Personal Statement
My name is Kim Spritzky and I am a rising senior at St. Henry District High School in Erlanger, KY. I currently have a 4.491 GPA and am ranked 6/142 students. This summer I will be attending the highly-selective Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program, but these academic accomplishments don't tell the full story of who I am because I am a both a student and an athlete.
From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a college athlete, but I never dreamed at that time that I would be a track athlete, particularly a pole vaulter. From the time I was 2 years old, I had been a gymnast. I had competed for seven years throughout the nation and ultimately reaching level 8 at 13 years old. Ironically, a simple switch leap during warm-ups at my Level 8 State meet, proved to be painful and ultimately life-changing. As it turned out, I competed the entire meet and even qualified for Regionals with a partial hamstring avulsion. Both, unfortunately and fortunately, this injury took me out of gymnastics for six months during which time I grew taller and taller. Suddenly, a return to gymnastics seemed unrealistic and I searched for a new sport. Dancing, diving, and soccer just didn't seem to suit me, but track and field did.
I began track as an eighth grader competing on both the varsity and middle school teams simultaneously. Since arriving at St. Henry in ninth grade, I have pole vaulted, hurdled, long jumped, triple jumped, high jumped, sprinted, and run relays for the varsity team. Currently my primary events and PR's are as follows: pole vault 12'0", 100 meter hurdles 15.90, triple jump 32'4", and long jump 16'0". My favorite event and the one that I am most interested in continuing to compete in at the collegiate level is pole vault.
I am interested in finding a college with a knowledgeable coaching staff that can help me reached higher bars. The team spirit and support system available to the team is important to me. With the support of the coaching staff and teammates, I know that I can be successful because of my personal drive and commitment in the classroom and on the field.