The space above the crossbar in a pole vault competition is a solitary one, which leads the entrants in the event to be viewed most often on individual terms. The primary identity for Rachel Secrest '10 Sulfridge, however, was as a teammate, and her considerable individual accomplishments were first and foremost regarded as contributions to team success.
The chance to be part of a truly united team dynamic was what lifted North Central College to the top of the list in Sulfridge's college search. This was illustrated at the Cardinals' annual Alumni Meet and won her over almost immediately.
"I saw how much of a team atmosphere it was, and how everyone was pushing each other to be their best, and how many alumni came back and supported the program," she said. "I just got the feeling that this would be the right fit for me."
Though success came early in the form of trips to the NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor national championship meets and a North Central outdoor freshman record (a still-standing mark of 12 feet, six inches), Sulfridge soon began to look elsewhere in terms of goal-setting.
"I wanted to focus on the process and listen to the coaches, and train and improve as much as I could," she said. "I started setting a bunch of short-term goals that added up, just getting better every week. Getting better in the weight room, improving my technique, and taking a more process-oriented approach."
After earning All-America honors for the first time outdoors as a sophomore, Sulfridge soared to uncharted heights as a junior, clearing 12'8" to win the Division III Indoor National Championship and prevailing in the Outdoor Championship with a national meet-record clearance of 13'2.25". The elevated level of performance came after recovery from an injury that may have been a blessing in disguise.
"I had broken my wrist in the fall," Sulfridge recalled. "I had a little bit of downtime from our normal fall workouts. Sometimes, your body uses that rest period and you come back really refreshed and energized and ready to put your all into it.
"It's one of the greatest feelings you can have as a competitor, getting to that point and being able to set a record. To see all that hard work pay off and be able to celebrate it with teammates and coaches, it was pretty amazing."
A five-time College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) pole vault champion and North Central's all-time record holder in the event indoors (13'2.25") and outdoors (13'5.25"), Sulfridge also contributed to the Cardinals' efforts in other events when called upon. She won indoor and outdoor CCIW long jump titles in 2008 and ranks in the program's all-time top 10 in both venues.
"If help is needed, I really can't say no," she said. "It might not have been every week, but I was willing to do whatever was needed for the team. That's something that's more common in Division III, a real team-first attitude which is what originally drew me to the program."
The structure, planning and effort required to excel in athletics at the collegiate level have paid lifelong dividends for Sulfridge, informing many aspects of her daily life today.
"Goal-setting is important for me, whether it's in working out, in my career, or going to graduate school," she said. "Many athletes probably find themselves in that position, being able to set specific short- and long-term goals within a plan. That's a big thing for me, along with recognizing and remembering the hard work it takes to get where you want to go."
