Miami Ohio University Athletics
STRAIGHT A TEAM: Senior High Jumper Kristina Bolterstein
6/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
June 26, 2008
This is the 15th in a series of 16 features about Miami University's brightest student-athletes. Their exceptional academic performance during the recently completed spring semester earned them a spot on the roster of the RedHawks' exclusive Straight A Team. In addition to their rigorous schedules on the athletic fields, each of these individuals earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average this past semester. Overall, during the 2007-08 academic year, Miami's 500-plus student-athletes earned an impressive cumulative 3.0 GPA in the classroom.
To say that high jumper Kristina Bolterstein (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Midpark) is "one of the best student-athletes in the history of Miami University's women's track and field program" is anything but hyperbole. Don't believe the claim? Let's run through her credentials.
First, let's look at Bolterstein as a student. Bolterstein was named to the Dean's List multiple times, she was one of only 16 Miami athletes to compile a perfect 4.0 GPA during the spring 2008 semester, and she graduated in May with a degree in zoology and a concentration in environmental science. Because of her outstanding classroom performance, Bolterstein was named to the all-MAC academic team five times during her career. Prior to Bolterstein, guess how many Miami track and field athletes had been five-time academic all-MAC honorees? Zero. Don't forget that Bolterstein earned CoSIDA Academic All-District IV honors three times (one of only two Miamians such honored in program history) and was recently named as a CoSIDA /ESPN The Magazine Third-Team Academic All-American.
 Bolterstein was a two-time high jump All-American.  | |
Still a bit skeptical of the "one of the best" claim? Then let's look at Bolterstein as an athlete. Bolterstein recently finished eighth at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, clearing 5-10 3/4 and earning All-American honors for the second time in her career. Guess how many Miami field athletes have twice been named as All-Americans? Just one (Nancy Denny in the javelin, 1991-92). With her All-America finish this spring, Bolterstein became the first Miamian to earn All-America honors in back-to-back seasons since hurdler Becca Williams in 1996-97. Oh, and don't forget that during her Miami career, Bolterstein won four MAC high jump titles (including a sweep of the indoor and outdoor titles in 2008), earned all-MAC honors five times, set Miami's indoor and outdoor high jump records, and set the MAC indoor high jump record with a clearance of 6-1 1/2. Impressed yet?
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Bolterstein's resume is that she accomplished what she did while competing in a sport (track and field) that runs from December through June and has the majority of its meets on the road. Bolterstein spent a total of 17 weekends away from Oxford during the 2007-08 indoor and outdoor track and field seasons, yet she still managed to compile a 4.0 GPA in the spring semester. When asked her secret to thriving in the classroom, Bolterstein touted teamwork as her key to academic success.
"I would find other students, often teammates, to study with," Bolterstein said. "For me, the most helpful things were finding other people to keep me motivated and having hard-working, studious teammates to support me."
 Bolterstein was named third-team academic All-American in 2008. | |
But if the key to Bolterstein's academic success was working with others, how did she excel at the high jump, which is a distinctly individual athletic endeavor?
"I think the road to success is summed up by a quote in our team locker room: `The will to win means nothing if you haven't the will to prepare'," Bolterstein said. "I just went out there every day trying to get the most out of each workout and set goals for myself. I immensely enjoy track and field and high jump and wanted to achieve great things for my team, my coaches, and myself."
The recently minted Miami grad is now turning her attention to the job hunt, but Bolterstein admits that she is "still job searching, so no concrete plans in that department yet." When not job hunting, most of Bolterstein's summer will be dedicated to wedding planning, as she is getting married on Sept. 27. Said Bolterstein about the upcoming nuptials, "I'm really excited!"
Beyond the immediate future, Bolterstein hopes to one day attend graduate school and work at a national park.
"As soon as I can, I want to get law enforcement training to be a mounted park ranger in a national park, hopefully somewhere out West," Bolterstein said. "I plan to work for 3-4 years then go back to graduate school to get a dual master's degree in Business Administration and Environmental and Natural Resources. I want to work in an environmental field, possibly park management or alternative energy."
All-American, MAC Champion, Miami Graduate, and future park ranger are all appropriate phrases that describe Bolterstein. Just don't forget to add "One of Miami Women's Track and Field's All-Time Best" to that list.
STRAIGHT A TEAM
Name: Kristina Bolterstein
Hometown/HS: Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Midpark
Year: Graduated, May 2008
Major: Zoology
Spring Semester GPA: 4.0
Notables: Four-time MAC high jump champion ... 2007 and 2008 NCAA High Jump All-American ... set Miami and MAC indoor record with clearance of 6-1 ½ in 2006-07 ... is the school record holder in both the indoor and outdoor high jump ... 2008 Academic All-American (Third Team).
Bolterstein's favorite Miami athletic memory: "My favorite athletic memory in Oxford was the 2007 MAC Championships," said Bolterstein. "It was so much fun to compete at our home track with gorgeous weather and the high-adrenaline, exciting atmosphere of a championship meet. A lot of my family and friends came too. My favorite memory outside of Oxford was competing at the 2007 NCAA Championships in Sacramento, CA and becoming an All-American. It was just awesome to compete at that meet and in that location."
Players Mentioned
