March 14, 2015
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Sophomore Trey Everett (Sidney/Fairlawn) returned to Bluffton Saturday a newly-minted All American athlete following competition at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship.
Competing at the JDL Fast Track facility in Winston-Salem, NC, Everett placed 3rd among the 15 men from across the nation who qualified for the event. Electing to pass on the opening height, Everett entered the competition at 6' 6.25" which he cleared on his first attempt. He cleared the next height in the progression, 6' 8.25", again on his first attempt. With nine men remaining in the competition, Everett attempted 6' 9.75" which he missed on first attempt but cleared on his second try.
With just three of the nine moving on to the next height, the bar was raised to 6' 11" which Everett cleared in a clutch-performance third attempt while his fellow competitors, Dominique Neloms of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and Steven Vasquez of Rhode Island College, cleared on their first and second attempts, respectively. These clearances would eventually determine the finish of the top three as none of them cleared the next height of 7' 0.25".
"I am very proud of Trey and Coach McCoy (jumps coach) for what they accomplished today," said Head Coach Karen Brandt. "Trey becomes the first indoor All American in Bluffton University history and a worthy one indeed. He doesn't take his talent for granted but works hard and makes the sacrifices necessary, big and small, for him to fine tune his skills. Coach McCoy met him after the awards ceremony with a bottle of Pepsi, the first he allowed himself since the season began.
It was a great nationals for the HCAC conference as a whole. Five athletes qualified for the national meet and all five finished in All America positions (top 8). When you think of the thousands of athletes across the country who compete in collegiate track and field, to be among the top 15 men or 17 women who qualify is an honor in itself. To then hold up to the pressure of knowing you are competing against the best in the nation and emerge as an All American is truly an outstanding accomplishment."
Everett will resume competition March 20 and 21 as he and his teammates open their outdoor season at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA.
-BEAVERS-
