Kathryn Tomczak

Photo by: Darcie Ibidapo

Photo by: Justin Tafoya, NCAA Photos

Class:
Senior
Position:
Pole Vault
Hometown:
Williamsburg, Va.
Height:
5-5
High School:
Lafayette
Squadron:
02 Deuce

SENIOR YEAR | 2018-19: Team captain.

JUNIOR YEAR | 2017-18: Mountain West champion...NCAA qualifier...became the first Air Force vaulter to clear 14 feet in the indoor pole vault...two-time all-conference selection...named the MW Field Athlete of the Week twice...finished both seasons ranked among the nation’s top 30...earned Honorable Mention All-America honors during the outdoor season...reset own Academy record during the indoor season after posting a clearance of 14’0½” to win the Elite section of the Air Force Invitational...that is a new Junior Class Record...that mark is also tied for the third-best mark in conference history...collected four additional first-place finishes during the indoor season – Air Force Holiday Open (13’9¼”), Air Force Team Challenge (12’11½”), Colorado Invitational (12’11½”), Texas Tech Shootout (13’8¼”)...posted a clearance of 13’2½” to place second at the MW Indoor Championships...became the program’s first MW Outdoor champion after recording a clearance of 13’5¾” at the conference meet...registered a season-best outdoor mark of 13’9¼” at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate and again in the Invitational section of the Mt. SAC Relays...finished 12th at the NCAA West Preliminary (13’8½”) to advance to the national meet...cleared 13’1½” to finish 21st at the NCAA Outdoor Championships...collected four additional first-place marks during the outdoor season – Jerry Quiller Classic (12’7½”), Sun Angel Classic – Premier section (13’7¼”), 7220 Invitational (13’1½”), Air Force Twilight Open (13’4¼”)...received the team’s Field Athlete of the Week award four times...named the Air Force Cadet-Athlete of the Week twice...earned the team’s Falcon Award for Spirit and Enthusiasm.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2016-17: Became the program’s first 14-foot vaulter...earned the team’s Gail Conway Outstanding Performer Award...broke the Academy pole vault records during both the indoor and outdoor seasons...two-time NCAA qualifier...two-time Honorable Mention All-America selection...all-conference honoree...named Mountain West Field Athlete of the Week three times...finished both seasons ranked among the nation’s top 20...recorded a career-best clearance of 14’1¼” at the NCAA West Preliminary to advance to the national finals...that clearance is tied for second on the conference’s all-time list...captured all-MW honors after finishing third at the MW Outdoor Championships (13’7¾”)...first broke the Academy’s outdoor record with a winning clearance of 13’4¼” at the Aztec Invitational...earned the MW Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week award following that meet...repeated that honor after improving record to 13’9¾” at the Michael Johnson Invitational...cleared the 13-foot bar during every regular season indoor meet...improved the Academy record twice during the indoor season...recorded an indoor-best mark of 13’11¾” during a winning performance at the Air Force Team Challenge...earned the MW Indoor Field Athlete of the Week award following that meet...first broke the Academy record at the season-opening Air Force Holiday Open, winning the event with a height of 13’5¼”...also won the Potts Invitational (13’1½”) and Air Force Collegiate Open (13’5¾”)...was the top collegiate finisher in the Elite section of the Air Force Invitational (13’3½”)...earned the team’s Field Athlete of the Week award three times.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2015-16: Became the first freshman in Academy history to break 13 feet in the pole vault (fourth vaulter overall)...registered a career-best clearance of 13’3½” at the Air Force Invitational...that height broke the previous Freshman Class Record by four inches...named the Mountain West Women’s Field Athlete of the Week after that meet...surpassed the 13-foot bar twice during the outdoor season...matched the second-highest outdoor clearance in Academy history (13’1½”) to take third at the Michael Johnson Classic...first debuted on the program’s all-time outdoor standings after clearing 13’0¼” to win the Stanford Invitational...also earned a first-place finish at the Air Force Twilight Open (12’10¼”)...was the top collegiate finisher during three indoor meets (Air Force Holiday Open, Air Force Collegiate Open, Air Force Invitational)...scored for Air Force at the MW Indoor Championships (fourth, 12’9½”)...ranked among the conference’s top-five during both the indoor (third) and outdoor (fifth) seasons...earned the team’s Athlete of the Week award twice.

HIGH SCHOOL: Lafayette High School...four-time Virginia 3A state champion in the pole vault (twice indoors, twice outdoors)...set high school record of 13’0¾”...recorded that jump during sixth-place finish at the New Balance Indoor Nationals...finished third in the 100-meter hurdles at the state championship meet...also competed in gymnastics...two-time Virginia state champion (2014, 2015)... member of the National Honor Society...also a member of the Art Honor Society and the Math Honor Society

PERSONAL: Full name is Kathryn Rose Tomczak...nickname is “Kat”...daughter of Michael and Pam Tomczak...has two older brothers, including one who was a decathlete at Virginia Wesleyan College...majoring in behavioral science...future plans include working in the cyber field...served as Public Affairs Officer for squadron...named squadron’s ‘Bulldog of the Month’ in 2016 after setting the Freshman Record in the pole vault...hobbies include going to the zoo to see the elephants and big cats, making cosplay outfits and weapons, playing video games such as Overwatch and World of Warcraft, going to concerts, festivals and cute dates with her fiancé Jimmy, healing and protecting injured teammates, doing gymnastics and rollerblading behind Scotty’s back...worked the Self-Aid and Buddy Care (SABC) course during Basic Cadet Training over the summer...also assisted with Falcon Sports Camps...favorite genre of music is scream and heavy metal...would like to “thank my mom, dad and brothers, my best friends Jerni, Shelley, Alexis, Peyton and Kim, and my fiancé Jimmy, for supporting me up to this point”...also wants to add that “I am so excited for my last two seasons at USAFA and hope that I finish with a bang!”...member of Cadet Squadron 02.