St. Marys teen works hard to meet goals

ST. MARYS - Sara Wolfe, who is a scholar-athlete, said she believes the key to success, whether it's in the classroom or on the field, is to set goals and then strive to meet them.

"I try to set goals and I try to reach them," Sara, 17, said. "I never stop until I do."

Sara is active in three sports at Memorial High School, where she is a senior, and participates in the city's dive program during the summer.

"I've played soccer since I was 6," Sara said. "I like everything about it. It's my favorite sport. We did really good this year, too, so it was really fun and the friendships are important. The other girls on the team, they're all like my sisters, and I just love being on the field and scoring goals."

Sara's soccer team made it to regional finals this year. Sara has been its captain for three years.

Sara has been a cheerleader at the high school since she was a freshman and active in cheering since she was 11 with a local group called the Lakers. One year, the Lakers won nationals at Dresden, Fla.

"I like getting people involved," Sara said. "When the game gets exciting and the crowd cheers, it's really fun. When you perform in front of a big crowd, you know you have to do good and that's fun, too."

Sara has been competing in high jump and hurdles in track since she was a seventh-grader and a swimmer since she was 5.

"I really like the high jump," she said. "I'm pretty good at it, I guess. I can clear 5 feet and I made it to regionals my sophomore and junior years. I really like being in the water, too. You feel like you're free when you're in the water. I really like diving. It's more graceful than what I usually do and everyone's watching you because it's not a team sport."

In addition to her athletic efforts, Sara teaches swimming and diving at the community pool and helps out at local children's camps in soccer and cheer.

Sara is in the National Honor Society with a 3.9 grade-point average, Student Council, Pep and Spirit clubs and Wayne Street United Methodist Church. She performs volunteer work through St. Marys Goodfellows and United Way Day of Caring. Goodfellows holds food and toy drives at Christmas. The Day of Caring, which is held at local grocery stores, is also a food drive.

Sara works as a lifeguard and for fun, likes to hang out with friends and listen to music.

After high school, the teen will study pediatric nursing at Otterbein College at Westerville. She plans to play soccer at the school.

Sara is the daughter of Shelley and Ernie Wolfe. She has a brother, Ryan, 21.