By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Record-setting Ann O'Keefe will ply her pole vaulting skills at Bethel College next season.
O'Keefe, who also holds the school record as part of the 400-meter relay team, signed her National Letter of Intent with Bethel Monday afternoon.
The signing left the Dowagiac three-sport standout feeling at ease with her decision.
"I'm very relieved," she said when asked how it felt to finally have decided on a college. "The wait was definitely worth it."
O'Keefe received $56,000 in scholarships and grants from Bethel. According to vaulting coach Danny Wilkerson, the addition of O'Keefe cements Bethel as one of the top vaulting schools in the country.
"She is just a great fit with the other girls that we have," Wilkerson said.
Bethel head track coach Tony Natali was also pleased with the signing.
"We're excited to have Ann," he said. "We are not just excited about her performance on the track, but we know that she is the right kind of person for Bethel."
O'Keefe, who also played tennis and volleyball at Dowagiac Union High School, was considering Sienna Heights.
"They have a better pole vault coach there," she said of her decision to go to Bethel. "I met all of the girls and we all have certain things that we are good at. One of them is good at the plant and I am good with my run. Together we have the whole vault. Now we just need to work together to make each other better."
O'Keefe holds the school pole vault record with a height of 10-feet-9. She is a three-time regional champion and placed 12th or better at the state finals in her three trips.
This past June, O'Keefe finished fourth when she broke her own school record.
O'Keefe will study physical education and elementary education at Bethel.