Marley

What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?

Marley finds pole vaulting to be exciting, daring, and demanding. She absolutely loves the challenge of the sport. Having to coordinate speed, timing, and strength is very difficult. However, ‘flying’ over that bar gives her an adrenaline rush and an instant sense of accomplishment. You can see it written all over her face as soon as her back hits the mat.

Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?

Marley’s dad is her biggest inspiration! In school he participated in many sports himself. Football, basketball, wrestling, track and field, cross country etc. any sport he felt was a challenge- he took it on and excelled. When Marley shows interest in any sport, he immediately jumps in to help her train- flag football, swimming, gymnastics, track & field, cross country even competition cheer! lol

What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?

Undoubtedly,the moment that makes me proudest is the first time she made it over the pole vault bar.She’d never held a pole in her life, nervous about flying into the air and had overheard “African Americans don’t pole vault”.All reasons for to give up,instead she used those negatives as fuel.Showing up and pushing harder every practice.I was very proud to watch her make it over the bar for the first time.There was no looking back,she was State Championship bound every year afterwards.