Some athletes choose their sport, and sometimes it’s in their DNA.
“My brothers, my parents, they’re both diving athletes. It’s really our family. I just love this sport so much,” said Jaiah Hopf, Wisconsin Lutheran senior athletics senior. know.
For Hopf, it’s the latter.
“My mother, for sure [got her into the sport]. She danced three times in high school. She did it here indeed. Her record is still there,” Hopf said.
The reigning WIAA 1st division and long jump champion, Hopf broke her mother’s record.
“My goal was that by freshman year, I told her I was going to beat her in senior year,” Hopf said. In one of my first outdoor encounters, I jumped further than her record. It’s two steps.”
Even though I missed the jump, I can still see the footage. But for now, her name is still hanging as a reminder to keep trying. That said, Hopf doesn’t need help when it comes to aiming high.
“This season is all about records. I want records. I have big goals for this season,” she said.
If you’re wondering how far she wants to jump…
“For the triple jump, maybe 41 and the long jump, it’s legal 20 feet,” says Hopf.
These numbers are the ones she will be looking to complete now, and then replicate in college as a member of the Depaul Field and Tracking team.
