Photo by: Wade Denniston, Utah State
Spring Sports Senior Spotlight: Connor Stevens
5/8/2020 9:58:00 AM | Track and Field
Connor Stevens | Chandler, Ariz.
Pole Vault
Cadet Squadron 13
Assignment after Graduation: Logistics Readiness Officer
Pole Vault
Cadet Squadron 13
Assignment after Graduation: Logistics Readiness Officer
"Coaches aren't supposed to have 'favorites', but I have to admit Connor was one of my all-time favorites in 40 years of collegiate coaching," head coach Ralph Lindeman said. "I had the opportunity to recruit him out of high school in Arizona, and was immediately impressed with his character and attitude. He had a terrific three-and-a-half years with us – capped by a Mountain West Conference individual title in the indoor pole vault in 2019. I got to coach him his junior year in the heptathlon (indoors) and decathlon (outdoors), and was amazed how well he picked up the other events of the disciplines. Then, this past summer and fall, Connor was virtually crippled by a serious back injury. It was devastating to think that not only might he never vault again, but his PQ status to fly would be lost as well. Yet Connor showed incredible resilience and persistence, coupled with patience, to make a miraculous comeback and earn MW runner-up honors in the pole vault at this year's indoor championship meet. I'll never forget his comeback, but more importantly, Connor was an outstanding leader for his team – that character I saw five years earlier was manifested every day in his leadership and influence for our teams."
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Mountain West Champion | Indoor Pole Vault
NCAA Qualifier | Pole Vault
Four-Time All-Conference Selection | Pole Vault
Mountain West Champion | Indoor Pole Vault
NCAA Qualifier | Pole Vault
Four-Time All-Conference Selection | Pole Vault
SENIOR YEAR | 2019-20: Earned all-conference honors in the pole vault after finishing second at the Mountain West Indoor Championships...it is the third-straight year he has earned a podium finish at the conference's indoor meet...matched career-best indoor clearance of 16'6¾" to help Air Force sweep the podium finishes at the MW Championships and account for a 1-2-3-5-6 finish in the overall standings...cleared 16'0¾" during other three performances (Air Force Invitational, Red Raider Invitational, Air Force Team Challenge).
JUNIOR YEAR | 2018-19: Mountain West Indoor champion in the pole vault...recorded a career-best clearance of 17'0¾" to win the conference title and lead Air Force to a one-two finish in that event...all-conference selection...also scored for the Falcons in the heptathlon at the MW Indoor Championships...registered a career-best 4749 points to finish sixth...posted the best pole vault clearance (16'8¾") during the conference heptathlon...competed in first collegiate heptathlon at the Air Force Invitational, finishing fourth with 4628 points...collected personal-best marks in the 60-meter dash (7.29), long jump (21'0¾"), shot put (39'3¾") and high jump (5'8") at that meet...tallied a career-best 60-meter hurdles time of 8.87 in event debut at the Air Force Holiday Open...added a personal-best 1000-meter mark of 2:57.93 at the conference championship meet...earned the team's Field Athlete of the Week award after posting a then-best pole vault height of 16'10" in the Elite division of the Texas Tech Shootout...competed in two outdoor meets, before missing the rest of the season with injury...academic all-conference.
SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2017-18: NCAA qualifier in the pole vault...all-conference honoree...two-time Mountain West Field Athlete of the Week selection...equaled indoor-best clearance of 16'8¾" three times...recorded that mark during winning performances at the Potts Invitational and Air Force Team Challenge...also matched that height during a runner-up finish at the Colorado Invitational...earned the conference's weekly award after both meets in Boulder...earned all-conference honors after finishing second at the MW Indoor Championships (16'6¾")...cleared the 17-foot bar for the first time as a collegiate vaulter at the Beach Invitational (career-best 17'0¾")...opened the outdoor season with a winning clearance of 16'2¾" at the Jerry Quiller Classic...earned the team's Field Athlete of the Week award three times.
FRESHMAN YEAR | 2016-17: Earned all-conference honors in the pole vault after placing third at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships...ranked second on the team during both the indoor and outdoor seasons...posted a collegiate-best clearance of 16'8¾" to finish fifth at the Air Force Team Challenge...scored for Air Force at the MW Indoor Championships (fifth, 16'4¾")...won the Air Force Holiday Open with a debut clearance of 15'7"...added top-three finishes during the Air Force Collegiate Open (second, 15'11¾"), Potts Invitational (third, 15'11") and Air Force Invitational (third, 15'7")...recorded an outdoor-best clearance of 16'6¾" at the Beach Invitational...collected third-place finishes at the Air Force Twilight Open (16'5½") and conference championships (15'7¾") during the outdoor season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Hamilton High School...2016 Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year for Track and Field...three-time Arizona High School Division I state champion in the pole vault (2014-16)...recorded a career-best clearance of 17'0¾" as a senior...that mark tied the Arizona State Championship-Meet Record...that clearance was also ranked eighth nationally for high school vaulters...four-year letterwinner in track and field...competed in wrestling and football as a freshman...graduated with High Honors...three-time academic letterwinner…member of the Honor Roll.
