WDHS 2012 Female Athlete of The Year

Megan Kirschling accrued many accomplishments during her senior athletic year at . However, there is one that separates her from nearly every girl across the country.

Kirschling is an All-American.

In the final meet of her high school career, Kirschling—who is the West Deptford Patch Female Athlete of the Year—claimed a spot with the top track and field athletes in the county, .

Consider that honor a final feather in the cap of an amazing senior season and a dominant career.

A three-sport standout, Kirschling possessed skill, tenacity, sportsmanship and leadership while captaining the girls’ soccer, basketball and track teams. As a defender she helped the Eagles’ soccer team hold it opponents to less than two goals a game. On the basketball court, she commanded constant double- and at times triple-teams, and still led the team in scoring and rebounds.

In both sports, she was tough without being dirty and confident without being cocky.

Yet it was at the track that Kirschling really stood out from the rest. The Elon University-bound athlete succeeded in the hurdles and triple jump and could have easily produced strong results in the long jump, pole vault and javelin, if time allowed for it. But it was the high jump where Kirschling earned her reputation as one of the top performers in not just the state, but the country.

Kirschling——broke her own school record, the all-group meet record and the state Group 2 record in winning her state title with a jump of 5-10.5. The jump was just an inch off the overall state record.

She followed that performance up , leaping 5-8. Kirschling was tied with two other jumpers, but didn’t get the opportunity to compete in a jump-off, due to total number of misses.

“I can’t let this take away from my season,” she said after the meet. “It hurts now, but I’ll get over it eventually.”

She was able to get over it in a matter of days by earning All-American status.

“You couldn't have asked for anything better,” Kirschling said.

It’s scary to think how good of a jumper Kirschling may be come at the collegiate level now that she will be focusing on just one sport. After years of putting time and energy into being fit for soccer and basketball she will be able to work year-round in the event that earned her an athletic scholarship.

Kirschling’s been in touch with her coaches and was recently given a weight training schedule for the first time ever. She is excited about what the future may hold.

“It’ll be a whole new experience,” she said.

And given her resume, an experience she will excel in.

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