Arizona
2004 (Senior/Redshirt Junior): Returns as one of the squad's strongest vaulters... Will be an all-around team leader... Expected to be a strong player at the conference and national levels... 2003 (Junior): Had an outstanding indoor season... NCAA Championships qualifier... Placed 10th at the NCAA Indoor Championships... Won the indoor conference title with a vault of 17 feet, 2 ¾ inches... Had a season's best vault of 17-5 at the double-dual meet in Flagstaff, Ariz... Earned honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic honors, as well as being named to the MPSF All-Academic team... Did not compete during the outdoor season, using a redshirt year... 2002 (Sophomore): Jumped his best during the indoor season, clearing 17-5 ¾ (5.33m), an NCAA provisional mark, to finish second at the MPSF Championships in Flagstaff, Ariz... His indoor mark is good for fifth-best all-time at Arizona... Finished fifth at the Pac-10 Championships with an outdoor best of 17-3 ½ (5.27m)... 2001 (Freshman): Jumped a season-best of 16-10¾ at the Texas Relays.
High School
Edmond (Okla.) H.S.: Earned four letters in track and field for coach Ralph King and also lettered in diving and cross country... Vaulted 17-1 as a senior at the Moore Relays... His mark was No. 2 in the nation among high school vaulters... Named an All-American during both the indoor and outdoor season by Track and Field News... Cleared 16-4 during the indoor season, the top indoor mark in the country... Named a USATF All-American in 1999 and 2000... Fifth at the Junior Nationals in both 1999 and 2000... Captain of the diving team and three-year scorer at the state meet... All-state pick in track and field at the 5A level in 1999 and 2000, and earned all-state diving honors as a senior... Named Oklahoma Academic Scholar and was the class salutatorian.
Personal
Kevin Andrew Opalka... Born 1-13-82 in Houston, Texas... Son of Richard and Kathryn Opalka... Has two older brothers, Matthew and Phillip, and one younger sister, Sandra... Hobbies include paintball, camping and diving... Is an Eagle Scout... Academic area of interest is atmospheric sciences... Chose to attend Arizona because of its "great pole vault coaching, the academics and great weather."
