Terra Schumacher's attitude helps her to soar (Mt Hood CC)

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Vaulter’s attitude helps her to soar

Reed Schakelford
The Advocate

If records are set to be broken, then Mt. Hood Community College’s Terra Schumacher was made to break them.
A sophomore pole-vaulter for the Saints’ track team, Schumacher has broken school and personal records this year with one thing in mind: “Just going high, going big.” And according to track and field head coach Matt Hart, the “natural athlete” has definitely gone big.



Contributed photo/Mick Eagleson

Sophomore Mitch Keller pitched in relief for starter Dylan Jones in game one of a doubleheader Tuesday at Oslund Field against the Chemeketa Community College Storm Tuesday. Keller is 1-0 this season with a 1.17 ERA in 15 and 1/3 innings.


Not only has she won NWAACC athlete of the week twice for track and field, Schumacher has figuratively and literally raised the bar for the pole vault, setting a new school record twice.
“When I broke the record (11’ 7”) the first time at 11’ 9”, I wanted to go higher, but I was like ‘Oh well.’ When I actually went 12 feet, it was just like ‘finally!’” said Schumacher.
But beneath her modesty, Schumacher admits her excitement at achieving a long-time personal goal.
“I was excited,” said Schumacher. “My PR (personal record) before this was 11’ 6” and I’ve been trying to go over that for four years now — basically since I was a junior in high school -- and all of a sudden, I don’t know what it was, I ended up going 12 feet.”
But according Hart, there’s no question about what it was that helped her achieve success: her attitude and dedication to the sport.
“Terra is Terra,” said Hart. “She’s highly coachable and we need her at MHCC. They (the team) follow her lead.”
In two years as her coach, Hart has seen her develop into an athlete with growing potential and ability.
“She’s using all her senses. She’s more dedicated in practice and more aggressive. She has this killer instinct and I love that killer instinct,” added Hart.
But you would never know it from her personality. Known by friends and teammates as a funny and happy person, Schumacher is noted for her “sunny disposition.”
“Her personality is one that you can’t think negatively of,” said Hart. “She’s always willing to be open minded, and is always high energy. We have a lot of unique individuals and I need her for balance.”
Besides keeping the team balanced and staying light-hearted, Schumacher finds a way to stay true to her love: pole vaulting.
“It’s definitely scary, but mostly it’s just fun because you’re free,” said Schumacher “Once you’re in the air you’re just falling. It’s awesome.
“I think I like pole vaulting so much because it’s so different, because, I mean, how many people do you know that do it?” she said.
Not many. One of only two pole vaulters on the team (K.C. Vaughn is the other), Schumacher has never minded the lack in numbers. Having a winning spirit and a thirst for challenge has always prevailed.
“It’s really exciting,” said Schumacher. “It’s always fun to see how hard you can push yourself to reach different goals and challenge your athleticism. I like it a lot.”
According to Hart, the fun Schumacher has pushing herself to do better has made the difference, on and off the track.
“The success she’s having has allowed her to be more confident,” said Hart. “She sees her success, and that success breeds success.”
And while her confidence and success are rising, Schumacher’s love affair with track and field has had other benefits.
“I think it’s helped me. You know, it’s given me a sense of what competition is, so I’m not competitive where I shouldn’t be,” said Schumacher. “I’m not a very competitive person, but if I didn’t vault I’d probably be like, ‘I want to go race somebody’ or just win something,” she said, laughing.
And that knack for competition doesn’t stop at the meets. Having broken the school’s pole vault record for women by five inches, Schumacher is aiming to set her record where it can’t be touched.
“That’s what I’m striving to do, I want to set it up there,” she said, laughing. “My goal this year in the NWACCS is to go to 13 or 13’ 6” in a meet.”
According to Hart, that is completely possible.
“She has a lot of awesome, and a lot more awesome left in her,” said Hart.
But beneath the records and success, for Schumacher it’s all about the love for the sport.
“I’m going to keep pole vaulting my whole life,” said Schumacher. “I want to do it and I have fun when I do it.
“I don’t care if I win or lose. As long as I do well, I feel happy.”