Ari Ince focusing on fourth state gold medal (TX)

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http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/195/story/26042.html

Gonzales' Ince focusing on fourth state gold medal

Rice-bound pole vaulter skipping softball, tennis her senior year
February 24, 2007 - Posted at 12:00 a.m.
BY MIKE FORMAN - ADVOCATE SPORTS WRITER
Ari Ince is taking a different approach to her final semester at Gonzales.

After participating in softball and tennis as a freshman, sophomore and junior, Ince has decided to turn her full attention to track and field once the basketball season comes to an end.

"I didn't see any reason to continue in softball and tennis when my future is in track and field," said Ince, who also played volleyball at Gonzales.

Ince's athletic future includes attending Rice University on a track and field scholarship and she hopes to do so as a four-time Class 3A state champion in the pole vault.

Ince will have the opportunity to accomplish the rare feat because she won the inaugural girls pole vault event at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin by clearing 12 feet as a freshman. Ince had to clear 12-3 on her third and final attempt to remain in contention for a gold medal as a sophomore before going on to break her own state record by clearing 12-6. Ince won her third state title by clearing 12-1 as a junior.

Ince, who played for the Gonzales softball team and competed in the regional tennis tournament before last year's state meet, admitted she was physically and mentally tired after the competition. By concentrating solely on track and field this season she hopes to clear 13 feet.

"Last year was very stressful because there was a lot of pressure on me to repeat and I was very tired," Ince said. "I also knew who my competition was from the year before and she (Leslie Starnes of Rockdale) was jumping really well. This year, I won't be doing anything other than track and there will be a bunch of new people. I'm going to have a lot more fun."

Ince, who intends to major in civil engineering, was also considering Kansas State but decided to attend Rice after a recruiting visit to Houston.


"It was definitely the academics because that's really important to me," said Ince, who plans to sign a letter of intent in April. "The weather was also important. The weather in Houston may not be all that great but I don't like cold weather. I just felt like Rice would be a really good fit."
Ince has been pole vaulting once a week during the basketball season and will increase her workouts as she attempts to bring her senior season to a record-breaking conclusion.

"I guess it's going to be kind of bittersweet," Ince said. "But I'll be going for a fourth state title and it's an opportunity that doesn't present itself very often."