Balance. A natural, but difficult quality adopted by many gymnasts as they practice what can feel like millions of hours in the gym. For Natalie Yoder, however, that idea took on a new change as she turned to a different experience, pole vault.

Yoder explains the reason for her switch from gymnastics at Meks Gymnastics Academy. “My old teammate, Ella, I saw her doing pole vault. And then I had Coach Alano as my teacher, and she recommended that I could move to that from gymnastics”.

While the trade from gymnastics to pole vault might be seen as random to some, they both share a surprising amount of similarities.

Oshkosh North pole-vaulting coach, Chris Kujawa explains, “I do think it is a natural correlation between gymnastics and pole vaulting—you can see it when they vault. You can almost pick the gymnasts out immediately because they are able to the top-end pole work more than any of the non-gymnast people, and they do it much quicker” (Oshkosh Northwestern).

So many gymnasts, particularly those with years of high-level experience like Yoder, often acquire a significant advantage with their general strength and skill variety. Vault, balance beam, uneven bars, floor routine, all of these skills require upper, lower, and core strength. As they utilize every aspect of their body through this, pole vaulters are expected to have the same, hence why this transition between sports is so seamless.

This past week during the Charlie Riley Invite meet at North Central High School, Yoder overcame her previous personal record of 9’6’’ with a new height of 10’. She explains, “I had not PR’d since summer, so I was kind of a little defeated each meet just matching my pr or even not even hitting my pr. So, when I PR’d, I just had pure excitement”.

As Yoder reflects on her past commitment to pole vaulting full time, she advises other athletes switching sports to not to be discouraged by the inevitable dip in performance compared to their previous sport. “Being open to other people who are better than me, accepting all of the corrections I could get, just knowing that I can get better and that I’m not gonna to be the worst the entire time”.

After Natalie Yoder’s high school career comes to a bittersweet close, she will continue with pole vaulting at Marian University. Along with her athletics, she will also be working on her academic career with a major in biology along with a minor in psychology, persevering towards a profession as a Neurosurgical Physician Assistant.