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DC VAULT

DC Vault is the Premiere Pole Vault club in the Washington, DC Metro Region. Serving the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania, DC Vault provides year-round training for beginner through elite-level athletes.

Come Visit our Training Facilities

The most complete training program in the region!

DCV PREP PG KIDS
Through a variety of partnerships, DC Vault provides training at 4 facilities in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Each facility has been uniquely outfitted with a wide array of specialized equipment provided by the club, allowing for training targeted to athletes of all skill levels.




Check out the DC Vault Home Training Facility!

Meet DC VAULT

EDWARD LUTHY

President
Head Coach

Edward Luthy - President / Head Coach

Coach Luthy's experience spans over 30 years as a pole vault coach. During that time he has instructed countless athletes at all levels of competition. Having developed his own training system with roots based in Russian pole vault programs, he believes that strict adherence to step by step technical progression provides each athlete with the greatest opportunity to obtain their maximum potential and perform consistently throughout their competitive career.

Primarily a self trained pole vaulter, he cleared a competitive PR of 17'1" (5.20m) before succumbing early on to an Achilles tendon injury. He competed on a full scholarship for Western Michigan University from 1999-2001, the All Army Track Team from 1993-1995 and earned varsity letters at 3 different high schools.

A few athletes who have trained extensively with or are still training under Coach Luthy, and the accomplishments they have achieved during their careers include:
  • Bill Deerring - 1996 Olympic Trials Finalist / 1989 MI State Champion
  • Geoff Fairbanks - 2002 NCAA National Championships Finalist / 1998 MI State Champion
  • Janice Keppler - 2012 Olympic Trials Finalist / 2007 NCAA Division I National Championships Finalist / Eastern Michigan University Record Holder
  • Howard Booth - 2013 World Masters Champion / Masters State Record Holder in MI, OH, IL, IN
  • Olivia Gruver - USA NCAA Division I National Record Holder / 2x NCAA Division I National Champion / 2015 MD State Champion-Record Holder
  • Abbey Alcon - Dominican Republic National Record Holder / 2016 NACAC U21 Bronze Medalist
  • Calvin Pitney - NCAA Division III National Champion / 2015 USATF Youth National Champion-Record Holder / 4x MD State Champion
  • Molly Minnig - 2x Ivy League Champion / University of Pennsylvania Record Holder
  • Robert Mercer - 2x MEAC Conference Champion / Howard University Record Holder
Coaching Certifications
  • National Pole Vault Coaches Association - Pole Vault Coaching Certification
  • National Pole Vault Safety Certification Board - Pole Vault Safety Certification
  • National Federation of High School Associations - Pole Vault Coaching Certification
Coaching Positions
  • Pole Vault Coach: DC Vault 2008-present
  • Pole Vault Coach: University of Maryland 2008-2010 and 2016-present
  • Pole Vault Coach: National Pole Vault Association 2018-present
  • Pole Vault Adviser: Howard University 2013-2015
  • Pole Vault Adviser: Catholic University of America 2010-2016
  • Pole Vault Coach: Ann Arbor Pole Vault Club 2005-2008
  • Pole Vault Coach: Eastern Michigan University 2003-2008
  • Pole Vault Coach: Western Michigan University 2002-2003
  • Pole Vault Coach: Loy Norrix High School 1996-1998
  • Pole Vault Coach: Mitchel's Pole Vault Clinic 1996-2000
  • Assistant Pole Vault Coach: Sky Jumpers Pole Vault Clinics 1990-1992
  • Pole Vault Coach: Paw Paw High School 1990-1991
  • Pole Vault Coach: Lawrence High School Pole Vault Clinic 1988
  • Assistant Pole Vault Coach: Mitchel's Pole Vault Clinic 1988-1991

CHAD ACKERMAN

Assistant Coach

Chad Ackerman - Assistant Coach

Coach Ackerman has over 12 years of pole vaulting experience. Growing up in Pennsylvania, he competed in the pole vault for his high school track team, claiming multiple invitational championship titles and claiming his district championship title. Later, while attending Penn State University, he was responsible for building the Penn State Pole Vault Club team from 1 participant to a total of 10 members, whom he instructed. Simultaneously Coach Ackerman worked with high school pole vaulters at McDowell. In 2018 Coach Ackerman relocated to the DC area and joined DC Vault in order to continue his own training. Soon after arriving, coach Ackerman proved himself to be an invaluable member of the organization and today assists with instruction of beginners through emerging elite athletes, as well as a wide range of administrative tasks.

Certifications
National Pole Vault Coaches Association - Pole Vault Coaching Certification
National Pole Vault Safety Certification Board - Pole Vault Safety Certification
National Federation of High School Associations - Pole Vault Coaching Certification

LAUREN ROSE

Administrative Assistant

Lauren Rose - Administrative Assistant

As the original DC Vault member, Lauren Rose has been an integral part of the organization since 2008, supporting DC Vault as a fiercely loyal athlete, an assistant coach and team administrative assistant. From behind the scenes, Lauren keeps DC Vault running by organizing events, keeping track of our coaching certifications and much more.

CHRIS SPIESS

Assistant Coach
Video Production

Chris Spiess - Assistant Coach / Video Production

Coach Spiess began his vaulting career with DC Vault in 2014 as a sophomore in high school. After several County and Regional Championship titles, as well as one State Championships title, he emerged as a promising collegiate vaulter for the University of Maryland and a Volunteer Coach with DC Vault. Due to Coach Spiess's extensive knowledge of the inner workings of DC Vault - having worked his way through the organizations beginner, intermediate and emerging elite programs - he has the ability to single handedly instruct and lead athletes at a variety of levels.

Certifications
National Pole Vault Coaches Association - Pole Vault Coaching Certification
National Pole Vault Safety Certification Board - Pole Vault Safety Certification
National Federation of High School Associations - Pole Vault Coaching Certification

TIMOTHY SANTOSA

Assistant Coach
Web Developer
Strength Coach

Timothy Santosa - Assistant Coach / Web Developer / Strength Coach

Coach Tim joined the DC Vault Level I program as a high school sophomore in 2012. Progressing quickly, he was offered a Level III training slot with the DC Vault Emerging Elite group in 2014. Despite injury, he successfully claimed 3 Regional Championship titles, 1 County Championship title and took Gold at the Maryland 4A State Championships with a height of 13'6" in 2015.

Going on to attend the University of Maryland as a Computer Science major, Coach Tim continued his training in the DC Vault Emerging Elite program and began instructing Level I and II athletes in 2016. Since then, he has taken on increasingly complex coaching duties and become a core member of the DC Vault team.

Additionally, Coach Tim leads the Beginner/Intermediate Strength Training program and is the current webmaster for DCVault.com

Certifications
National Pole Vault Coaches Association - Pole Vault Coaching Certification
National Pole Vault Safety Certification Board - Pole Vault Safety Certification
National Federation of High School Associations - Pole Vault Coaching Certification

Training Schedule

DC VAULT EVENTS

Visit our events page to learn about all of our upcoming and past events.

June 8th, 2024 - 2200 East Capitol Street NE - Washington, DC
2024 POLE VAULT CHAMPIONSHIPS
July 29th-August 2nd + August 5th-August 9th 2024 - 2200 East Capitol Street NE - Washington, DC
FLY KIDS SUMMER CAMPS!

Contact us at events@dcvault.org to register for upcoming events