my family, away from Christ, away from everything."

Then, he transferred to North Central College in Naperville. There, he was reunited with his father, Tim, the Cardinals' pole vault coach and his chief confidant. And, if Jake fell out of bed once, it didn't take him long to bounce up off the floor.

"I had a moment where it was like, 'OK, I'm going to put all my trust in God,' " Jake Winder said. "I did that and two weeks later I had a personal-best."

Jake placed second at the Division III nationals during the indoor season and later cleared 17-0 ¾ outdoors. Along the way, he won the CCIW pole vault title. That he no-heighted up in Oshkosh, by gosh, at the outdoor national meet is of no real importance now. What is important is his commitment to Josh and his new-found faith in himself.

Big brother was watching, all right, as the little one waited out the storms on a pain-staking day to reach the Class AA finals in the pole vault with a mark of 14-3. Josh will be battling for his second straight state medal when the competition picks up again today and, perhaps, even a place atop the heap. He belongs in that rarified air space also occupied by Mike Viken of Rolling Meadows and Mitchell Erickson of Marian Catholic.

He is a Winder, after all. And, among other things, that means he stars in a Christian rock band that is attracting interest on My Space. Josh plays guitar and teams with Jake on vocals for the group called Azealous Voice. The band put its first songs on the Web about a month ago. Already, they have generated 3,000 plays.

Check them out at www.myspace.com/azealousvoice. Or, make plans to see them live at Mokena Sound Lab. The band is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. on June 21.

"It's like a harder rock band," Jake said. "It's me, my brother, and then the athletic trainer from North Central and his friend from Earlville. Four guys. I play the guitar and do lead vocals. Josh plays the guitar and does vocals. And, then, we've got a bass player and a drummer, too.

"A lot of the songs that I've written are about the experiences I had at Alabama and about finding my way back to God. My relationship with God has brought me to where I'm at right now. And I'm at zero again.

"I was in the negative. Now, I'm at zero. So, from now, here on out is going to be on the plus side. That's a good feeling for me. I no-heighted at nationals. That wasn't good. But it's over. I had that bad freshman year. I had that rough time getting back to where I was my sophomore year. And, now my junior year, I feel as if I've been given a new life and I plan to go with it."

Josh doesn't jump to keep up with Jake. No, Josh jumps to carry on a family tradition and to test his own mettle. He is an athlete and fighter, too.

"I think for everyone else, they think there would be pressure for Josh," Tim Winder said. "But it's really the dynamics of the family and the dynamics of the relationship the brothers have, to be honest.

"And it's never been a competitive, combative relationship. It's been a very supportive thing. They're buddies. They train together and they play in a band together. It's just not like that."

The blueprint for the brothers' loving ways was drawn up at home -- by their mother and father.

"You just speak true words," Tim Winder said. "It's about trying to perform the best you can, focusing on being the best you can. And I really encourage my sons -- and my athletes -- not to compare themselves to anyone else. Because you limit yourself when you compare yourself to someone else.

"When you achieve what that other person achieved, then what do you do after that?"

Josh Winder resets his goals and keeps jumping. He draws inspiration -- and comfort -- from his older brother's presence in the crowd. And, yes, he feels empowered to clear that next height, not strangled by his legacy.

e-mail: rkremer@scn1.com