.png)
Bittersweet Conclusion to Trevor Paschall’s High School Track Career Won’t Crush His Spirit
Trevor Paschall has been one of the top talents in the entire state of Pennsylvania during his four years as a high school track and field athlete. One of the top sprinters in the state again in 2022, the 200m state champion from 2021 continued on an incredible trajectory towards more state medals, but unfortunately, his high school career ended with a first-place finish in the 100 meter dash at the WPIAL championships.
I’m sure some will read and think it is strange his high school career ended with this. However, a gimping Paschall held onto his lead in this race before coming up gimpy after crossing the finish line. The result was a hamstring injury that kept him from finishing the rest of the WPIAL Championships, defending his state gold in the 200 meter dash, and competing on the club track circuit in some open meets before heading off to college.
Still, Trevor Paschall remains as pleasant as they come. It could be a brave face and that he has already grieved and suffered in silence. It could be his faith and knowing he has four more years as a University of North Carolina Tar Heel. It could be all of these factors previously mentioned. But, there’s no doubt Paschall did everything right these four years of high school.
It’s unfortunate that a kid who did everything right has an ending like this; one bittersweet of winning another WPIAL medal and going out a winner, but not getting to compete against the best in Pennsylvania for the third time in his outdoor track and field career.
People may just see this tall kid with blazing speed, but if people have just a short conversation with him, they’ll know how bad he continues to want to remain an elite athlete. There are certainly athletes who wake up at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday’s to workout, but there’s not a long list of them. Especially a long list of them that have been doing so for three years running as just a high schooler.
He also may hold the 2020 record for most tracks kicked off during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic with seven. The Cranberry Township native will not be denied in anything he sets his mind to. Always eager to get better, Paschall has been lifting with grown men the last three years every Sunday to find ways to improve his overall physical fitness. Giving up some social hours with his friends certainly is not easy for a high schooler, but for him, there’s no doubt it has been worth it.
For the North Catholic standout, it isn’t just about being the fastest person on the track. Sure, that’s nice, but he’s the kind of person who cares about his classmates. Chosen the North Catholic Class of 2022 Class President, Paschall is perfect for the role as he knows virtually every single student in his high school.
Recently, he was awarded by Cover Three Athletics LLC. as the best student section leader for all of the WPIAL student sections for the 2022 school year. Paschall was involved with school play and musical productions during his high school career too, playing Willy Wonka earlier in his high school career in North Catholic’s production of ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’.
On top of that, he’s maintained grades that put him in the top few percent of his graduating class, with peers going to Ivy League schools and the top institutions in the nation in the coming months. Paschall, like many of the top peers in this graduating class, hope to be doctors one day. For the state champion in particular, he hopes to become an optometrist. Someone who has been plagued by eye problems of his own, he hopes he will be able to help people like him someday in the future. A math and science based learner, Paschall also did not want to sacrifice personal relationships and getting to know someone through medicine. With this in mind, he hopes he can work more of a 9-5 schedule, take time and care with each patient, and one day, coach his children on the track. The highly touted recruit could not pass up UNC because of the incredible facilities, the top degrees in STEM related fields, the generous scholarship, and the impact the athletes and coaches made on him during his visit to Chapel Hill. Running in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will also allow him to see many familiar faces again, both from high school as well as opponents he saw on the club circuit. With graduation looming, it’s been a busy last few weeks to Trevor Paschall’s time as a Trojan. He’s experienced many lasts, including his last prom, classes with his friends, meets and races, and many other lasts all high school seniors go through this time of year. Despite a sour note these last few weeks of not being able to defend his state title in the 200 meter dash, Paschall proved what kind of person he is as he and his mom drove to Shippensburg to watch his teammates and friends from around the WPIAL compete in the PIAA Championships. There’s no doubt Trevor Paschall is a talented student-athlete, but there’s even less doubt he’s a high-character young man who cares about the team as much as himself. Willing teammates to come participate despite the Trojans not having a track of their own, he hopes it will change one day so more people can unlock their full potential in a sport that’s grown to mean so much to him over his seven years competing. The kid that once “stunk” at track and field in his early days no longer does. He’s earned the right to be recognized as one of the top sprinters from this incoming high school class. It was not easy, especially the end, but it has been worth it. He finishes his high school career with an extensive list of accolades. A regional All-American for indoor and a national All-American for the 200m as a sophomore, he followed this up with a Mars Invitational MVP, TSTCA 400m champion, Butler Invitational 200m champion, Baldwin Invitational 200m and 400m champion, four WPIAL titles in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4×100 relay, a state title in the 200m, and a state runner-up in the 400m as a junior. As a senior, he became the meet MVP at the Butler Invitational, with a gold in the 100m and 200m and a meet record in 100m, TSTCA champion in the 100m and 200m, and runner-up in the 4×100 relay and 400m, Baldwin champion in the 100m, runner-up in the 4×100 relay, Mars Invitational MVP for the second-straight year, and the WPIAL champion in the 100m. Now, with a few more weeks of physical therapy, Trevor Paschall should be ready to start his time in Chapel Hill on the right note. Best of luck as you continue rehab and preparation towards college track and field, Trevor! Thank you for the opportunity to highlight your accomplishments to date.
Comments