High School Sports

By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer

Callie Giffin is trading Tyler for Tallahassee, and bringing twin sister Lauren along for the ride.

The former All-East Texas pole vaulter signed a scholarship letter of intent to Florida State University Friday for track and field. Lauren is also going to FSU for pole vault and will attempt to walk on for the Seminoles.

“I am really excited to go off and finally make this accomplishment,” said Callie Giffin, who chose FSU over offers from Oklahoma, LSU and Sam Houston because of the Seminoles’ marine biology program.

“I just overall liked them the best.”

Callie and Lauren graduated from Robert E. Lee in 2007. As a senior, Callie posted the second-best vault in the nation (13-0) and advanced to the Class 5A state meet. Lauren split her time between track and softball, qualifying for regionals in pole vault. She also signed a scholarship for softball to Iowa Western Community College.

Callie committed to Oklahoma, but never signed, and Lauren decided not to go to Iowa Western, retiring from softball altogether.

They both decided to enroll at Tyler Junior College, a school without a track program.

“I kind of felt like I had reached (as high as I could go) in softball, and found pole vaulting a new challenge,” said Lauren about her decision. “It was fun and something new.”

While at TJC, the siblings continued to train and improve in the pole vault under the tutelage of vaulting coach Carl Erickson. As for competition, Callie and Lauren entered as unattached competitors in several open meets.

“We’ve been at Texas a couple times, and there are a lot of meets around that they can compete in, so they haven’t lost anything from a competitive standpoint,” Erickson said. “Lauren kind of felt that she needed some more time before she could be competitive at the college level. She’s made up a lot of that, and I think she’s ready.”

Callie tied for first at North Texas’ Mean Green Invitational with a jump of 12-07?. A month ago at the Houston Invitational, Giffin was sixth with a jump of 11-07.

Callie is currently doing an internship at Moody Gardens in Galveston where she is working with penguins. Lauren wants to major in history. At the end of the summer, both siblings will fly east and begin their collegiate careers.

Only three or four vaulters are chosen for the traveling team, so both understand the work ahead of them.

“We are going to get there about a week before school starts,” Callie said. “I’d like to make it to the NCAA championships.”

Notes

: The FSU men’s track team has won three consecutive national championships. The current No. 1 vaulter on the women’s track team is Tori Allen, who has a personal best of 12-6.

EASTWARD BOUND: Robert E. Lee graduates and twin sisters (seated, from left) Lauren and Callie Giffin will be entering the Florida State track and field program in the fall. Standing (from left) are mother Joannette, father Mack and pole vaulting coach Carl Erickson.
(Staff Photo By Chris Parry)