- Event
- Pole vault
- Hometown
- Spring, Texas
- Major
- Nutrition
- Class
- SeniorExpected May 2027
About Sophia
Sophia Kowalski has vaulted for the University of Texas since 2023 and is a senior in 2026–27. As a freshman she cleared 4.15m (13-7.25) for second at the Texas Invitational, moving onto the Longhorns’ all-time performer list, and reached the NCAA West First Round. In February 2025 she cleared a career-best 4.17m (13-8.25) at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic to move to No. 6 all-time. She has competed at two SEC Indoor Championships, won the 2025 Dr. MLK Jr. Invitational and finished runner-up at the 2026 Leonard Hilton Memorial and UTSA Invitational.
She is from Spring, Texas, north of Houston, and left Grand Oaks High School as its pole vault record holder after placing fourth at the 2023 UIL State Championships with a clearance of 13-0. She also competed for MAC Vault Academy, a specialist pole vault club, and was a member of the National Honor Society. At Texas she majors in Nutrition and was named to both the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2025 and 2026. She credits her father with her success in the sport.
In 2026 she joined Feniex Industries, the Austin manufacturer of emergency-vehicle lighting and sirens, as a Project Manager Intern. Pole vault is a technical event run on preparation: steps, grip, pole and bar height all have to line up before a single attempt, and there are only three tries at each height. That habit of checking every detail, adjusting between attempts and staying calm when the margin is small carries straight into coordinating schedules, documentation and handoffs between teams.
Her goal is to become a Registered Dietitian working with elite athletes. During a summer 2026 Texas Performance Nutrition internship, she assisted sports dietitians with hydration testing, supplements, recovery smoothies and fueling stations. Her coursework includes research on SOX9 regulation and gut health, as well as an educational cooking video project. She also brings experience as a Camp Longhorn counselor and a barista at Trilogy Brew, and holds a Texas Food Handler Certification.
