ISU Bengal

Issue date: 3/2/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Lavanya Vasudevan Solana Kline prepares for a vault in the Holt Arena earlier this season. Kline, second behind team mate Michelle Railsback for ISU vaulters and third in the conference.

This week the Bengal chats with ISU pole vaulter, Solana Kline. Solana is a senior from Minnetonka, Minnesota. She is working on a double major in anthropology and international studies. Solana likes The Big Lebowski, fruit, and baby blue.



Bengal - How long have you been involved in track?

Kline - 11 years. Since junior high.

Bengal - You are a pole-vaulter. Ever try your hand at any other events?

Kline - I ran the hurdles when I was younger. I did the long jump and the 400 a couple times too.

Bengal - Did you play any other sports growing up?

Kline - Fastpitch softball, gymnastics, wrestling, snowboarding...I still do that.

Bengal - Were you the only girl who wrestled?

Kline - Yes. I did it from 7th to 9th grade.

Bengal - What was that like?

Kline - It was nice when I was in junior high. I matured faster than the boys did. I was more flexible than they were so I had an advantage.

Bengal - Who is your hero?

Kline - Stacy Dragila. In high school we had a video of her that I would watch everyday. And my mom.

Bengal - Have you ever been able to meet Stacy?

Kline - Yeah. I trained with her for a couple years.

Bengal - You are from Minnesota. That is pretty far away.

Kline - I thought that ISU was my best chance to get as good as I could.

Bengal - Do you have any superstitions?

Kline - I have a routine. I like to get a lot of sleep. I always wear the same socks. I'm competition ready when I wear those socks.

Bengal - What is your routine like before you compete?

Kline - It's a warm up. Relax, breathe, and mental visualization. I don't want to be over excited. But it's important to smile a lot and laugh and have fun.

Bengal - Finish this sentence...On a road trip I never leave home without _______.

Continued...

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