Holly Jumps at Chance for 3A Gold
    By Chris Gove, Staff Writer ~~Odessa American, May 3, 2008

Monahans  Kati Holly's first trip to the UIL State Track and Field Championships a year ago was as a precocious freshman.

She narrowly had qualified by winning a second-place jumpoff at the regional meet.

Twelve months later, the Monahans sophomore is the favorite to be jumping for joy as the Class 3A girls state champion.

Holly translated the momentum of last year's fifth-place finish at the state meet into vital roles on the school's state-finalist volleyball team and playoff-qualifying basketball team.

Then, when it came time to high jump again in February, Holly wasted no time in establishing herself as one of the state's best in her event.

"Since I got to go last year (to the state meet), I knew I could do it again and I had more confidence,"  Holly said.  "Last year, I was more nervous because I didn't know what I could do.  I was real surprised to go last year.  I thought maybe there was a chance I could, but I was real surprised when I did go."

Holly started this season by clearing 5 feet, 8 inches, at the Comanche Relays in Fort Stockton.  Though she regularly won meets throughout the season, Holly also struggled to get back to that height, which ranks her among the top jumpers in any classification.

The second breakthrough at 5-8 came at the Monahans Regional Qualifiers meet April 11, and Holly made it with ease again April 25 to win her first Region 1-3A title at Ratliff Stadium

"We're very excited about her progression," said Monahans girls assistant coach Wade Gilliam, who trains Holly in the high jump.  "She started out 5-8 and then kind of leveled off a little bit.  Then as the competition level got up and she was challenged more, she has progressively just gotten better and gotten back to the level we started.  She seems to be peaking at the right time."

Along with twin sister Kristi, Kati Holly is one of seven siblings and began playing sports at a young age in various youth leagues around Monahans.

The 5-11 sophomore was introduced to the high jump in grade school and was hooked.

Those humble beginnings in Ward Country probably will seem far, far away at 12:10 p.m.  May 9 when Holly competes for the gold at the University of Texas' Mike A. Myers Stadium.

"Sometimes I like it, but sometimes it's more nerve-racking because there's so many people watching you," Holly said.  "It's better when you have your friends and stuff there, but sometimes it makes you nervous."

Holly said that playing two matches at the state volleyball tournament, including a five-game championship match, will help when she returns to the big stage next week.

In terms of performance, Gilliam and the Monahans coaches are stressing an improved finish over last year's fifth-place showing more than a steel-eyed focus on winning gold.

But, it also is hoped that the competition level will help Holly jump to new heights.  A leap of 5-10, two inches higher than where she has been, would rank among the best for high school girls in the nation.

"She's very level-headed and very mature about what she's going,"  Gilliam said.  "She's focused on what she's doing and wants to get better.  She doesn't let little things bother her, she's very competitive and gets after it and gives me everything she has.

"Hopefully there's some correlation there (at state).  She believes she can do 5-9, 5-10.  She really thinks that, and I think she can, too.  With her work and her ability, I think she can achieve that goal."