Schulte broke records at Baldwin

Setting two school records as a female on the track team was a big accomplishment for Krystal Schulte. The English teacher and Baldwin Class of 2000 alum was a sprinter and long jumper in high school before combining her skills as a pole vaulter.

“When I was in high school, they were really just beginning to open up pole vaulting to females,” Schulte said. 

She said that at the time, some people felt that females didn’t have enough upper body strength to compete as pole vaulters.

Playing on a coed team, Schulte enjoyed bonding with her female and male teammates.

“We practiced together. We did the same workouts,” Schulte said. “It made me try to compete with the boys and made me up my game.”

Schulte graduated with two school records. One was a 2nd place for pole vault with a height of 10 feet, 6 inches.

“It was something that was unique. There were not a lot of girls doing it at the time and I think it made me feel proud that I was attempting something that was a little bit new and dangerous,” Schulte said.

Then, she set the school record in the long jump at 16 feet, 11 and three-quarters inches.

Setting the records “was very exciting,” Schulte said. 

At the football stadium, Schulte’s name was added to a list of track record holders.

“My name being added to the list was the recognition,” Schulte said. 

During her senior year in college at Wheeling Jesuit University, she won a championship in pole vault. She initially missed her first two attempts at one height, but then cleared a six-inch increase in height on her next attempt. Schulte was surprised by her family’s attendance at a meet so far away, as she heard them begin cheering. 

Participating in track taught her valuable interpersonal skills from working with a team. She had opportunities for leadership roles that helped her with socialization with others. 

It also helped her learn to balance sports and school, because procrastinating was not an option. 

“You knew you had to get your work done,” Schulte said.