Another small-town jumper soars to new heights

Special to Kansas Pregame 

Brogan Rowley has admired watching Tyus Wilson jump. The admiration began when Wilson was a Sterling Black Bear and now Nebraska Cornhusker. 

Later this week, the Ell-Saline junior attempts to break Wilson’s Class 2A high jump record in a regional meet at Jeff County North.

“My next goal is 7-2 at state to beat Tyus Wilson’s state record,” said Rowley, who set a personal record with a 7-foot clearance in last Friday’s Heart of America Conference meet at Moundridge.

“Records are meant to be broken,” said Wilson, the B1G Indoor and outdoor champion this year. “I watched the jump and it was smooth. My mom was there running off the competition and she said it was an impressive leap. Pretty cool to keep elite level high jumpers coming from small town Kansas schools.”

“The beauty of the sport is that it is constantly evolving. It’s always a chase and the standards keep rising,” former Nebraska and Shawnee Heights standout jumper Michael Hoffer said. “Anything you set your mind to can be achievable and I know Tyus would love to see him break his record. The biggest message I would say is to soak in these experiences and opportunities! Welcome to the 7-foot club, just the beginning!”

Rowley sensed it was going to be a good day early on. 

“Well it started with warm ups when I did my run throughs and my steps felt good,” he said. “I scissored 5-8 and from there I just kept feeling good and when I won with a jump of 6-8 I just went straight to 7-foot and cleared it on my second attempt.”

“Go get it. Records are meant to be broken and the ability God gifted him with is enough to do it,” former Plainville High standout Madden Staab said. “He made 7-0 look easy and I truly believe he has what it takes to go get that record! Best of luck to him and all the other jumpers in the state!”

“He can do it, I’ve coached him a few times this year and last year,” Wichita State’s Brady Palen, the American Athletic Conference indoor and outdoor champion and St John’s-Beloit graduate said. “It’s just a matter of time before he gets those big bars to come for consistently. But I have definitely been in touch with him.”

Rowley’s leap took him to other heights as well. 

“It was very important with the national rankings,” he said. “It took me from third in the class of 2025 to first and from 19th in all classes to fifth.”

“He’s definitely very hard working for how far he’s come as a jumper,” Ell-Saline cross country runner and former trackster Ramsey Brin said. “He’s determined and has had a good mindset and supportive friends and family that have helped him get to where here he is.”

“It was phenomenal,” teammate Melvin Lutes said. “It felt good knowing that he was able to clear 7-feet. I was thinking about time he did it.”

Rowley, who’s made unofficial visits to Kansas and Minnesota, had attempted 7-foot the past three meets before league. 

Yet he’s not satisfied yet. 

“It’s huge knowing I have the best (jump) in 2A, but I know that the job’s not done and it’s not going to be handed to me,” Rowley noted.

“His natural hops,” said Staab of what’s made Rowley a great jumper. “I remember jumping against Brogan for the first time and being so confused on how he jumped so high, he just gets off the ground so naturally and he obviously puts in the work to fix his form and it shows.”

“A bar can be different for everyone knowing that it is YOU vs YOU. Hitting this achievement shows your hours on the apron, commitment and discipline,” Hoffer said. “Ultimately, at the end of the day having JOY in this sport is the biggest piece of advice I would give.”

“Just keep doing what you’ve been doing,” said Wilson, preparing for regionals, nationals and Olympic Trials while owning the top jump in NCAA at 7-6. “No time to change anything at the end of the season. Trust what you’ve been practicing and have fun!”

“I would just say keep doing whatever he’s doing, it seems like it’s working for him,” said Devin Loudermilk of Kansas, the Big Xii indoor and outdoor champion (7-4) from West Elk.

“That with a good mentality and determination, you can reach any goal you put your mind to,” Brin said on what he’s learned from Rowley.

Has Rowley impressed Rowley?

“100% have but I’ve known since last year that I could do it and I just had to do it,” Rowley said.