Kelly Strickler article (IN)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... /604090342

WL senior envisions big finish to career
By Nathan Baird
nbaird@journalandcourier.com

Before her freshman year at West Lafayette, Kelly Strickler never felt compelled to compete at track and field.

When she heard the IHSAA planned to add the pole vault as an exhibition event that season, Strickler thought it might be a good fit.

"I've always been kind of strong for, like, a girl," Strickler said. "And I was fast. It just seemed like a lot of fun."

It wasn't long before her fun new sport gave way to serious achievement. Strickler is a two-time state qualifier in the event, and she has finished first and second at the NSR Indoor Classic the past two seasons.

Now that the pole vault is an official event, Strickler is a key member of a Red Devils team that would like to repeat as City/County, Hoosier Conference and sectional champion.

Most athletes with Strickler's talents would have locked up a spot with a college program by now. Top track and field programs were plenty interested in Strickler.

"The thing that got my attention was, it wasn't just Big Ten schools like we get a lot," West Lafayette head coach Lane Custer. "It was people that I've never in 28 years gotten letters from in boys or girls track. We're talking LSU, Arkansas, UCLA, Southern Cal, Cal -- you name it."

But Strickler was just as heavily recruited for her mind. The national merit finalist received a full academic scholarship to attend Arizona State, where she plans to major in either biology or psychology.

Strickler's intellect is useful in her event as well. She compensates for the lack of height many top vaulters have by working on her form at the top of the vault.

"She's also a pretty smart girl who can figure things out," Custer said. "There's some logic about it, a lot of technical aspects. And you have to be a little bit curious in a technical event. You have to be interested and be willing to go a little bit above and beyond what a coach can do for you."

Strickler advanced to state as a sophomore, where her vault of 10-6 earned her eighth place. Last season was the pole vault's first as an official event, and the level of competition in the state had risen dramatically in just two years. Strickler once again went 10-6 at state, though this time she settled for 13th place.

The competition close to home was stronger as well. Lafayette Jeff's Kristen Bond beat Strickler at sectional and later finished ninth at the state meet.

"I told my coach, when I'm not working hard, just tell me, 'You don't want sectionals to happen all over again,' " Strickler said.

That motivation was apparent at last year's regional meet, where she set school and track records with a vault of 10-10 at Straley Field.

One of Strickler's main goals this season is an 11-foot vault, which would put her in the vicinity of a top nine, All-State finish. Since she's already decided that she won't compete in collegiate athletics, Strickler has even more motivation going into her final season.

"I've got nothing to lose," Strickler said.