GREENFIELD — It was just two years ago Greenfield-Central track and field coach Aaron Smith was looking for someone to compete in the high jump.
He found one and now has the early favorite to win the state title in 2024.
In 2021, desperate may have been too strong of a word to describe it, but Smith was certainly willing to let anyone give high jumping a try, including a bunch of his distance runners.
It turned out one of them would do more than just fill a spot on the roster.
Elliot Ryba was a freshman distance runner at the time and Smith thought his rookie did pretty good for a first-timer.
Two years later, Ryba’s one of the best high jumpers in the state.
He finished runner-up in the event at the IHSAA Boys Track and Field State Finals earlier this month and is the Daily Reporter Hancock County Boys Field Athlete of the Year.
He’s come a long way in two short years.
As a freshman at the Warren Central Sectional, with the bar set at 5-feet, 10-inches, Ryba was unable to clear the opening height in three attempts.
Fast forward to 2023.
In the final regular season meet of the year — The Cougar Chase at Greenfield-Central High School — Ryba cleared 6-feet, 10-inches to break the school record he had set one month earlier. In April, he recorded a jump of 6-9 to break a 40-year old school record that was previously set by Chris McKee in 1983. McKee cleared 6-8.
“It’s just amazing his story of how he was a distance runner and we didn’t have any high jumpers so we just had tryouts. He wanted to do it,” Smith said following Ryba’s second-place performance at the state meet. “We threw him in there (as a freshman) in a JV meet and he was actually pretty good and the next year he exploded. He tied for 10th (at state last year) and he was disappointed. He had jumped 6-6 (at the regional), and jumped 6-4 here last year and tied for 10th.
“To go from 5-6, 5-8 his freshman year and then to explode like that, I don’t know, I guess he’s a high jumper. Just awesome.”
At this year’s state meet, Ryba was one of four finalist remaining at 6-feet, 9-inches. Only Plainfield senior Bode Gilkerson, the defending state champion cleared the height. He went on to clear 7-feet to become a two-time state champion. Ryba got second since he had fewer misses than Floyd Central’s Kaden Stewart, the 2022 runner-up, and Angola’s Alex Meyer.
It was the first time all season Ryba didn’t win. He placed first in all dual meets and invitationals as well as the Hancock County, Hoosier Heritage Conference, sectional and regional meets.
As a sophomore, Ryba was quite a story, too. He didn’t make it out of the sectional on placing, but was invited to the regional as a call-back to complete the field of competitors. He not only filled the field, he became a regional champion. Ryba cleared 6-6 and advanced to the state finals. He had tied for fifth at the sectional and then had a three-inch personal record at the regional.
“Three inches is unheard of,” Smith said following last year’s regional performance.
“It was a lucky call-back. I didn’t expect to make it here,” Ryba said following last season’s regional. “I thought I was done (after the sectional) and was just preparing for next season. I got told (the Friday after the sectional) I was getting called back. I had nothing to lose, just go out and do what I can.”
He did more than anyone expected and it carried over to a fantastic junior year, one that has him ready for even more for his final high school campaign in 2023-24.
“It was different this year,” Ryba said at the state meet. “I knew I could do this now because I’ve already been here before and had the experience. Coming back and knowing what to expect (was important). Last year I had no idea what was going on (at state).
“It’s just been a lot of practice,” Ryba said on all of his improvements over the last two seasons. “(High jump) coach (Jordan Andis) has definitely helped my program and what I do and has improved my workout routines. It’s just been more work.”
Ryba’s finish at the state meet is the best for Greenfield-Central High School since 1982 when Jim Gluys won the discus with a distance of 168-feet, 4-inches.
“I know Elliot’s probably a little disappointed he didn’t jump 6-10, but to finish runner-up and the winner is a senior, he’s the returning favorite. I’m super excited for him,” Smith said.
“It feels really good. I could feel like next year I can be a state champion, that’s what I’m hoping for,”Ryba added. “Getting (second) is more motivation to do better next year.”
