Jim Townsend graduated from Lancaster in 2006, training under Rick Suhr for 2 years. Rick Suhr coached 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist and American Record Holder Jenn Suhr(Stuczynski), as well as High School National Champion and 7 time High School National Record breaker Mary Saxer. Jim vaulted for the University at Buffalo for 2 years before instead taking on an assistant coaching role for the school for 3 years. During this time he has begun training under the Head Coach at SUNY Fredonia and founder of Stratosphere Vaulting, Tom Wilson. His immense technical knowledge and focus on the top half of the vault has greatly benefited the program.
While vaulting at Lancaster, Jim won 4 League Championships and 3 Sectional titles, finishing with a career best 14'7". A dislocated shoulder disrupted training during his senior year of high school and freshman year of college. During this time he began coaching at Lancaster and discovered his passion for coaching. In the years to come, he began coaching vaulters from surrounding schools as well and traveling to Nationals. As more vaulters became interested, this group has evolved into the Six Vaulting club, encompassing enthusiastic vaulters from all over the Buffalo area. There are currently members from Depew, Holland, Alden, JFK, Iroquois, Hamburg, Lake Shore, Frontier, East Aurora, Newfane, Kenmore East, Kenmore West, Sweet Home, Akron, and Lancaster.
The club primarily trains out of Lancaster High School. Throughout the Winter, a 104' raised wooden runway in the Lancaster Fieldhouse is used. This is the only high school in Western New York with the capability of training full vaults indoors, allowing year-round training regardless of weather. Gymnastic Rings, a rope, a horizontal bar, and many other customized pieces of equipment are available to assist in training. Outdoors, a 120' All-weather runway allows for even the longest approaches. A large pole inventory covering over 50 poles helps ensure almost every vaulter has exactly what they need.
