Cougar Athletics
30 NAIA National Championships
95 GSAC Championships
...and counting

THIS YEAR: One of the team leaders, fourth-year junior Mandy Pohja is seeking her third NAIA meet berth in the pole vault and her first-ever All-America honor … Will also press to successfully defend her GSAC title.

2007: Qualified for both the NAIA indoor and outdoor championship meets in the pole vault … Finished eighth at the indoor meet (10’ 11¾”) and 12th at the outdoor meet (11’ 3¾”) … Won her first-ever GSAC title with a vault of 11’ 7” the fifth best vault in Azusa Pacific history.

2006: Enjoyed a fine 2006 redshirt freshman season in which she cleared a season-best 11’ 5¾” at the NAIA Indoor Championship Meet, narrowly missing All-America honors ... Came back during the outdoor season to go 10’ 11¾” in the final regular-season meet at Claremont ... Was sixth at the GSAC championships (10’ 4”).

2005: Redshirted her first season at Azusa Pacific while recovering from an injury.

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Colorado state power Sterling (Colo.) High … Was a 3-time all-state honoree in the pole vault, finishing third at the 4A state meet as a 2002 sophomore, 2003 junior and again as a 2004 senior … Had a personal high school best of 10’ 6” … Was also an outstanding gymnast on the high school level and led Sterling to back-to-back state 4A championships as a junior and senior … Finished seventh at the state meet in the all-around performance as a senior and eighth as a junior.

PERSONAL: Born Aug. 21, 1985, in Colorado Springs, Colo. ... Parents are Dan Pohja and Chris Gentry ... Has 5 older brothers … Majoring in communication and marketing … Would like to get into event planning after graduation … Performed an internship with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the summer of 2006 … Enjoys hiking.

POHJA BESTS at AZUSA PACIFIC
Year    Pole Vault
2006    11-5 3/4