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It is one of those things that if you did not know, you would never find out. However, many of the female pole vaulters who have been successful at the high school level were also gymnasts at one point.

Such is the case for 2009 state medalist Samee Schramm and three-time state medalist Nichole Manning.

The Winnetonka graduates also have another commonality; their pole vault coach, Jeff Fogel, was also their gymnastics coach.

“I did gymnastics for 14 years, and Jeff Fogel was one of my gymnastics coaches,” Manning said. “A lot of pole vaulters have done gymnastics at one point in their life because being in pole vault you have to be really aware of what your body is doing. It is very similar to gymnastics.”

Schramm credits gymnastics for her success in the sport.

“If I wasn’t a gymnast, I am pretty sure I would never even think of pole vaulting,” Schramm said. “Every muscle group was already developed, and I was already used to the awkward motions of pole vaulting.”

Being a gymnast also helped both girls with getting over the fear factor that comes with the sport.

“Gymnastics was way more scary,” Manning said. “Everyone says pole vaulters are crazy, but I think gymnasts are way more crazy.”

In fact, Schramm said there was not even a second thought about competing in the sport.

“A lot of people ask me about that,” Schramm said. “I guess the first time I tried I was a little nervous — maybe anxious — but I really don’t know a lot of things I have been nervous to do with my body since gymnastics. It is not really a big deal.”

That lack of fear displayed by both athletes may have been taken for granted at one point, but it hit home again with Manning her first year in college at Western Illinois University.

“Last year you would just see so many people who were scared,” she said. “They were afraid to go upside down sometimes. Sometimes they just didn’t understand I guess.”

That does not stop the questions from their peers, though, about why they would partake in a sport so dangerous.

“I hear things all the time,” Schramm said. “They will say ‘Why do you do that? It is such a weird event. That is such a weird sport. Why do you do that?’ I just tell them that it is my thing.”

Sports writer Bill Knust can be reached at 389-6605 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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