Pioneer Graduate Aspen Moolenaar Commits to Franklin College Track and Field

Recently graduated Aspen Moolenaar from Pioneer High School is set to continue her track and field journey at Franklin College, an NCAA Division III institution. She officially signed with the college last month and expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I’m really excited. I feel like the coaches are just really motivating and see a lot of potential in me.”

Moolenaar faced tough competition at the Lafayette Jeff Regional on May 26, which is considered one of the most challenging in the state. She finished 10th in the pole vault with a height of 10 feet, 3 inches and came in 14th in the 300-meter hurdles, clocking in at 48.88 seconds. Reflecting on her performance, she shared, “It definitely didn’t go how I wanted because every year I’ve been trying so hard to go to state and just knowing I couldn’t do that, it was kind of upsetting. But I’m just grateful for everything I did accomplish.”

Moolenaar will be honored at the upcoming Pharos-Tribune Sports Awards event on June 30 at McHale Auditorium, where she is a finalist for multiple awards, including Volleyball Athlete of the Year and Girls Athlete of the Year. Her achievements also include being named the Fred Kinder Star of Stars at the Cass County Track Meet, where she excelled by winning in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump, and pole vault.

A record holder at Pioneer for the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, pole vault, and the 4x100 relay, Moolenaar highlighted challenges she faced this season, particularly with her pole vaulting. After setting a school record of 11 feet last year, she was unable to match that height this season, and an equipment issue may have contributed to her struggles. “I think I needed a new pole,” she noted, explaining that resources at a smaller school can be limited.

At Franklin, Moolenaar plans to concentrate primarily on pole vaulting while also participating in hurdles and sprints. She anticipates that the experience will foster her growth in the sport. “I think college will definitely help me improve a lot with different coaches and it’s just in a completely different environment,” she said, looking forward to her future achievements.

In addition to her athletic endeavors, Moolenaar excelled academically and graduated as a Distinguished Scholar, ranking eighth in her class with a GPA of 3.85. She intends to major in nursing while continuing her track career at Franklin.