20 Inside Hokie Sports “It feels like almost a lifestyle,” Fixen described the closeness of the group. “It’s a community that is fully passionate about pole vault and that just makes you fully immersed. “It just motivates me more.” Fixsen’s other sources of motivation come from within. “I think my why in sports has always been to bring glory to God, one-hundred percent,” Fixsen said. “He’s the reason why I’m here and that I breathe and that I’m alive and that I have these gifts and talents. On top of that I also just want to spread love and positivity and encouragement and what it means to be an athlete and to be a teammate and to have sportsmanship. I don’t think sports has to be all about like ‘I want to beat you and I’m better than you’ kind of mindset. I like personally to go for goals and to achieve those goals, but to also support the people around you because everyone’s trying to do the same thing. I think that’s what’s special about pole vault because it is an individual sport, it’s not so much about the team. For me, it’s both the individual and the team more than just the Virginia Tech team. It’s the whole pole vault community as a team.” The camaraderie in the pole vault room and the tutelage of coach Phillips have allowed Fixsen to develop into one of the top pole vaulters in the nation, earning bronze at the 2022 indoor NCAA championships and fifth place at the outdoor championships. TheMinnesota native has bigger goals for the future, however—both physically and mentally. “I always want to jump as high as I possibly can, that’s always the goal,” Fixsen said. “I think 15 feet would be the mark that I want to get this year. But I don’t want to place so much pressure on myself just to get to that mark, because a lot of times when you have been thinking ‘oh I want 15 feet’ over and over again and then you’re about to attempt it—you kind of psych yourself out a little bit. I don’t want to focus so much on the number more than I want to focus on my confidence, where my confidence is at, the goal of continuing growing my confidence as an athlete.” While Fixsen aims to put up career-record numbers and continue to develop her confidence as an athlete in the future, she hopes to achieve something outside of competition as well. “I just hope that people, when they think of my name and think of the things that they’ve done, that it brings a smile on their face and lights their day.” Continued from page 18 1290 Roanoke Street , Christiansburg, VA 24073 • 540-382-7500 • www.gandhappliance.com Find us at G&H Appliance G&H bringing you the best sauce and rub vendors on the market! Get yours today!! I S R I G H T A R O U N D T H E C O R N E R ! SEASON GRILLING
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