Pole vaulting at a high level requires a combination of speed, strength and trusting the techniques that take practice, repetition and refinement. Conquering these attributes, Cinco Ranch High School’s Breeana Borresen has proven herself as one of the top pole vaulters in the nation and gained confidence with each competition.

How did she make it this far? Borresen, a senior whose life has revolved around the sport for years, credits the confidence built with her long-time coach and mentor, Barry Minter, to trust the process and overcome mental barriers. It’s a relationship that Borresen says has shaped her life.

“He knows me more than just as an athlete, but as a person,” Borresen said. “As a former NFL player, he understands the pressures of high-level competition and has helped me navigate injuries, performance anxiety and stress. He’s never doubted me, even when I’ve doubted myself, and his positivity every single day inspires me and helps me see there can be a positive outcome to negative things.”

Borresen, a Virginia Tech University signee, has dominated track meets since she began competing in junior high, holding the state record for years. She placed second at the UIL State Track Meet as a junior and her vault of 13 feet – 3 inches is a 36th all-time in the state and 186th all-time in the nation.

“People around here have seen her jump for years, but I don't think people understand what they see,” Minter said. “They see somebody who could potentially be an Olympian. They see somebody that could potentially be an NCAA pole vault champion. She is that type of athlete and student.”

Borresen qualified for the UIL State Championship and plans to claim the one thing that has eluded her in her illustrious high school journey – a state championship. She was interviewed for this story prior to that event.

“My big goal – it’s definitely winning state,” Borresen said at the time of this interview. “That’s kind of what I’ve had my eyes on this whole season since last year’s state meet when I placed second. This year I’m aiming for that gold medal.”

Borresen also said that she was aiming to vault 14+ feet before the end of her high school career, stating that she only has a few more things to string together before the state meet began on May 16.

Borresen placed sixth in the state event, achieving a vault of 12’ 6” according to athletic.net.

She’s come a long way since following in her older sister Bella’s footsteps. She began training with her sister and Minter in the seventh grade after falling in love with the sport Bella introduced to her, becoming the second Borresen to push the heights at Cinco Ranch.

She was recruited to Virginia Tech for her athletic ability, but her academic dedication and character enticed coaches across the country. A National Honor Society member, Borresen will enter college with

most of her freshman courses completed through AP and dual credit coursework. She is a member of Cougars Achieving Through Service (CATS) and volunteers at Seven Lakes Junior High School, where her mother works, helping with track meets and giving pointers to younger students who pole vault.

She may have her eyes set on being one of the best ever to pole vault, but her time at Virginia Tech will be spent as a business and marketing major. Borresen is not entirely sure about what she wants to do after college, however she is excited about a future as either an entrepreneur or a career in social media marketing.

As for the immediate future, she plans to leave a legacy of perseverance and the joy of playing a sport for the love of it as she attempts to vault her way to a state title and in the record books.