Wichita State Pole Vaulter Honests creative skills through ‘Hobbies’ grandmother’ off the track – the sunflower

While many athletes aspire to be the next Stephen Curry or Patrick Mahomes, Abby Rexford by Wichita State Tath and Field has a different idol in mind: Joanna Gaines, the HGTV star of the program “Fix upper”.

Gaines “made in a way everything”, according to Rexford. Sheaths renovates the houses, has a flower store, is a “good” mother and is an entrepreneur – similar to Rexford, who is major in entrepreneurship. Rexford aspires to be like her and to work in Magnolia Farms, one of the Gaines companies and her husband possess in Waco, Texas.

“I actually went to Magnolia Farms twice,” said Rexford. “And it's like Disneyland for me. I never went to Disneyland, but that's how I lived Magnolia Farms.”

Rexford is a first -year pole vaulter for shockers. At West Jessamine high school in Wilmore, Kentucky, she was second finalist in the 3A State. Until the fifth year, however, she had never tried to go pole. “I was a dancer throughout my life and the dance had lost its brilliance and its appeal in my life, and I certainly wanted to do something and do something athletic,” said Rexford. “So the track was the first thing that really came to my mind because I was not really good in any other sport.”

During his fifth year year, his track trainer asked him to try pole sotts. And despite the initial reluctance of his parents to let their daughter try the event, Rexford said: “The rest is in history.”

‘Grandmother Hobbies'

Throughout his adolescence, Rexford has taken a creative sequence, participating in “grandmother hobs” such as sewing, hook, cooking, cooking and painting. She started sewing originally because of her grandmother, who wanted to transmit her love of the pastime.

“(My grandmother) gave my mother a sewing machine which was hers and which has just transmitted it. I was probably a little too young to use a sewing machine but I just found a love for creation and sewing. ”

While developing her love for creation, she simultaneously found a way not to let her athletics overcome her life.

“I like to stay busy and productive,” said Rexford. “I think that using a creative outlet was necessary to excel in sport because when you think of your sport all the time, it's not good.”

Rexford said that she had learned how important the management of time was to maintain her creative outlet in addition to her school work and her pole vault.

“Time is important,” said Rexford. “I consider him more as a” There is a time for everything in life, and there is a time when you are in your sport “. Be just present and try (your) harder, do your best.

Rexford has produced many works of art, such as bouquets of flowers and watercolors of the alphabet through flowers, but one of its favorites comes from its last year of high school.

“I really like the idea of ​​using things that people haven't used textiles before,” she said. “So for my senior ball dress, it was one of my favorite creations. I did it completely from pearls and just no fabric. Because you don't see a lot of things done from pearls … just the idea, even by taking second -hand saved articles and refanting it in something new that is laptop shows that things are supposed to be reused. ”

When Rexford does not make pearl dresses or not throwing herself on a bar, she practices her faith, encouraging others to do the same. She suggests joining the Christian athlete scholarship in Wichita.

Arantxa Cortez, a second year vaulter, was one of the first faces that Rexford saw during WSU's visit for the first time. Rexford said Cortez helped persuade her to come to Wichita because she knew there would be “good people and good pole vaultres”.

Cortez said one of the first things they did together was going to church. Cortez said this experience had started to change his life.

“When I came here, I was really shy and I spoke to anyone … I grew up in a Catholic family in Peru and when I came here … I did not know what to do or how to get to my faith – work through my faith,” said Cortez. “So when Abby came here after a year that I was here in the United States, she helped me cross it, facilitate my task. I think she changed my life. ”

Rexford, throughout his life as an artist and artist, learned to simply enjoy the process of all his activities.

“The time it takes to do it and dedication, and I think it translates so well in sport,” said Rexford. “Because I have to keep in mind, everything takes time and instant gratuity does not come from everything, and that really taught me work ethics and enjoy the process.”