Most students don’t consider cheerleading a competitive sport, some don’t even consider it a sport at all. Junior Lauren Sturm contradicts this stereotype as she cheers at the world championship level and is one of the school’s top track and field athletes.

Sturm is not only the school’s top female pole vaulter, she is also a national champion cheerleader for Cheer Athletics.

“I started pole vaulting because my mom trained a pole vaulter and found out that she was an ex gymnast,” Sturm said. “My coach has recently told me that I was too tall for gymnastics and that I needed to quit so my mom make me try pole vaulting and it turns out that it came really easy to me.”

“Lauren started vaulting her freshman year,” track and field coach Greg Christensen said. “She had no previous experience except for gymnastics and a willingness to try new things – no fear.”

Sturm’s interest in trying something new ended up turning into a passion. She enjoys the practice and is excited about her future.

“Practice is very repetitive, basically you just jump over and over again trying new techniques,” Sturm said.  “I plan to go to school and get scholarship through pole vaulting. This year I have gotten many calls and letters but most of them are from Arkansas which is where I really want to go because they have the best pole vaulting coach in the nation.”

Sturm is now one of the top vaulters in the area, one of the top 3 in 4A and in the top 10 in Texas.

“Lauren has made continual steady improvement each year,” Christensen said.  “She vaulted 9′ freshman year, 11′ sophomore year and 12’6″ so far her junior year. Along with her continual improvement, Lauren is a very intense competitor matched only by her work ethic and willingness to do whatever it takes to be the best.”

While Sturm is still working on achieving her goals in pole vaulting, she has made it to the most prestigious of level for cheer.

“I started cheering my freshman year,” Sturm said. “I cheer for school and competitively. I cheer for Cheer Athletics and I am on Team Panther.  We are two time reigning world champions in the small and medium all girl division, this year going for three in the large division. We were the first all girls team to ever compete in the majors and we went through the 2011-2012 season undefeated. We’ve gotten a full paid bid to Worlds since 2001.”

The success Sturm has had in both pole vaulting and cheer is a result of her work ethic and passion for what she does.

“I love cheerleading because it’s such an amazing sport,” Sturm said. “It gives me a break from the real world and allows me to  be around so many close and loving girls. The team is like my second family and the gym is my home away from home. Nothing can replace the feeling of stepping out onto the mat and performing a perfect routine with the girls I love the most or the feeling when I’m about to vault and clearing the bar. But is best feeling of all is winning, and the hard work and sweat and tears are worth it to feel those several moments of victory.”