MANKATO, Minn. - Minnesota State Athletics is celebrating Director of Athletics Kevin Buisman's 25th year with the Mavericks by highlighting 25 outstanding student-athletes who have helped shape the department's history. The next honoree in the series is former women's track & field All-American and four-time national champion pole vaulter Katelin Rains.
 
The 25 for 25 Series recognizes 25 of the most accomplished and memorable Maverick student-athletes from the past quarter century, beginning with Buisman's arrival at Minnesota State in 2002. Over the next three months, the 25 honorees will be announced in no particular order, with ten unveiled in September-October, ten more throughout November and the final five in December prior to the Christmas holiday.

"Katelin helped to establish what became a lineage of outstanding women's pole vaulters at Minnesota State," Buisman said.  "What I remember most about Katelin was her composure. She had a steely focus as a competitor and seemed to have a great ability to peak when the moment was the biggest."
 
Originally from Spring Lake Park, Minn., Rains was a four-time NCAA Division Champion in the pole vault for the Minnesota State women's track and field team. She won three NCAA indoor championships (2007-09) and one in the outdoor pole vault in 2009. 
 
"One of my favorite memories, of course, was watching her win the 2008 indoor national championship at Myers Fieldhouse when we hosted the Division II Indoor Championships," Buisman added.  "She won that title by setting a NCAA Division II record at the time, which made an already special moment even more memorable. To crown an individual national champion in your own building was pretty remarkable. The image of Katelin soaring over the bar with the American flag in the background—and the actual bar from that jump—are still proudly displayed on the wall just outside my office. It is a great reminder of what she accomplished and the legacy she helped establish."
 
In total, Rains earned 10 All-American honors during her tenure with the Mavericks, four in the indoor pole vault, three in the outdoor pole vault, one in the indoor long jump, on in the indoor 4x400 relay and one in the outdoor 4x100 relay. Along with her All-American honors, Rains was named the USTFCCCA Division II National Indoor Field Athlete of the Year twice in 2008 and 2009. 
 
"When I made the decision to become a Maverick, I immediately became a part of the larger Mavericks Athletics family," Rains said.  "The opportunities were endless for me as a student-athlete. I was surrounded by coaches, mentors, and trainers that encouraged me to go after my goals relentlessly. Kevin was a huge supporter of our Track and Field Program. In my four years at MSU, we hosted Sun Belt Conference Championships as well as the DII NCAA Track and Field Championships at our home track. Kevin was there through it all — cheering on our team."
 
She set MSU records in both the indoor pole vault (4.40m / 14-5.25) and outdoor pole vault (4.25m / 13-11.25) at Minnesota State and her mark in the indoor pole vault still holds to the present day.
 
"When I think back on my time at Minnesota State, I feel such a sense of pride and nostalgia," Rains added.  "The years I spent as a Maverick have shaped me into the parent, teacher, and Track and Field coach I am today. The sky was truly the limit for me as a Maverick, and I have taken that mindset with me into my life and career."
 
Rains was named Minnesota State's Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 2008-09 and was inducted into the Minnesota State Hall of Fame in 2019.
 
"Congratulations Kevin," Rains said. "The programs that you've built with your passion and dedication over the last 25 years are the true testament to the legacy of Minnesota State's athletic success. What an honor it is to be a part of the legacy that is still Building Champions."