Yelm High School’s Trevontay Smith, a two-time 3A triple jump state champion, committed to the University of Washington on June 13 to continue his track and field career at the collegiate level.
Just weeks before his departure to Seattle, the three-sport athlete told the Nisqually Valley News what went into his commitment to the division one Huskies.
Leading up to his decision to head to the University of Washington, Smith described the process of recruitment as difficult. He said his recruitment felt rushed due to track being at the end of the school year, but eventually he found the right home in Seattle.
“My ultimate decision to choose the University of Washington was, first and foremost, the coaching staff. It felt like a family. They really expressed how they want to build a team based on the ‘fit’ and I like that,” Smith told the Nisqually Valley News on July 10. “They also offered a scholarship.”
Smith had track offers from Washington State University and Eastern Washington University and said he had great conversations with the University of Arizona and the University of Nebraska before he ultimately committed to the University of Washington’s track program.
“The best offers I received were from UW and Eastern Washington, and then WSU as far as scholarship money,” he said. “Then I also had multiple offers for roster spots from other D1 schools. I had some great conversations with Arizona and Nebraska, even had an offer for an official visit at Nebraska, but when it came down to timing, I just felt the connection with UW and decided to commit before getting the opportunity to visit the others.”
Washington’s men’s track and field team finished the 2022-2023 season on a very high note, as they won a team PAC-12 championship on May 14 and finished ninth as a team in the country in the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
“The track team had a great season, and I look forward to helping them build on that,” Smith said. “It’s a great opportunity to go in and help them do my part as a jumper.”
While he attends the university, Smith plans on studying business. He said he wants to excel academically and athletically and plans on “putting in the work” on both ends.
Reflecting on his career as a Tornado, Smith said his favorite moment as a track athlete in Yelm was “definitely” when he broke the 50-foot mark at the 3A State Championship meet in the triple jump event.
“That 50-foot, 4-and-a-half- inch jump set a new meet record and it’s the jump I said I was going to get going in,” Smith said. “I knew I had it in me all season.”
Smith thanked his family and coaches, including coach Phil Lonborg, as well as his friends. He said they pushed him as an athlete and he couldn’t have achieved his success without their support.
