I am very interested in continuing my academic and athletic career at the collegiate level and aspire to compete at the highest level possible. My dedication and perseverance have helped me evolve into a strong athlete. I started my pole vault career freshman year, and only cleared seven feet. Through dedication, I was able to increase my personal record by four feet, and clear eleven feet by the end of my junior year. My senior year I plan on clearing twelve feet or higher to cap off my high school career. I competed in club gymnastics for six years before moving to pole vaulting. At 5’9″ my advantages in core strength and speed are better suiting for pole vaulting. I compete for Fenwick High School during the High School track and field season. However, I also believe that an athlete is truly able to develop during the off-season. Therefore, I have dedicated my summer, fall, and winter seasons to pole vault. Most of my growth has taken place at Jump High Athletic Club, here is where I learned the foundation of the pole vault. Although I dedicated many hours of the day towards athletics, my work in the classroom is most important to me. Throughout my years of high school, I have achieved a 4.058 GPA. My ACT score is a 26, which I am working hard to increase. I truly believe that school comes first, and succeeding in the classroom is very important to me.

At school, I enjoy taking part in Student Council, German Club, Best Buddies, and Cross Country Manager. The following activities help me meet new people and take part in leadership roles. It is important to not just be an athlete, but a well-rounded individual who has the power to make a difference. Because I am fluent in German and was born in Hamburg, Germany, being involved in German Club is a crucial part of my high school experience. Last year, my family even hosted a German exchange student. Outside of school, I look forward to my annual mission trip to the Appalachian Mountains. This was such an eye-opening experience for me; I was able to realize how fortunate I am. Helping the less fortunate made me feel lucky that I have such an amazing support system at home. Most importantly, I pursued pole vaulting for the intrinsic values. Although winning trophies and earning scholarships are important, the most rewarding aspect of pole vaulting is the constant growth and improvement that I have achieved. For more information, please email me at clairegatermann2019@gmail.com.