The Southland Conference pole vault champion last spring, Michelle Rzepka is marking her first season as a coach with McNeeses.

She is serving as a graduate assistant coch while working on her master degree in exercise physiology. She will be assisting with the coaching of the pole vaulters on the team.

During her only season of competing for McNeese, Rzepka set a school record (13-7) and won the Southland Conference title. She went on to finish second in the mideast regionals and tie for sixth place in the NCAA meet, earning all-America honors.

She waas named the Cowgirl MVP and was selected McNeese's athlete of the year for the 2005-06 season.

Prior to coming to McNeese, Rzepka was a Big 10 indoor and outdoor pole vault champion and earned all-America honors at Michigan State.

She was also a three sport (basketball, volleyball and track) letter winner in high school at Novi, Mich. and salutatorian of her graduating class.