Class of 2012 College Signings
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:01 pm
http://www.newstrib.com/articles/sports ... nois+State
Fredenhagen commits to pole vault at Illinois State
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Share With Friend
Print Article
By Chris Yucus
Pole vaulting has taken Princeton senior Laura Fredenhagen to some new heights during her prep track and field career, like 11 feet, 4 inches off the ground last spring for a new PHS school record and back-to-back medal finishes at the IHSA Class 1A State meet.
Now the vault is taking her to Illinois State University.
The PHS vaulting standout recently verbally committed to suit up for the Redbirds’ track and field program where she will continue to seek out new heights in the pole vault.
Family ties helped draw Fredenhagen to ISU. Her father Charles was a letter winning linemen for the Redbird football team during the early 1970s, and he’s not the only member of the family to attend the school.
“I’ve always wanted to go there since I was younger since my dad went there, my uncle went there and my grandma went there,” Fredenhagen said. “It seemed like a pretty good fit, too.”
Content Continues Below
Fredenhagen, who first tried out pole vaulting her freshman year at the request of former teammate and 2009 IHSA Class 1A pole vault state champion Alyssa Donner, said she never thought the field event would carry her so far.
“I didn’t think much of it really when I started,” Fredenhagen said. “It was just fun.”
What started off as fun led to a third-place Class 1A state medal her sophomore year and a fourth-place finish last spring. Fredenhagen said she’s looking forward to testing herself further with “the experience of competing in D-I (athletics).”
“I think it will be a memorable experience, one that I can keep with me for the rest of my life,” Fredenhagen said. “I wanted to be in D-I athletics since I was a little kid.”
Fredenhagen, who visited ISU in October and again in November, said she knew “since my first visit” that ISU was the place for her.
“(The coaches) were really friendly, and I feel like I can talk to them,” Fredenhagen said. “The pole vault coaches know what to do to improve a kid, so that’s another good thing.”
Before Fredenhagen experiences life as a Division I college athlete she still has her senior track and field season at PHS.
“I just would like to do better,” said Fredenhagen, who sat out volleyball this fall to concentrate on her strength and conditioning. “Twelve feet is kind of what I’m aiming for, but we’ll see how the season goes.”
Fredenhagen commits to pole vault at Illinois State
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Share With Friend
Print Article
By Chris Yucus
Pole vaulting has taken Princeton senior Laura Fredenhagen to some new heights during her prep track and field career, like 11 feet, 4 inches off the ground last spring for a new PHS school record and back-to-back medal finishes at the IHSA Class 1A State meet.
Now the vault is taking her to Illinois State University.
The PHS vaulting standout recently verbally committed to suit up for the Redbirds’ track and field program where she will continue to seek out new heights in the pole vault.
Family ties helped draw Fredenhagen to ISU. Her father Charles was a letter winning linemen for the Redbird football team during the early 1970s, and he’s not the only member of the family to attend the school.
“I’ve always wanted to go there since I was younger since my dad went there, my uncle went there and my grandma went there,” Fredenhagen said. “It seemed like a pretty good fit, too.”
Content Continues Below
Fredenhagen, who first tried out pole vaulting her freshman year at the request of former teammate and 2009 IHSA Class 1A pole vault state champion Alyssa Donner, said she never thought the field event would carry her so far.
“I didn’t think much of it really when I started,” Fredenhagen said. “It was just fun.”
What started off as fun led to a third-place Class 1A state medal her sophomore year and a fourth-place finish last spring. Fredenhagen said she’s looking forward to testing herself further with “the experience of competing in D-I (athletics).”
“I think it will be a memorable experience, one that I can keep with me for the rest of my life,” Fredenhagen said. “I wanted to be in D-I athletics since I was a little kid.”
Fredenhagen, who visited ISU in October and again in November, said she knew “since my first visit” that ISU was the place for her.
“(The coaches) were really friendly, and I feel like I can talk to them,” Fredenhagen said. “The pole vault coaches know what to do to improve a kid, so that’s another good thing.”
Before Fredenhagen experiences life as a Division I college athlete she still has her senior track and field season at PHS.
“I just would like to do better,” said Fredenhagen, who sat out volleyball this fall to concentrate on her strength and conditioning. “Twelve feet is kind of what I’m aiming for, but we’ll see how the season goes.”