June 8, 2009

Cowley signs pole vaulter from Eudora

Coming off a third place finish in the pole vault at the Class 4A Track and Field State Championships, recent Eudora High School graduate, Allison Hoover, signed a letter of intent to compete at Cowley College.

Hoover, who has competed in the pole vault since the seventh grade, is looking forward to coming to Cowley.

“I really like the town, the people there seem willing to help me,” Hoover said. “There is something really personable about the school, I don’t feel like I will be just another face.”

Cowley head track and field coach Mark Phillips saw Hoover compete in the pole vault at the state meet as a junior and knew of her from his friend, Darren Bryant, who has helped Hoover with some private workouts.

He was impressed by what he saw of Hoover and thinks she will make an immediate impact on the squad.

“She is going to be a good one,” Phillips said. “This is a big signing for us.”

Phillips said Hoover is very similar to Katie Gillmore, who recently completed a strong freshman campaign for the Lady Tiger track and field team.

Along with Hoover’s signing, Cowley has added other talented athletes to next season’s team.

“We do not have quite the number of athletes that we did in 2007, but we have quality and are excited about the incoming group,” Phillips said.

Hoover hopes Cowley can help her make it to a NCAA Division I school in the future. But before then, she plans on leaving her mark as a member of the Lady Tiger track and field team.

Pictured, from left, Cowley head coach Mark phillips, Allison Hoover, and her father, Dan Hoover.