Meet the Class of 2020 Spring Athletes: Ashlyn Ballew

Track and Field, Colleton County High School
Daughter of Jill Ballew of Walterboro
Position: Pole Vaulter
Planning to play in college? No
GPA: 5.081
Future aspirations? Clemson University
Intended Field of Study: Industrial engineering
Academic Honors: Golden Paw, Academic Letter, National Honors Society, Salkehatchie Deans List, Circle of Excellence
Athletic Honors: Six-year varsity letterman
What other sports have you played? Cross-Country (two years)
At what age did you begin pole vault? I have been competing in pole vault for five years.

What one word describes you? Determined.
Who was your favorite teacher and why? Mrs. Brawley. She was my Biology 2 teacher last year. She teaches better than any teacher I have ever had. She incorporates different projects to make learning something more fun.
How has athletics made you a better student? Athletics has made me a more driven person in achieving my goals. Track is such a competitive sport, and it teaches you that what you put in is what you get out of it. Going into a classroom the mindset follows, and I know that if I am not putting a 100% into my work, then I will not succeed.
Fondest memory in your athletic career? Clearing a height for the first time in pole vault. It was my first year of pole vaulting, and we did not have a pole-vaulting coach at the school, so we had to teach ourselves. We had a home meet on a Saturday. I was not even entered into the meet to jump, but someone from another school did not jump so they let me just for fun, basically. I did not have any warmup time and was not wearing the right shoes but was able to clear six feet for the first time.
If your high school athletic career were a movie, what one song would be on the soundtrack? Fruit Salad by The Wiggles.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Eat your vegetables.
Sports hero? Simone Biles. She is constantly passing the limits of what many thought was even possible in gymnastics. I believe every athlete should have the same passion and drive in their sport that she has in gymnastics.
Favorite thing about self-distancing during COVID-19? I have been able to get a lot of things done that I probably would have procrastinated doing otherwise.
It is Senior Night. Ready, set, go. I would want to say thank you to Mrs. Pickett for being the best guidance counselor I have ever had in all my years of schooling. Thank you for always being there, not only for me, but for so many other students. She has impacted me more than any other person within the Colleton County School District.