Tess Rogers '13 Recruiting Profile

I entered high school my freshman year as a dancer/ cheerleader and arose a track athlete.  Track's purpose was to better my dancing form, but pole vaulting was so enticing I could simply not resist.  Years of cheerleading, tumbling and dancing, all prepared me by developing a strong core and the necessary coordination to flourish in the new pole vaulting world.  Freshman year was completed with an all conference(1st place), all Region(2nd place), a third place state finish in the pole vault, and being named my high school team's most improved athlete.  The following summer was spent running and attending vault camps at Vault House under the instruction of Eric Morell.  Cross country and tennis were side sports to maintain shape, cross ending in a team conference championship.  Indoor of sophomore year was a building season of 9' vaults that would condition me to blossom in outdoor, ultimately vaulting 11'1''.  Sophomore year also lead to improvement in high jump, the 400 and the 4X400.  I left the conference meet, having recently recovered from an ankle injury, with fourth place finishes in High Jump(4-80), 4x400 relay(anchor position: 4:28.2) and the open 400(1:07), and a first place finish in the pole vault with 11'1''. Regionals would render another first finish in the pole vault, followed by the 1A state meet where with the support of my club coach Eric Morell, family and team mates would win, setting a new state record.  The following summer was spent as a volunteer camp counselor at the Vault House training facility, ran by coach Morell.  I along with others such as Sydney White and Scott Houston, spent the summer teaching new vaulters; furthermore, continuing our own training and developing pragmatic leadership skills.  We enhanced our athletic willingness to be the first ones on the warm ups and the last to close shop.  This quality is one I am so thankful to coach Morell for providing the opportunity and conditions to cultivate it.  Surely this is a life long trait that can be nothing but beneficial in any aspect of life.

Science literature and history have always been enticing throughout school and will be the basis to choosing a major in college.  From college I expect to grow not only as an academic but as a leader .  I desire to be a missionary, a position that is only effective through the development of a strong education and sense of organization and leadership.  Being a club athlete has carried over to school track by cultivating an extreme dedication and ability to lead my fellow athletes.  I'm positive these qualities will transfer to a college atmosphere.  Mountain or coastal landscapes would be my most preferred however this is highly malleable condition.  However, a selective school with at least a relatively high academic standard are terms that will remain.  One thing is certain, I function better when faced with a challenge.  It is my goal as a college athlete to be able to benefit my team by reaching my full potential as primarily a vaulter, while still being academically challenged.