Vicksburg's Golding Signs With Bulldog Tracksters
"I believe Austin will be an outstanding young pole vaulter and contributor to our program," said Schmidt. "We are real excited he is going to be a part of the Bulldog family."
A four year letterwinner, Golding broke the Mississippi 1A State Record at the 2004 State Championships with his title winning height of 13-6 in the pole vault. The old record was set in 1990 at a height of 12-8. For his performance, he was named most valuable field event member by his high school. Golding also won the regional meet and south state meet in the pole vault as a senior.
"I chose MSU to continue my track career because I wanted to be on a team that had a lot of world-class athletes and one that has a legitimate chance to win a national championship," said Golding. "When you look at the recruiting class MSU has coming in the fall of 2004, along with the tremendous group of athletes they have returning, I think MSU clearly is a national championship caliber track team. It also just felt right to come to MSU."
In his junior season, he won the pole vault at the district meet, regional meet and south state and finished runner-up at the State Championships, where he was voted St. Aloysius' most valuable field event member. In 2002, he swept the last four meets of the season, winning the pole vault at the State Championship, South State, Regionals and District. As a freshman, he finished runner-up at the State Championships.
In addition to track, Golding was a four year letterwinner on St. Aloysius' football team. He was voted all-Region and team captain and received the Joe Evans Scholarship award.
Golding was honored with the Service Award all four years of his high school career for his academics. His senior year he also received the Bronze Medalist Award and the Most Outstanding Male Drama Award.
Highly involved in his high school, he is the founder and president of the bowling society and a member of the Key Club, St. Aloysius' A Club and the Fellowship Christian Athletes. He also served as a Retreat Team Member and Freshman Class President.
Extremely active in his community, Golding is a YMCA camp counselor at Warner Tully and a camp counselor at The McCallie School. He volunteered at the Heritage House with senior citizens and served as an Acolyte at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and Holy Cross Traditional Episcopal Church.