Xavier Mania takes hold 

An Onaway senior student/athlete has taken track and field to a new level with his God-given ability to make people’s jaws drop in what he is able to do in the high jump. 

It has become a showstopper  at every event, according to his head coach Marty Mix.

Everyone stops what they are doing. Fans, athletes and popcorn poppers all want to see what new height Xavier Santiago will take it to. Will this be the day he gets over 7’? Will it happen tomorrow at regionals in Pellston? How did he ever get over 6’ 10” at Bellaire in the first place?

The young man is bursting with personality, and like his coach, is always quick to root on his opponent. So, it’s not hard to root for this quality kid.

He has still yet to commit to a college to continue his athletic prowess, because he will be pursuing a degree in nursing, but for now it’s about making state for a third-straight year, and who knows, maybe this will be a historic run to the top of the podium. That’s how one ends up getting caught up in Xavier Mania. 

A Posen assistant coach asked me a few weeks ago if I was there when he made the 6’ 10” jump. I told him I was not, but shared the crazy quote from his coach. 

  “We then went from 6’ 10” to 7’.  To even say this aloud, I mean, we were jumping at 7’ last night, just amazing.” That jump of 6’ 10” would have tied him for the Division 4 state championship in 2023 where he placed third at 6’ 1”.

“It all started last year in East Jordan,” said Mix. “That’s when we said, ‘holy cow, we are really into something special here.’ We knew he was good, but he separated himself from good to great in a matter of one meet.”

Xavier set the meet record at 6’ 6.25” that night.

“Then we had the great regional at Inland lakes where he broke the record again at 6’ 7,” ” said Mix.

Santiago, who was suffering knee issues during his junior year, opted out of basketball in his senior season and put in the work.

“He found his footing early,�

� said Mix. “We talked about it, that we knew he was going to hit that plateau, where you are not going to break the record every single night. I told him that if you follow any big jumpers in the country, that happens.”

At regionals, “We know it’s not as big about the height as it is about the placement and punching the ticket. We are confident, without sounding overconfident, we feel like we are in a really good spot.”

The coach wants his senior to find the “X” factor in all he does this week, whether it is sleeping, eating or training.

Hard to believe, Mix had to talk him into coming out for the sport, because he did not want anything to do with it. Now, he ranks right up there with the best at the school with two of the biggest chapters to be written for this all-state performer.