ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A lot goes into jumping over the high bar.

For Taylor Nuce, it’s mind over matter in a sport that matters a lot to her.

“I know that I can get over the bar physically, but mentally I have to understand and just trust that I can,” she said.

What You Need To Know

  •  Taylor Nuce won a state championship in the high jump as a junior. 

  •  She can mark her progression in the sport by her finishes at the state championships. She won a silver medal as a sophomore and finished seventh her freshman year.

  •  Taylor's goal is to compete in college, just like her mom did.

There’s proof that she can. Each year this Northside Christian student-athlete has competed, she’s gotten better. You can gauge her progress by the medals she has collected at state championship meets over the years. Seventh place her freshman year. A silver medal last year. And this season, a gold medal. Taylor capped off her junior year by solidifying her status as the best in the state.

“I just got really focused and before my jump I just took a really deep breath and just went for it,” Taylor said. “It was really emotional but I just felt on top of the world that day.”

Taylor credits her support system that includes her parents and brother. Her mom is her coach and was a high school state champion before she competed at the University of Georgia.

“I kind of inherited what she had,” Taylor said. “So, she taught me how to do everything.”

The dream for Taylor is to compete in college, just like her mom did. The high jump has taught her  a lot about herself. It’s instilled a never give up attitude.

“Perseverance is a big thing,” she said. “You have to start strong and finish strong because the misses matter. Perseverance is a big thing for me. That’s like my word this year.”