Paul Weidle '23 Recruiting Profile

I am excited about the opportunity to be recruited for pole vaulting. I really never thought this would be my "sport" until my Track and Field coach asked me to try it out in when I was a sophomore (2021). I have been an athlete since I was very young and considered myself as a competitive swimmer and decent sprinter. My coach knew I was athletic and had good upper body strength from swimming. I picked pole vaulting up quickly and qualified for GHSA State Championship 1A Private & 7A in 2021. I came in 9th out of 16. I really didn't start pole vaulting until mid-way through the 2021 season and achieved 9 ft after about 2 weeks of practice.

I live in Atlanta and unfortunately there are no convenient club organizations near me to realistically be able to do club along with school. I attend a very challenging college prep high school and am a 3 season athlete doing XC, Swim and Track and Field. I have been coached by my high school coaches who are wonderful and this year I have made great strides. My PR is 12ft made at the 1A Private Sectional B-Area 4,5,6 meet on May 7th, 2022. 

I am a very good student, an Eagle Scout, I coach my neighborhood swim team in the summer, work as a lifeguard and volunteer at my church in various capacities. I was chosen by my school to be a Peer Leader next year for incoming freshmen due to my good character, grades and school involvement. I am looking for a school that will balance my involvement with pole vaulting along with my academic interests in the health sciences and business administration. This summer I will coach swim team, prep for my SAT's, work on summer reading assignments for school, start writing my college essay and participate in Atlanta Pole Vault's camps to hopefully get invited to some tournaments this summer. I realize I have to make up some training time since I started pole vaulting later in my career. I am thankful to my coaches for seeing my potential and providing me the opportunity to find a new love for this sport.