Carmichael Finds Her Family Away from Home at University of Memphis

On a trip to Wichita, Kan., last summer, pole vaulter college fortunes were laid.

With a week’s stay ahead of her at the USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in Wichita, Carolina needed a place to practice.

One of the pole vaulters introduced his father to Carolina and her mother/coach, Toni, and he knew of a high school field they could practice at because he coached football there.

Later when the conversation turned to college choices, the coach asked Carolina whether she had looked at the University of Memphis.

“I was like, what? No, not really,” Carolina recalled.

Turns out the coach’s son, Tyler Fraizer, is the pole vault coach at Memphis.

Carolina liked enough of what she heard to look south, taking an unofficial visit late last summer that all but convinced her.

“I really liked the coaches,” Carolina said. “I liked the campus. Everything was close together. It was easy to get around. I felt welcomed.”

She Makes it 'Official'

Two months later, she took an official visit where she met the team.
“I liked the team atmosphere,” Carolina said. “Everyone was really close. It was like a family. I’m going to be far from home, so it’s nice to have the coaches and upperclassmen looking out for me.”

Last Thursday, Carolina put her commitment in writing in a signing ceremony at the high school. She follows her sister, Ofelia, who is a freshman pole vaulter at North Central College in Naperville.

That official visit last fall was equally important to Carolina’s parents, who came away feeling their daughter had chosen a college that would give her the support she needed and the competition she thrives on.

“This is a good fit at Memphis,” said Toni Carmichael, who was an all-state hurdler and long jumper in Phoenix, Ariz. “They are going to build her up. I wanted her to be treated as important and Memphis really made her feel important. When she met the team, they invited her into their group.”

“They just bonded right away,” noted her father, Rob Carmichael, a Lake Forest High School graduate who serves as curator of the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest.

“Memphis wasn’t really on the radar; it kind of fell into our laps. It has a nice small school vibe, but big-time Division One level of competition that she wanted,” he added.

Minnesota Was Her Initial Favorite

Minnesota was high on Carolina’s list of prospective schools, and she also considered Auburn, Illinois, Wichita State, Michigan State and Virginia Tech.

However, once she made her official visit to Memphis last fall, the recruiting process was over.

“I knew what I wanted,” Carolina said. “I liked everything Memphis had. I didn’t want to look anymore.”

And she didn’t. Memphis was the only school that she took an official visit to.

The Tigers, members of Conference USA, have produced 10 All-Americans in track in the last five years, according to its website.  

And Memphis’ commitment to its athletes continues even after they graduate.

“If Carolina wants to compete internationally, as long as she represents Memphis, they will send her anywhere,” said Rob Carmichael. “They put together a pretty nice package.”

Focus Moves to Final Spring Season

Carolina’s signing allows her to focus entirely on her final track season at Lake Forest. She already owns several records in clearing her best of 12 feet, 4 inches, including a second-place finish at last year’s Class 3A State meet when she went 12-3.

This spring her goal is to eclipse the state mark of 12-9 and conquer the 13-foot barrier.

“I’m still learning a lot of technical issues,” Carolina said. “I know I have a lot in me. When I went out my freshman year, it was all athletic ability. It came easy to me. I started to fix my technique. I started to attend camps, learning what I’m supposed to be doing. Once I fix everything, everyone has told me that it will take me to that next level, and hopefully it all clicks at the right time, like at State.”