PERSONAL: Full name is Connor William Stevens...son of John and Ann Stevens...father played football at Cal State Long Beach...has three brothers (two older, one younger)...majoring in business management...future plans include working in the logistics field...served as BCT Flight Commander, Group 2 Support Officer, Athletics NCO and Squadron Support Officer...named to the Superintendent's List for excellence in military, academic and athletic performance...received the Outstanding Squadron Award...ranked in the top-50, athletically, for the Class of 2020...hobbies include rock climbing, skydiving, cliff jumping, camping, spelunking, going to the movies and playing with dogs...also enjoys "spending time with my two boys, Logan and Chris"...both grandfathers served in the military...earned Jump Wings in 2017...served as cadre during Basic Cadet Training this summer...member of Cadet Squadron 13.
JUNIOR YEAR | 2018-19: Mountain West Indoor champion in the pole vault...recorded a career-best clearance of 17'0¾" to win the conference title and lead Air Force to a one-two finish in that event...all-conference selection...also scored for the Falcons in the heptathlon at the MW Indoor Championships...registered a career-best 4749 points to finish sixth...posted the best pole vault clearance (16'8¾") during the conference heptathlon...competed in first collegiate heptathlon at the Air Force Invitational, finishing fourth with 4628 points...collected personal-best marks in the 60-meter dash (7.29), long jump (21'0¾"), shot put (39'3¾") and high jump (5'8") at that meet...tallied a career-best 60-meter hurdles time of 8.87 in event debut at the Air Force Holiday Open...added a personal-best 1000-meter mark of 2:57.93 at the conference championship meet...earned the team's Field Athlete of the Week award after posting a then-best pole vault height of 16'10" in the Elite division of the Texas Tech Shootout...competed in two outdoor meets, before missing the rest of the season with injury...academic all-conference.
SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2017-18: NCAA qualifier in the pole vault...all-conference honoree...two-time Mountain West Field Athlete of the Week selection...equaled indoor-best clearance of 16'8¾" three times...recorded that mark during winning performances at the Potts Invitational and Air Force Team Challenge...also matched that height during a runner-up finish at the Colorado Invitational...earned the conference's weekly award after both meets in Boulder...earned all-conference honors after finishing second at the MW Indoor Championships (16'6¾")...cleared the 17-foot bar for the first time as a collegiate vaulter at the Beach Invitational (career-best 17'0¾")...opened the outdoor season with a winning clearance of 16'2¾" at the Jerry Quiller Classic...earned the team's Field Athlete of the Week award three times.
FRESHMAN YEAR | 2016-17: Earned all-conference honors in the pole vault after placing third at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships...ranked second on the team during both the indoor and outdoor seasons...posted a collegiate-best clearance of 16'8¾" to finish fifth at the Air Force Team Challenge...scored for Air Force at the MW Indoor Championships (fifth, 16'4¾")...won the Air Force Holiday Open with a debut clearance of 15'7"...added top-three finishes during the Air Force Collegiate Open (second, 15'11¾"), Potts Invitational (third, 15'11") and Air Force Invitational (third, 15'7")...recorded an outdoor-best clearance of 16'6¾" at the Beach Invitational...collected third-place finishes at the Air Force Twilight Open (16'5½") and conference championships (15'7¾") during the outdoor season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Hamilton High School...2016 Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year for Track and Field...three-time Arizona High School Division I state champion in the pole vault (2014-16)...recorded a career-best clearance of 17'0¾" as a senior...that mark tied the Arizona State Championship-Meet Record...that clearance was also ranked eighth nationally for high school vaulters...four-year letterwinner in track and field...competed in wrestling and football as a freshman...graduated with High Honors...three-time academic letterwinner…member of the Honor Roll.
PERSONAL: Full name is Connor William Stevens...son of John and Ann Stevens...father played football at Cal State Long Beach...has three brothers (two older, one younger)...majoring in business management...future plans include working in the logistics field...served as BCT Flight Commander, Group 2 Support Officer, Athletics NCO and Squadron Support Officer...named to the Superintendent's List for excellence in military, academic and athletic performance...received the Outstanding Squadron Award...ranked in the top-50, athletically, for the Class of 2020...hobbies include rock climbing, skydiving, cliff jumping, camping, spelunking, going to the movies and playing with dogs...also enjoys "spending time with my two boys, Logan and Chris"...both grandfathers served in the military...earned Jump Wings in 2017...served as cadre during Basic Cadet Training this summer...member of Cadet Squadron 13.
Players Mentioned
Decathlon / Pole Vault
/ Track and FieldRyan Cole Interview - August 26th, 2025
Tuesday, August 26
Ryan Cole Interview - August 26, 2025
Tuesday, August 26
Ryan Cole Interview March 11, 2025
Tuesday, March 11
Ryan Cole Interview - March 11, 2025
Tuesday, March 11
