Kirschling Picks Elon for Track

Megan Kirschling spent last spring racking up the accolades.

A school record in the high jump. A meet record in the high jump at the Woodbury relays. Gloucester County high jump champion. Group 2 high jump champion. Second-best in the state in the high jump at the Meet of Champions. All-American.

Not surprisingly, she had plenty of interest from colleges up and down the East Coast, but Kirschling’s trip to nationals in North Carolina just after the Meet of Champions may have been the clincher on her final call.

The senior made it official this week, signing with North Carolina’s Elon University on a track scholarship.

“Originally, I wanted to stay close to home—I didn’t plan on going more than two hours,” she said. “(Elon) just felt like a really good fit.”

Kirschling said the track program was welcoming, but just as importantly, the school—highly ranked in the South—is what she was looking for, academically.

“I feel like I’ll be able to challenge myself there,” she said.

West Deptford track coach Mark Drummond said Kirschling, a three-sport athlete, probably could’ve competed at the college level in track, basketball or soccer, given her competitiveness and work ethic.

“It’s always great to see someone move on and pursue track,” he said. “I’m glad it paid off for her.”

Kirschling had narrowed her choices down to Monmouth, William & Mary, High Point and Villanova over the past few months, but ultimately settled on Elon, despite it being a bit of a hike.

The senior said she’s glad to have the decision out of the way, so she can concentrate on the rest of basketball season and get set for the second half of the school year without the stress of the college decision looming over her.

“It was overwhelming at times,” she said.

Meanwhile, she’s also sneaking in high jumps on weekends to try to qualify for the Penn Relays, after missing out last year.

Drummond said that’s the kind of determination that epitomizes the senior.

“Even beyond athletics, she’s driven—she knows what she wants to do in life,” he said.

And that drive is one reason Drummond said he’ll check his cell phone for record-breaking update texts after Kirschling’s off to Elon, as he does with plenty of other West Deptford athletes who have gone on to success after high school.

“I’m hoping to get the six-foot or six-two update from her in a year or two,” he said.