University of Mary Athletics

A two-time national champion pole vaulter and a five-time All-American, Kari Wilson found incredible individual success at the University of Mary while helping lead the Marauders women’s track & field programs to impressive heights.
 
As a freshman from Hamilton, MT, Wilson came to UMary as a two-sport athlete and quickly showed she was ready for the national stage. In her first indoor conference meet in 2000 she won the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) pole vault title, then repeated the feat at the NAIA national championships for her first national championship while UMary placed 7^th. In the spring she was the NDCAC outdoor pole vault champion and finished 5^th nationally to earn All-American status. UMary also placed 5^th in the team standings. She continued her success as a sophomore, winning Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC-10) indoor and outdoor pole vault titles in 2001 and was the NAIA runner-up both seasons. As a team UMary was the outdoor national runner-up.
 
Wilson capped her incredible successful career with another DAC-10 and NAIA title at the 2002 indoor championships while leading UMary to a 3^rd place finish at nationals.
 
Twice named the Marauders volleyball defensive player of the year (2000, 2001), Kari is the daughter of Vester and Julia Wilson and Mark and Charlyn Van Slyke. The DAC-10 scholar-athlete award winner holds an exercise science degree from the University of Montana and currently lives in Sumner, WA, where she is a full-time supervisor for UPS. Kari is the mother of four children; Kanika, Taj, Shai and Frankie.