For the first time in Sedona Red Rock High history a track and field athlete has made it to the show, or college that is, as senior thrower Kali Gajewski signed a National Letter of Intent on Thursday, April 3, and committed to the University of Colorado, a Big 12 Conference affiliate.

For the first time in Sedona Red Rock High history a track and field athlete has made it to the show, or college that is, as senior thrower Kali Gajewski signed a National Letter of Intent on Thursday, April 3, and committed to the University of Colorado, a Big 12 Conference affiliate.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to continue what I love to do in a college atmosphere and I can’t wait to get started,” Gajewski said.

Gajewski, a three-year varsity letterman for the track and field team at Sedona, said this is an opportunity of a life time and realized when she was a freshman that it was going to take hard work and determination to make it this far.

“When I was a freshman I had no idea what it took but older players helped me understand and coach Schneider pushed me to succeed,” Gajewski said.

During her sophomore and junior seasons at Sedona, Gajewski showed much improvement as she finished ninth overall in the state in the shotput event with a 30-foot, 8-inch throw as a sophomore.

As a junior, Gajewski placed second overall in the state losing only to two-time shotput state champion Deezbaa Whaley from Monument Valley High with a 37-00.75 throw, a career high.

Gajewski also finished fifth overall in the discus event as a junior with a 102-01 throw.

Both efforts helped the Sedona girls track and field team clinch their first 3A state championship in school history.

“This is very exciting. It makes others realize that if you work hard enough, good things can happen,” Sedona head coach Harry Schneider said.

At the University of Colorado, Gajewski will shift from being a Scorpion in purple and silver to wearing black and gold as a member of the Buffaloes as she will receive a partial scholarship for her efforts on the track and field team during the spring of 2009.

“This just shows every young athlete around that there are opportunities out there if you are committed,” Sedona Athletic Director John Parks said.

A few other schools were after Gajewski to come be a thrower for their track and field teams such as Big Sky Conference school Sacramento State University and Western Athletic Conference school Boise State University.

Each of the schools were interested in Gajewski but were not interested in coming up with any scholarship money for her as they wanted a walk-on.

Gajewski explained that wasn’t the reason however that she picked the University of Colorado over the other two.

“When I walked onto the campus in Boulder I knew immediately that I wanted to go there. It’s just one of those things,” Gajewski said.

Along with the shotput and discus events Gajewski will also begin to learn the hammer throw and the weight throw, something she looks forward to.

Gajewski said when she realized a few years back how expensive college really was, she began to recruit herself by calling coaches, sending results and even tapes of her performances on the field. Her efforts are the reason why she’s heading to Boulder, Colo., in the fall.

With all the rigors of training day in and day out to be the best athlete she can be, Gajewski has also found time to manage a 3.83 grade point average in the class room and still finds time to be a part of Student Council.

“Not only are they getting an athlete in Colorado, but they are getting a well-rounded person who works hard in all areas,” Parks said.

During her first season as a Buffalo, Gajewski maintains that she doesn’t expect to be the best in the country right away, but can control how hard she works to hopefully eventually get there.

“I expect to get my butt kicked,” Gajewski said laughing. “It will push me to be the best that I can be and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

In her spare time, after the shotput is put away and the books are placed on the shelf only for awhile, Gajewski likes to hang out with her friends and go hot tubbing.

“It’s a sport, it really is. What could be better after a hard day,” Gajewski said with a smile.

In the classroom, Gajewski plans on studying international relations and affairs and eventually become part of the United Nations.

“I want to create change,” Gajewski said.

If she works as hard in trying to “create change” as she does on the field, this young lady will certainly succeed.

Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 131, or e-mail to bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com