It was a question that resulted in a life-changing event.

“Hey, you want to be a pole vaulter?”

That was the question asked by longtime family friend and Jim Thorpe pole vault coach Walt Bevilacqua to Aiden Clements when Aiden was in the eighth grade.

Four years later, as he moves to the end of his senior year, Clements is glad he said yes to Bevilacqua’s inquiry.

Last Friday, Clements signed a letter of intent to attend NCAA Division 1 Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey to continue his pole vaulting and academic careers.

Clements is the Jim Thorpe school record-holder in the event after clearing 12-9 at the District 11 meet last spring. The vault earned him a Class 3A silver medal, and qualified him for the state tournament.

“What was really impressive about Aiden’s finish in the districts was he beat the same two vaulters from Blue Mountain who finished ahead of him in the league tournament where Aiden finished in third place,” said Bevilacqua, who attended the signing ceremony along with Olympian head track coach Frank Miller.

Bevilacqua approached Clements about trying the sport because of what appeared to be his strong upper body.

“I didn’t know anything about pole vaulting, but I decided to try it in my freshman year,” said Clements, who also ran cross country and played soccer for Jim Thorpe.

He explained the process that requires great patience and undivided focus.

“First, I just had to learn how to hold the pole properly. Then, I practiced running the seven steps and 97 feet without the pole before I ran with the pole.”

Clements described the training as a “chain link” process that moves to the plant of the pole in the box, before it bends to carry the vaulter upward to where he releases himself over the bar. He said that the sport doesn’t come without its share of scary moments.

“One time, I planted the pole,” he said, “but instead of propelling myself over the bar, I went straight up and came straight down on the inside of the pole. That freaked me out.”

That experience caused his mother Kim to have some concerns as well,

“I thought it was little crazy for him to be doing this. I was excited for Aiden, but pole-vaulting seemed like a dumb thing to try to do,” she added with a laugh.

“When Aiden trained, he had to make sure he stood tall through his run,” said Bevilacqua. “Normally when anyone runs, you can swing your arms back and forth, but not when you’re carrying a heavy fiberglass pole.”

Nonetheless, Bevilacqua thought Clements was a natural right from the start.

“The first time Aiden picked up the pole he was holding it properly without any instruction. Some kids never get the right feel for it.”

Miller also praised Clements.

“He’s a fantastic kid, and a student of the sport,” said Miller. “He trained hard, and unlike runners who could rely on their natural athletic talent, a pole vaulter has to combine athleticism with excellent technique to be successful.”

Miller added that Clements was “highly competitive” in all their meets “and if he didn’t win the event, he was always in the mix.”

Clements chose Rider over at least 25 schools that were interested in recruiting him.

“During my visit, I genuinely enjoyed the company of some of the students whom I accompanied to classes. I loved the campus, and my academics are as important to me as being on their track team. I want to major in accounting and financing.”

Clements will have to retrain to pole vault at the college level with the pole itself measuring at two feet longer than the one he will use this coming spring during in his senior year at Jim Thorpe.

“Not only does he hold the school record,” said Bevilacqua. “Aiden is the only pole-vaulter in Jim Thorpe history to qualify for the state meet.”

“I’m super proud of him,” said Kim. “He’s worked so hard for this.”

“I’m very proud of Aiden too,” said his father, Frank. “It’s such a demanding sport. He had put the necessary work in to be successful, and he did.”