Air Force Academy

Zach Wood

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Class: Graduated Hometown: Bowen, Ill. High School: Southeastern

Height: 6-4 Event: High Jump

JUNIOR (2012): Mountain West champion in the outdoor high jump...NCAA semifinalist...two-time all-conference selection...moved into a tie for fourth on the program's all-time list in the outdoor high jump...cleared a career-best 6'11" to win the Colorado Invitational...became the program's first conference champion in the outdoor high jump after winning the event with a height of 6'10¼"...finished 26th at the NCAA West Preliminary Meet (6'9¾")...finished within the top-five at the Beach Invitational (6'9", third) and the Arizona State Invitational (6'8¾", fourth)...was the high jump runner-up at the MW Indoor Championships...matched career-best height of 6'10¼" to finish second...that mark is tied for sixth on the program's all-time list...helped Air Force to a share of the top-three finishes at the conference meet...first cleared that height at the New Mexico Classic...won the Air Force All-Comers Meet with a mark of 6'9¾"...also finished third in that event at the Nebraska adidas Classic (6'6¾") and at the Air Force Blue-Silver Open (6'8¾").

SOPHOMORE (2011): Recorded the eighth-best outdoor high jump mark in Academy history...cleared a career-best 6'10¼" to win the Jack Christiansen Invitational...became the first high jumper since 1998 to enter the Academy's top-10...earned the team's Field Athlete of the Week award following that meet...also won the high jump at the UC Irvine Spring Break Invitational with a clearance of a then-career best 6'8"matched that height to finish fourth at the Mountain West Conference Outdoor Championships...cleared 6'6¾" to win the Front Range Classic...won the high jump at the Don Barrett Duals during the indoor season...cleared an indoor-best clearance of 6'8¾" to win that meet...scored for the Falcons at the MWC Indoor Championships with an eighth-place height of 6'4¼".

FRESHMAN (2010): All-conference honoree at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships...cleared 6'9" to finish as the runner-up in that meet...that height was the best by any Air Force high jumper...also placed second at the Robert Shine Invitational with a height of 6'6"...posted a career-best outdoor height of 6'7" at the outdoor conference championships...placed fourth at that meet...claimed a third-place finish at the Mason Spring Open, behind a clearance of 6'0¾"...finished sixth at the Military Championships at 6'2¾".

HIGH SCHOOL: Southeastern High School...Central-Southeastern High School record holder in the high jump (6'8")...runner-up at the IHSA state meet as a senior...finished sixth in that event as a sophomore...finished second in the state dunk contest as a senior...member of the National Honor Society...served as president of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and vice-president of Future Farmers of America (FFA).

PERSONAL: Full name is Zachariah Jacob Wood...goes by Zach...nickname is "Woody"...son of Robb and Chris Wood...has one older sister, Alexis, and one younger brother, Justin...majoring in management...future plans include becoming a financial manager (65FX) and then returning to farming...served as Element Leader, CST Evasion First Sergeant and A-Flight Commander...named to the Dean's List...hobbies include hunting, farming "as much as I can", collecting rocks and playing chess or Chinese checkers...grew up on a large farm operation and worked various jobs from driving large machinery to tending the animals..."the more concrete a man has walked on, the less common sense he has"...would like to add that he is proud of his unofficial "son", junior high jumper Tyler Jordan...flew a T-53 for the powered flight program over the summer...also "experimented" with Basics in the Leadership Reaction Course during Basic Cadet Training and "spent a glorious three weeks at home, helping out on the farm, moving hay bales and watching the corn grow"...member of Cadet Squadron 06.